Getting around Egypt

Inside cities, Uber or Careem is the easiest way to get around. Between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, take the train or a domestic flight (one hour in the air instead of a 10-hour drive), and for day trips hire a car with driver for USD 50–170 a day including fuel. From the airport, a pre-booked transfer is the least stressful option.

Egypt's airports

Egypt has a dense network of international and tourist airports. Almost every visitor, including those on charter flights from Poland, lands at one of these six:

Smaller regional airports

• Marsa Alam (RMF): southern Red Sea coast, a big charter base for divers heading to Wadi El Gemal and Port Ghalib.
• Taba International (TCP): northern Sinai, occasional charters.
• St Catherine (SKV): small, with irregular flights; tourists rarely use it.
• Marsa Matrouh (MUH): Mediterranean coast, mostly domestic flights in summer.
• Sphinx International (SPX): a new airport 45 km west of Cairo, closer to the Pyramids, with a growing number of domestic and some international flights.
• Cairo "Almaza" (CWE): a former military airport now used for a handful of regional routes.

Where to buy a visa on arrival

Approved airports sell the visa on arrival for USD 30 in cash. Cairo (CAI) also offers a digital version for USD 36, paid by card. The free Sinai-only stamp (under 15 days, only the resorts of Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, no Pyramids) is issued when you land at SSH. The Egypt visa guide has the details.

Airport tips

• Allow 60 minutes from landing to meeting your driver at Cairo (CAI) if you need a visa on arrival, or 30 minutes with an e-Visa.
• Smoking indoors is common in many airport buildings outside Cairo, and no-smoking signs are not always enforced.
• Wi-Fi is unreliable at CAI and better at HRG and SSH. Have your own SIM or eSIM ready (see SIM cards and internet).
• Exchange desks in arrivals usually give a worse rate than the ATMs in the same hall, so withdraw pounds instead. More in the money guide.
• Duty-free at Cairo (CAI) can still be used for 48 hours after arrival with your passport.

Airport transfers

From Cairo International (CAI), the cheapest reliable choices are a pre-booked driver or a ride-hailing app such as Uber or Careem, ordered from inside the terminal after passport control. Hotels arrange transfers too, at a higher price but with no hassle on a late arrival. Ignore touts offering unmarked "taxis".

If you would rather have a driver waiting with your name on a sign, book an airport transfer. It usually costs 20–40% less than booking through the hotel.

Ride-hailing apps in the city

• Uber: Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh.
• Careem: the Middle Eastern rival to Uber, sometimes cheaper.
• inDrive: you name the fare.

Street taxis (white in Cairo, yellow elsewhere) seldom run the meter. Agree the fare before you get in, or simply book through an app.

Trains

Egyptian National Railways (ENR) runs the Cairo–Alexandria and Cairo–Luxor–Aswan lines.

• Cairo – Alexandria: fast Spanish-built trains, 2.5 hours.
• Cairo – Luxor / Aswan: first-class day trains or the overnight Watania sleeper, which is for foreigners only.

Book in advance on the ENR website or app, or at the station.

Domestic flights

EgyptAir and Air Cairo link Cairo with Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh and Marsa Alam. One hour in the air replaces a 10-hour drive.

Buses

GoBus and Blue Bus run modern coaches between Cairo, Alexandria, the Red Sea resorts and Sinai. Tickets are sold online.

Car with driver

A private driver in Egypt is good value and the most flexible way to travel: typically USD 50–170 a day, fuel included. It works well for the Pyramids, Saqqara and Dahshur, Fayoum and multi-city trips in Upper Egypt. Book through your hotel or a reputable operator.

• Car with driver: daily rates, vehicle types, popular routes and booking tips.
• Intercity transfers: door-to-door trips between cities, such as Cairo to Alexandria or Hurghada to Luxor.
• Limousine service: VIP transport, luxury saloons and executive chauffeurs.

For transfers and trips with a driver, we recommend AMEN Limousine.

Guides and day trips

• The best private tours are led by licensed Egyptologist guides, who carry a white badge.
• Popular day trips: Saqqara and Dahshur, Alexandria, Fayoum, and Abu Simbel from Aswan.
• Book through GetYourGuide or Viator, or local operators such as Memphis Tours and Emo Tours.

Cairo Metro

Three lines, and a ride costs a few pounds. Line 1 runs from Sadat (Tahrir Square) to Maadi. There are women-only carriages, usually the two in the middle.

Tuk-tuks and microbuses

You will find them in smaller towns and on the edges of cities. They are cheap but have no fixed fares, so agree the price before you get in.

Getting around on the Nile

• Feluccas: traditional sailing boats in Aswan and Luxor, best at sunset.
• Nile cruise boats: multi-day trips between Luxor and Aswan.
• Cairo river bus: a cheap commuter boat between Maadi and downtown.