RUB Transactions in Egypt: real experience from chats
Short answer
Exchange your Russian Rubles for USD or EUR before traveling, as Rubles are not officially accepted in Egypt. Once there, convert your foreign currency into Egyptian Pounds at banks, ATMs, or exchange offices for better local purchasing power.
From real experience
When traveling to Egypt, it is recommended to bring USD or EUR and exchange them for Egyptian Pounds (EGP) locally, as exchanging RUB to EGP in Russia is challenging.
Payment in EGP is generally more cost-effective. EGP can be obtained at banks, exchange offices, or ATMs. The largest EGP banknote is 200 EGP, so travelers should be prepared for a larger volume of cash for significant purchases.
✓ 1 report from chats
In Egypt, Russian rubles cannot be officially exchanged.
Exchange is possible only through private exchangers, typically with a minimum amount of 10,000 RUB. Mir cards are generally not accepted for direct transactions.
✓ 1 report from chats
In Hurghada, US Dollars (USD) and Euros (EUR) can be easily exchanged for Egyptian Pounds (EGP) at banks, exchange offices, and ATMs.
Russian Rubles (RUB) are generally not exchanged at official points. However, some informal currency changers may exchange RUB in larger amounts (e.g., from 10,000 RUB), but at a very unfavorable exchange rate.
✓ 1 report from chats
It is recommended to exchange Russian Rubles to US Dollars in Russia before traveling to Egypt.
Exchange offices in Egyptian cities like Hurghada do not typically exchange Rubles for any currency.