Egypt on an Italian Licence — Cairo Makes Naples Look Calm

An Italian driver has a head start in Egypt that a Northern European does not: you already understand traffic that flows by confidence and improvisation rather than strict lane order. The difference is one of degree, and a couple of rules you would not expect.

It is busier than home — genuinely. Egyptian traffic is rated Very Challenging, a notch above even the lively standards of Naples or Palermo. Lanes in Cairo and Alexandria are advisory at best, gaps close the instant they open, and the horn does the work an indicator would. Your instinct to hold your ground and merge decisively serves you well; what catches Italians out is the sheer unpredictability after dark, when unlit vehicles, pedestrians and animals appear without warning. Keep a steady line, read intentions early, and take your first day on calmer roads — a Red Sea resort rather than the capital.

The EU licence is not enough. This is the surprise. Within Europe your Italian licence is all you need; Egypt requires an International Driving Permit carried alongside it. Sort it in Italy before you fly, because it cannot be issued in Egypt, and together they cover stays of up to 3 months.

Alcohol is zero, not 0.05. Egypt enforces a flat 0.0 BAC, with none of the small Italian allowance and far harsher penalties. If you are driving, do not drink at all.

The posted limits are low — 60 km/h in towns, 90 rural, 100 on the highways — but the danger is rarely the number; it is what steps into the road. Minor speeding costs around EGP 300-500. The upside is fuel: roughly $0.35/litre, a fraction of Italian prices, so the long desert routes cost almost nothing. Emergency services answer on 122. Read the full rules on our Egypt driving guide, and confirm the permit requirement with the Driving Permit Checker before you book a self-drive.