Is Egypt Safe for Gay Couples? What It’s Really Like Visiting Cairo
If you’re searching “Is Egypt safe for gay couples?”, you’re not alone. Before visiting Cairo ourselves, we had the same question. Egypt is one of the most iconic travel destinations in the world, but it’s not known to be gay-friendly. So what is it actually like visiting Cairo as a gay couple? Here’s our honest experience.
Is Being Gay Illegal in Egypt?
So here’s the thing, Egypt is legally complicated. On one hand, Egypt does not explicitly mention homosexuality in its Penal Code. However, same-sex sexual activity has been prosecuted under broader morality laws, particularly Law 10/1961, which criminalizes acts described as “debauchery” or “indecency.” In practice, these laws have been used to arrest and convict men for same-sex relationships, with penalties that can include prison time and fines. So while the legal language is indirect, Egypt does not offer legal protection for LGBTQ+ people.
Davey and I (Omie) were nervous to visit, to say the least. But we knew we wouldn’t be on any dating apps and were prepared to step back into the closet for a few days if needed. The desire to see the Giza Pyramids was strong, and having traveled to other anti-gay countries before, we felt confident we could visit Egypt as a gay couple safely. See below for our safety tips.
What It’s Like Visiting Cairo as a Gay Couple
Sadly we didn’t have much time to travel throughout Egypt, since we had just visited Jordan and Israel, but we were so happy to make Cairo happen. We will say this: Be ready for the chaos. Friends had mentioned - and our research confirmed this - that it would be crazy but we didn’t expect it to be that crazy.
When we landed, we were more worried about getting our bags and getting the hell out of the airport than we were about anything else. It was nuts! If you’ve been to either Marrakech or Delhi, Cairo is up there for sure. We even had a weird moment where an airport security officer asked Omie for money for simply pushing his bag through the conveyor belt. It was sketch, and the scams are rampant, but it was not unsafe. A pain in the ass, though. Now, once we got out of the airport, we headed to our hotel and were so glad, upon seeing the roads full of people, that we did not stay in or close to central Cairo because that would’ve been hell. 👀
Our priority there was seeing the Giza Pyramids (and they didn’t disappoint!), so we were fine with going along as friends. Though no one asked, it was a safety measure that made us feel at ease. We held back on PDA, simply because Egypt is a conservative society influenced by Islamic cultural norms, so not even heteros do. it felt strange at first, but it was fine.
How Did Locals React to Us?
They didn’t lol. It seems everyone is busy with everyday life, the hustle of it all, that no one had the time to figure out what we were. You’ll see this if you go. There is such poverty in certain areas of Cairo that, we felt, most people are trying to survive rather than care about who is or isn’t gay. But those that we did interact with (hotel staff, drivers, some locals), they were nothing but kind. And maybe it’s because we were tourists, but we didn’t feel unwelcomed.
What made us most uncomfortable, and you’ll see, was the continuous pestering. There are so many scams in Egypt, we thankfully didn’t come across any, but beyond that, everyone is constantly trying to sell you something, and they are relentless. To be clear, this wasn’t ever unsafe. It was just exhausting after a while. But they are trying to survive, so we get it. Just make sure to reserve a little extra energy for this because it will take it out of you.
Where Did We Stay In Cairo as a Gay Couple?
Oh gosh, here’s a story! So we just said how scammers are everywhere, well. We had booked a hotel online that looked amazing for the price. Views of the Giza Pyramids, rooftop, you name it. We were planning to stay at the Marriott Mena House, Cairo, but didn’t want to spend all nights there because it’s spenny. 👀 It’s literally a walk from the Giza Pyramids (the image above is from our balcony), so for us it was worth saving for. To offset a night, we chose a nearby hotel for a fraction of the cost. When we got there, we legit wanted to cry.
The listing was a scam, the photos used were fake, and it was located inside, yet behind this sketchy rundown garage. At that point, we were so over being in Cairo that we decided to add an extra night at Mena House. Thankfully, the online platform where we booked our initial hotel comped two nights at Mena House, so win-win!
As you can see, scams are everywhere lol. But Mena House was UNREAL. It was the best hotel we could have stayed in; the views alone were worth every penny. The price included a breakfast buffet that was delicious. And there’s nothing better than having your morning coffee as you look out to the Giza Pyramids. Truly there isn’t. We did ask for two beds, just to be safe, but don’t think Marriott would’ve minded either way.
General Safety in Cairo (Beyond Being Gay)
Overall Safety: When people ask, Is Egypt safe for gay travelers?, the larger safety conversation actually revolves around general tourism concerns. Again, Cairo is hectic but we never felt unsafe because we were a gay couple. But always stay alert and be aware of:
Traffic/driving. If you do not pay attention, you can get hurt. We did not rent a car, but if you do, be extra cautious.
Pickpocketing. This plagues many countries and Egypt is no exception. Keep your items in your front pocket and be careful whilst using your phone outside.
Busy markets. You will find that every market is packed: crowds and crowds of people. Although some streets are quieter than others, expect it to always be that way. If you don’t love crowds, like Omie, keep this in mind and visit the Cairo center when you have the energy for it.
Scammers/beggars. You will get this everywhere, sadly. But if you do not engage, they eventually leave you alone. If you do want to buy something like we did, then be prepared for other sellers will try to sell you items. And do not, for the love of anything mighty, pull out massive amounts of cash. Only have enough to buy said item, so that you don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
Our Top Safety Tips for Gay Couples Visiting Cairo/Egypt
We already discussed no PDA, but other safety tips that are good to just keep in mind are:
Pick a reputable hotel, which shouldn’t be a problem. There are plenty! Just make sure the reviews are good. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.
Ask for two beds to be safe! If having one matters to you, email the hotel before coming and let them know if it will be an issue. See how they reply. Well-known hotels rarely care, but again, safety!
Dress modestly as Cairo is very conservative, all of Egypt really, so limit tight anything (and we know you know what we mean 😉). We don’t think it’ll get you in trouble, but it will draw unnecessary attention to you.
Now, this last one, which we didn’t think about but will save you from an uncomfortable moment: lube, condoms, you get the point. If you bring them, put them in an unassuming container. However, if you can wait, we recommend not bringing so you’re extra safe. We are paranoid, so take this as you will.
Our Final Verdict: Is Egypt Safe for Gay Couples?
Here’s our honest answer: Egypt can absolutely be visited safely. It is not a destination where you’ll feel openly celebrated as a gay traveler and/or gay couple, but it also wasn’t a place where we felt unsafe. If you exercise discretion and respect the local culture, you’ll be fine. Just travel aware, not afraid.
Actually, Davey and I are wanting to visit Egypt again because there was so much we didn’t do (Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan) that all of our friends who have been rave about. It all looks so gorgeous, and truly the ancient world you have access to in Egypt is one-of-a-kind. We love Egyptian history so it was mesmerizing to step foot onto such groundbreaking masterpieces as the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx, not to mention the Nile River (we did a traditional felucca cruise and it was unique in so many ways).
We hope this helps you feel more at ease and if you want to know what we did, let us know! We always love hearing from you, wherever in the world you are, so feel free to DM/email us with questions. And as always, safe travels, friends!
Davey & Omie
