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Egypt travel health
Is tap water safe in Egypt, what is the emergency number, how do pharmacies work, and what should a visitor know for their health?
General orientation for a healthy traveller, not medical or official travel advice. Confirm emergency numbers and water status with an official source before you travel.
Emergency number
In an emergency in Egypt, dial 123. Save this number in your phone before you arrive, and note that 112 is recognised in many places as an international emergency number.
Tap water
Do not drink
Do not drink the tap water. Use sealed bottled water, including for brushing teeth, and skip ice. Police: 122; ambulance: 123. Staying properly hydrated matters even more when you are travelling, walking more than usual or in a hot climate — but the water has to be safe first.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies ("saydaliya") are common and sell many medicines over the counter, but quality varies — buy sealed. Bring enough of any regular medicine for the whole trip in its original packaging, plus a small kit for headaches, upset stomach and blisters.
Food worth trying
Koshari, ful medames, grilled meats, and fresh flatbread. Eating what the locals eat, freshly prepared, is usually both the tastiest and the safest choice.
Good to know
Travellers' tummy is common — favour hot, freshly cooked food, bottled water and peel-it-yourself fruit.
On longer east–west trips, ease jet lag by shifting toward the new time before you leave, chasing morning daylight at your destination, and going easy on alcohol and caffeine in the air. The body clock resets at roughly an hour a day.
Other countries
Estonia
From spring to autumn use tick protection in forests and long grass — tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme are present in the Baltics.
Finland
Ticks are common in summer in the south and on the Åland islands. In winter, dress in layers against genuine cold.
Latvia
As across the Baltics, use tick protection in forests and meadows from spring to autumn.
Lithuania
Tick-borne encephalitis is present; a vaccine exists if you plan a lot of time outdoors.
Sweden
Summer sun in the far north lasts almost all night — bring an eye mask for sleep. Ticks are present in the south.
Norway
Weather in the mountains and fjords turns fast even in summer — carry a windproof layer for any hike.
Source: Emergency number and tap-water status from widely published travel-health guidance; confirm officially before travel. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Egypt?
Dial 123. Save it in your phone before you travel.
Can I drink the tap water in Egypt?
Do not drink the tap water. Use sealed bottled water, including for brushing teeth, and skip ice. Police: 122; ambulance: 123.
How do pharmacies work in Egypt?
Pharmacies ("saydaliya") are common and sell many medicines over the counter, but quality varies — buy sealed.
Keep your routine on the road
TempoLife tracks sleep, food and movement so a trip does not undo your habits.