Day 4: Hurghada in autumn – what to sort out before your holiday in Egypt

Vanessa is a fictional character created by Reiseblase. Her stories are made up – we check facts, rules and advice against official sources.

Hi everyone, it’s mid-October, and at our travel agency it feels as though Red Sea season has begun. While the first leaves are falling outside, customers ask me every day about Hurghada, El Gouna or Marsa Alam. Sun, coral reefs and a book by the pool – that’s what everyone who’s just come back is raving about.

So far I’ve only seen the Red Sea in the holiday photos people show me on their phones while I bring them a coffee. But it’s precisely these stories that are worth their weight in gold. Because there’s almost always that one detail that makes everyone say afterwards: ‘If only I’d known that beforehand.’

So today I’ve got three stories for you that have really stuck in my mind over the last few weeks – and a checklist to help you start your holiday in Egypt feeling more relaxed.

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Take Lena, for example, in her mid-20s, who flew to Hurghada on the spur of the moment with her best friend. She’d left her passport at home because she thought her German ID card (Personalausweis) would be enough. According to the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), you can enter with an ID card, but only with restrictions: you then need two biometric passport photos, and the visa is stuck onto a separate sheet, which you must carry with you in the country and present when you leave. Entering with a passport is expressly recommended (1). Luckily, Lena still had two passport photos from her last job application in her bag.

Then there was Kai, in his early 30s and a keen amateur filmmaker. His drone was already packed in his suitcase; he was dreaming of aerial shots of the reefs. Luckily, the evening before his flight he checked the rules once more: without prior authorisation from the Egyptian civil aviation authority, importing drones is prohibited; they are confiscated, and arrests are even possible (1). The drone stayed at home, and Kai proudly showed me his underwater videos instead.

And then there was Merve, who wanted to bring back some pretty shells and a piece of coral from a souvenir shop for her new bathroom. Her tour guide stopped her just in time. The export of many protected plants and animals is prohibited, including coral and shells – even if you’ve bought them (1). Merve ended up choosing a scarf from the bazaar instead.

My checklist for your autumn holiday by the Red Sea

Travel documents: It’s best to travel with your passport. Your document must be valid for at least another six months on entry; a provisional ID card is not accepted. If you travel with an ID card, pack two biometric passport photos (1).
Visa: German nationals need a visa. You can apply in advance for an e-visa via the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg or get a tourist visa on arrival. Procedures and fees are currently being partly changed – check the latest information again shortly before you leave (1).
Flights: According to the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), charter flights may only be used as an outbound-and-return package. If you fly out on a scheduled flight and want to return on a charter flight, you may be prevented from boarding (1).
Medicines: It’s best to check in advance with an Egyptian diplomatic mission whether you may bring in certain medicines, such as strong painkillers or ADHD medication (1).
Health: Don’t drink tap water, and use drinking water for brushing your teeth too. Dengue occurs on the Red Sea coast, so use mosquito protection consistently during the day. Travel health insurance that includes repatriation is also recommended (1).
Excursions: Before setting off on boat, diving or snorkelling trips, ask about certification, maintenance and safety equipment – safety standards are not always up to international levels (1).
Out and about: According to the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), particular caution is advised in the Red Sea holiday areas too, partly because of fraudulent taxi drivers. You can reach the tourist police on 126 (1).
Mobile phone: Egypt is not one of the countries where you roam at domestic prices, and roaming outside the EU and the EEA can be quite expensive (2). So check your tariff before you fly, or switch off data roaming.
Return journey: When returning to Germany from a non-EU country, you may bring in duty-free, among other things, 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits over 22 per cent (or 2 litres up to 22 per cent), 4 litres of wine and 16 litres of beer; tobacco and alcohol only from age 17. For other goods, the limit for air travellers is 430 euros, and 175 euros for travellers under 15 (3).

My conclusion after so many stories from returning travellers: for many of you, the Red Sea is a wonderful autumn break in the sun – provided your documents, visa and luggage are in order beforehand. If you’re planning a package holiday, you’ll find helpful information in our guide to package holidays and your rights (advertisement). And if you’d like to think ahead about how to get online while travelling, take a look at our eSIM guide (advertisement).

See you tomorrow,
Vanessa

Please note: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Rules can change – please check the latest official information before you travel.

Sources

German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt): Ägypten: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (as of 14 October 2026; accessed 14 October 2026)
European Union – Your Europe: Roaming: Smartphone-Nutzung in der EU (accessed 14 October 2026)
German Central Customs Authority (Generalzolldirektion) – Zoll online: Reisefreimengen (accessed 14 October 2026)