How do you get to Cairo?
Getting There5.4/10Harder to reach than about 50% of cities
- Main airport
- Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: alternativeairlines.com, en.wikipedia.org
Good to know
Good to Know
- Cairo International Airport is located in Heliopolis, northeast of the city; plan 25–45 minutes for airport transfers depending on traffic.
- Ride-hailing apps (Uber/Careem) are generally safer and more transparent than flagging taxis; use them when possible.
- The Cairo Metro is the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable way to navigate the city; avoid peak hours (8–9 AM, 6–7 PM) if possible.
- Sleeper trains to Luxor and Aswan are comfortable and economical compared to flights; book weeks in advance during peak tourist season (Nov–Feb).
- Most major day trips (Giza, Saqqara, Dahshur, Memphis) are better visited via private tour or guide to avoid transport confusion and maximize time.
- Always agree on taxi fares in advance if not using ride-hailing apps; meters are often disabled or unavailable.
- Keep small Egyptian Pounds on hand; many taxis and public transport drivers cannot make change for large bills.
- Cairo traffic is severe, especially 8–9 AM and 6–7 PM; allow extra time for any surface transport.
- Train booking for foreigners requires early reservation; separate quotas exist for Egyptian nationals vs. foreigners on many routes.
Airport
- Name
- Cairo International Airport (CAI)
- Location
- Heliopolis district, approximately 21 km (13 miles) northeast of downtown Cairo
- IATA Code
- CAI
- Terminals
- 4
- Description
- The largest and busiest airport in Egypt and Africa, serving as the primary international gateway.
Ground Transport From Airport
Options
Taxi (Official Pre-paid)
- Cost
- EGP 150
- Duration Minutes
- 30–45
- Notes
- Available 24/7 at official taxi desks in arrivals halls. Fixed fares by zone reduce haggling.
Ride-hailing (Uber/Careem)
- Cost
- EGP 100
- Duration Minutes
- 30–45
- Notes
- Upfront transparent pricing via app. Modern vehicles with GPS. Available 24/7.
Airport Shuttle Bus (Go Bus)
- Cost
- EGP 30
- Duration Minutes
- 45–60
- Notes
- Air-conditioned, dedicated service to central Cairo locations (Tahrir Square, Ramses Station). Purchase tickets at counters in arrivals.
Public Bus (Routes 400, 356, 1138)
- Cost
- EGP 5.00
- Duration Minutes
- 50–90
- Notes
- Cheapest option. Bus 356 and 400 run 05:00–23:00. Can be crowded; luggage space limited.
Private Transfer (Pre-booked)
- Cost
- EGP 1,340
- Duration Minutes
- 25–30
- Notes
- Door-to-door, professional driver, fixed pricing. Book 24 hours in advance for best rates.
Day Trips Nearby
- Overview
- Popular day-trip destinations accessible by car or guided tour from central Cairo.
Destinations
Giza Pyramids & Sphinx
- Access
- Bus, taxi, or tour; metro + taxi combination possible
- Highlights
- Great Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Menkaure, the Great Sphinx
- Distance Km
- 20
Saqqara
- Access
- Private tour recommended; independent taxi/microbus difficult to navigate
- Highlights
- Step Pyramid of Djoser (oldest surviving stone structure), tombs, Serapeum temple complex
- Distance Km
- 30
Dahshur
- Access
- Private tour strongly recommended
- Highlights
- Red Pyramid, Bent Pyramid, less crowded than Giza, interior passages accessible
- Distance Km
- 40
Memphis
- Access
- Private tour recommended; independent visit challenging
- Highlights
- Ancient capital's open-air museum, Colossal statue of Ramses II, Alabaster Sphinx
- Distance Km
- 25
Alexandria
- Access
- Day trip by car (private driver or taxi), bus (long-haul company), or train (fast trains available)
- Highlights
- Qaitbay Citadel, Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, Pompeya's Pillar, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Roman Theater, Mediterranean beaches
- Distance Km
- 240
- Travel Time Hours
- 2.5–3 (by car or train)
Wadi El-Rayan & Whales Valley (El Fayoum)
- Access
- Private full-day tour recommended
- Highlights
- Waterfall, lake, petrified whale fossils, nature escapes
- Distance Km
- 110
Ein Sokhna Beach (Red Sea)
- Access
- Private full-day tour
- Highlights
- Beach resort, swimming, water activities, escape from city
- Distance Km
- 135
- Travel Time Hours
- 2–2.5
Rail Ferry Connections
Trains
- Booking
- Official Egyptian National Railways website (enr.gov.eg), mobile app, or third-party platforms (Bookaway, Abela Trains for sleeper trains). Some foreigners-only quotas; book ahead for peak season.
- Overview
- Egypt's national rail network connects Cairo to major cities via Egyptian National Railways (ENR). Sleeper trains operated by Abela Trains.
Stations
- New Station
- Cairo Bashtil (Upper Egypt Railway Station, opened October 2024, 7 km west of Ramses). Sleeper trains depart from Bashtil.
- Main Station
- Cairo Ramses (historic, city center)
Major Routes
~10 Hours (Sleeper), 11–14 Hours (Day)
- Type
- Sleeper (premium) / Day trains
- Route
- Cairo to Luxor
- Frequency
- Multiple daily departures
- Notes
- Sleeper trains more comfortable; day trains budget-friendly. Foreigners charged higher fares; book early for peak season.
~12 Hours (Sleeper), 13–14 Hours (Day)
- Type
- Sleeper (premium) / Day trains
- Route
- Cairo to Aswan
- Frequency
- Multiple daily departures
- Notes
- Popular for Upper Egypt tourism. Sleeper cabins include meals and air-conditioning.
~2 Hours
- Type
- Day trains
- Route
- Cairo to Alexandria
- Frequency
- Multiple daily departures
- Notes
- Shortest intercity route; practical alternative to driving or buses.
Ticket Prices
- Sleeper Cabin
- EGP 2,745
- Ac Express First Class
- EGP 1,525
- Ac Express Second Class
- EGP 915
Ferries
- Description
- Nile River ferry boats operate but are limited for tourist use. Not a primary intercity transport option.
Ground Transport City
Buses
- Cost Range
- EGP 4.00
- Notes
- Very crowded, not always punctual, information often in Arabic only. Not recommended for first-time visitors with luggage.
- Description
- Extensive but complicated network operated by CTA (government) and private companies.
Metro
- Coverage
- Lines connect major districts including downtown, Heliopolis, Giza, and Islamic Cairo. Limited coverage to airport; transfers required.
- Cost Per Ride
- EGP 2.00
- Operating Hours
- 06:30–23:00 daily
- Notes
- Women-only cars available. Extremely crowded during rush hours (8–9 AM, 6–7 PM). Efficient and reliable for avoiding traffic.
- Description
- Cairo Metro is Africa's second-largest metro system with 3 lines covering most of the city.
Taxis
- Typical Short Trip
- EGP 50
- Typical Medium Trip
- EGP 100
- Notes
- Negotiate fare before starting trip. Ride-hailing apps (Uber/Careem) safer and cheaper than street taxis for many.
- Description
- Abundant white taxis throughout the city. Most lack functioning meters; fare negotiation is standard.
Tuk Tuks
- Cost Short Ride
- EGP 15
- Notes
- Budget-friendly and quick for short distances. Increasingly sidelined by government in favor of modernized transport.
- Description
- Three-wheeled vehicles for navigating narrow streets in older neighborhoods.
Bike Share
- Name
- Cairo Bike
- Stations
- 45 stations in city center, El-Sayeda Zainab, Garden City, Al Attaba
- Bicycles Available
- 500
- Notes
- Launched 2023–2024. App-based unlocking and payment required.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Cairo
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.