Rick Steves Doesn't Recommend This Dangerous Destination To Tourists

Rick Steves is an expert traveler who has been all over the world. He specializes in giving people the lowdown on the best places to go, what to see, and how to dress and act when they get there. Steves is adept at uncovering the authentic experiences of each destination and connecting with local people to find the best spots beyond the typical tourist bucket list. But, while Steves can usually find the best in everything, there are some surprising countries that he refuses to recommend to his readers, such as Egypt, a country famed for its beauty and history that attracts millions of tourists each year.

Back in 2018, Steves published a post on Facebook recalling a visit to Egypt, alongside a photograph of him eating with some of the locals he met there. "A few years ago, I enjoyed a wonderful trip to Egypt," he wrote in the caption. "But since then, Egypt has suffered from a political, economic, and tourism point of view — so I'm not sure that now is the right time to promote the Nile and the pyramids." He then went on to ask recent travelers about their experiences in the country, to ascertain whether his hesitancy about Egypt was correct.

At the time Rick Steves was writing, Egypt was indeed going through a period of profound political turmoil. In March, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won a second term in office following an election that was roundly criticized on the international stage for being unfair, and in the aftermath cracked down on political dissent by intimidating and arresting his opponents. Thousands of civilians found themselves in court for political activism.

Meanwhile, the North Sinai region had been dominated by confrontations between the Egyptian military and Wilayat Sinai, a local group with links to ISIS. Egypt was also noticeably a hotspot for violence and discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ people.

Recent years have seen continued issues in Egypt, according to Human Rights Watch, which notes that in 2024 President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government, still in power, continued its systematic oppression of its opponents and dissenters, and has effectively made Egypt a military state. Unrest and conflicts in the area remain probable. Entities such as the British government advise travelers to avoid certain areas, such as the Egypt-Libya border, where violence is most likely to occur.

But despite political and societal problems continuing to dominate life in Egypt, there remain many destinations that are of great interest to travelers, such as the capital city of Cairo, which features a unique five-star hotel. It goes without saying that Egypt is home to some of the most impressive sights on the planet, including the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the largest of which remains one of the largest structures ever constructed; the stunning Great Sphinx of Giza; as well as the Valley of the Kings. Nevertheless, the country continues to attract international visitors, with a record 15.78 million visitors in 2024.

And surprisingly, despite his misgivings going back almost a decade, Rick Steves himself has since then been back to Egypt, having visited again since for his 2020 PBS travel show. The show sees him visiting Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Abu Simbel and taking in some of the show-stopping attractions mentioned above. However, the show is unusual for having no direct recommendation for viewers to travel to the country. Indeed, it remains under a level 2 travel advisory in the U.S. at the time of writing, with especially dangerous areas under a level 4 travel advisory.

If you do travel to Egypt, make sure to stay up-to-date on travel advisories and avoid areas experiencing conflict. You might want to check out these pyramids away from Giza and this exceptional new museum that took almost as long to build as the pyramids themselves.