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Planning a trip to Egypt can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience, given the country's rich history, vibrant culture, and bustling cities. To make your journey smoother and more enjoyable, we've compiled a list of the top 6 apps that will enhance your travel experience in Egypt.
Whether you're looking to explore activities and attractions, order food and essentials, or navigate the busy streets, these apps have got you covered. In this guide, we'll introduce you to the best apps for activities, delivery, and transportation, ensuring that your trip to Egypt is as seamless and memorable as possible.
See below our top 6 apps for your next trip to Egypt. From discovering hidden gems with Fosha and Shouf to enjoying the convenience of Talabat for all your delivery needs, and effortlessly getting around InDrive, Careem, Uber, and GoBus. These apps will be your perfect travel companions!
In this article:
Apps for Activities: Shouf, Fosha
Delivery App: Talabat
Transportation Apps: InDrive, Careem, Uber, GoBus
Apps for Activities
Shouf is a very well-done and user-friendly platform that offers activities and experiences from various providers in not only Egypt but Qatar, the UAE and Turkey. They have both a website and an app which makes it very easy to book your next adventure on the go.
In Egypt activities are offered for the following 10 governorates: Cairo, El Gouna, Hurghada, Fayoum, Luxor, Aswan, Marsa Alam, Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, and the Black and White Desert.
Fosha is quite similar to Shouf but only offers experiences in Cairo. It is a great starting point if you want to find out-of-the-box activity ideas in the city to make your stay like no other. So whether you want to do a pottery class, a simple tour, volunteer with a local food bank, or go kayaking on the Nile, Fosha has something for you.
Delivery App
Talabat is one of Egypt’s most famous food delivery apps and operates in about 25 cities in Egypt. The app is very easy to use, our only advice is to pay using Egyptian currency through the cash-on-delivery option. So if you need a quick meal delivered to your doorstep this is the one for you.
Transportation Apps
So let's be real: Cairo but also Egypt as a whole is not very walkable, not much is made for you to be able to walk from point A to point B. Cairo is the most difficult to walk in, sidewalks (when existant) are narrow and often used as extensions of shops or parking spaces. When we tried to walk in Cairo, our Google Maps route was indicating us to walk on the speedway, locals do it but we were not comfortable with this idea. So, as a foreigner not willing to risk your life, having cheap and reliable transportation apps ready to use is a must when in Egypt.
InDrive, originally known as inDriver, is a ride-hailing app that offers a unique "bid your price" model, allowing you to negotiate the fare through the app directly with potential drivers. This feature puts you directly in the Egyptian mood as bargaining and negotiating is a huge part of the culture. InDrive works in the whole country and even offers a 'city-to-city' option for longer drives. It is a very cost-effective transportation option that we used a lot during our 3-week itinerary.
Careem is a widely-used ride-hailing service in the Middle East, including Egypt. It offers various services such as ride-hailing, food delivery, and package delivery. Careem's ride options range from budget-friendly cars to more luxurious vehicles, and it also provides services like Careem Bike and Careem Bus for different transportation needs.
Uber, operates extensively in Egypt, providing a range of services including UberX, Uber Select, and Uber Scooter. Uber is quite reliable in Egypt bus does not work in all cities. We mainly used it in Cairo where it offers an extensive driver network.
Which one should you use and when?
When comparing InDrive, Careem, and Uber in Egypt, each app has distinct advantages catering to different needs:
InDrive stands out for its fare negotiation option, which makes it a very budget-friendly app, the cars might not be as nice and comfy but for short rides it is totally ok. The great thing about this app is that you can use it anywhere in Egypt not just in the capital city.
Careem offers a wide variety of services and vehicle options, making it a versatile choice for different transportation needs, from budget to luxury.
Uber, with its extensive network and reliable service, is ideal for those seeking consistency, it can be a bit more expensive than Careem or InDrive for a similar service but will be much less than negotiating your rate with a Taxi driver.
GoBus is a prominent transportation company in Egypt, specializing in intercity bus travel. Known for its good network on most visited routes in the country it is used by both locals and tourists. GoBus connects major cities and tourist destinations across the country, offering a comfortable and affordable alternative to the national railway service which is very expensive for foreigners as the government imposes a much higher rate on foreigners than on locals for the same ticket. The GoBus app allows you to easily book tickets if you have an Egyptian sim card. You can choose seat preferences from a range of service levels from economy to Business Elite. If you do not have an Egyptian number you can still download the app to access the timetables and fares and head to the nearest GoBus station to purchase your tickets there.
