What's the biggest scam in Port Said?

The cruise-ship shore-excursion hustle. Port Said sees regular Mediterranean cruise calls, and as passengers disembark, unlicensed 'guides' offer day trips to Cairo and the Giza Pyramids (200km south — 2.5 to 3 hours each way on the desert highway, barely feasible inside a port day) and 'private bazaar' tours that end with aggressive tip demands or padded prices. Use only ship-sanctioned shore excursions or pre-booked operators like Memphis Tours, Audley or Spring Tours. The 'free' tip-only walking-tour pattern is the same scheme as in Istanbul or Marrakech — decline at the start, not the end. Felucca and canal-boat rides quote $10 and demand $50; agree the price upfront, in writing where possible.

Common Tourist Scams in Port Said (and How to Avoid Them)

By The Kakapo Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-05-06 · Part of the Port Said safety guide

Scams and the cruise-ship-shore-excursion routine

Cruise-ship arrival touts: Port Said sees regular Mediterranean cruise calls. As passengers disembark, dozens of unlicensed "guides" offer day trips to Cairo + Giza Pyramids (5h each way — barely feasible in a port day) or to "secret beach" / "private bazaar". Use only ship-sanctioned shore excursions or pre-booked agents (Memphis Tours, Audley Travel, Spring Tours).
"Free" Port Said walking tour: tip-only walking guides who then aggressively demand $20-50 tips. Decline at the start, not the end.
Felucca / canal-boat ride pressure: agreed price upfront in writing. Standard scam: $10 quoted, $50 demanded.
Photographer touts: take photo, demand money. Standard Egypt tourist pattern.
Cairo day-trip realism: 200 km south, 2.5-3h each way on the desert highway. Doable as a long day; not doable as a half-day. Most cruise day-trippers fly Cairo from Port Said-area airports rather than drive, but flights aren't cheap.
Tap water + tipping: standard Egypt — bottled water only; baksheesh expected everywhere (EGP 10-20 porter, 10-15% restaurant, EGP 50-100 driver).
Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP). USD widely accepted at hotels + cruise-port shops, often at worse-than-official rate. Withdraw EGP from a bank ATM for fair rates.

FAQ

What's the biggest scam in Port Said?: The cruise-ship shore-excursion hustle. Port Said sees regular Mediterranean cruise calls, and as passengers disembark, unlicensed 'guides' offer day trips to Cairo and the Giza Pyramids (200km south — 2.5 to 3 hours each way on the desert highway, barely feasible inside a port day) and 'private bazaar' tours that end with aggressive tip demands or padded prices. Use only ship-sanctioned shore excursions or pre-booked operators like Memphis Tours, Audley or Spring Tours. The 'free' tip-only walking-tour pattern is the same scheme as in Istanbul or Marrakech — decline at the start, not the end. Felucca and canal-boat rides quote $10 and demand $50; agree the price upfront, in writing where possible.

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Sources

Scores are the Kakapo Safety Index — compiled from government travel advisories and public crime, health and transit data. All data sources.