Transfers to/from Cairo

Cairo airport is located about 22 kilometres away from the city centre; made up of four terminals, it is a gigantic airport, the second largest in all of Africa and where thousands of tourists land daily on their way to Cairo and other important Egyptian cities. In short, your arrival in Cairo can be overwhelming!

Today I will tell you everything you need to know about transfers from the airport to the city centre, with the different transport options available in the city: direct transport, taxis, bus, shuttle and even the train. My goal is to make your trip as chaotic as possible and to avoid in advance the most common mistakes travellers make when they first arrive in this wonderful country.

If there is one city in the world where it is worth hiring an airport transfer service in advance, it is Cairo. Avoid the usual pitfalls faced by novice travellers such as unsafe or unmarked transport, haggling over taxi fares, the discomfort of travelling by public transport with suitcases or the remoteness of the train system. By choosing direct transport you can focus on enjoying only the good and fun things Cairo has to offer, which is ultimately what we are looking for on a holiday trip.

Due to the high tourist influx in the city of Cairo you will find several companies, almost always tour operators, that offer this type of service to travellers at a usually reasonable price. Another great advantage is being able to make your reservations online, so that the driver will be waiting for you at the airport on the day and time of your arrival. Depending on the service you hire, the transfer may or may not be shared with other travellers. When this is the case, small groups of 8 passengers on average are usually handled; be sure to clarify this type of details with the company you decide to hire.

Interesting details

• **Duration of the trip: ** Approximately one hour, the time may be extended if your hotel is a little out of the way or if you are travelling during rush hour in Cairo.
• Price: The average price to pay for this service is 25€; if it is a private transport and several people are travelling it can be quite cheap.
• Recommended yes... I recommend it to all travellers, from solo travellers to those travelling in groups, and even those travelling on a budget. You can find very economical transfer options that are just as safe and efficient.

A safe and comfortable option to make the journey from the airport to the city centre of Cairo is a shared shuttle bus, a service that you can hire after your arrival directly at the airport. It offers cheap fares that vary by a few euros depending on your final destination. Bear in mind that this option is generally slower than private transport or a taxi transfer; according to the official website, a minibus leaves every 30-40 minutes.

Popular routes price and duration

You can find the prices and fares to the different destinations on the official website of Cairo Airport; generally they are in Egyptian pound, here I share with you a list of the destinations, the duration of the trip and the estimated price in euros for shared minibus transport.

• Heliopolis: Approximately €3 per passenger, the journey will take about 20 minutes.
• Nasr-City: Approximately €3.5 per passenger, journey time is approximately 30 minutes.
• Downtown Cairo: Approximately €4 per passenger, journey time is 45 minutes.
• Giza: Approximately €5 per passenger, journey time is about 60 minutes.
• Mohandesin: Approximately €4.8 per passenger, journey time is 45 minutes.
• Zamalek: Approximately €4.8 per passenger, journey time is 45 minutes.
• Maadi: Approximately €5 per traveller, journey time is about 60 minutes.
• Haram: (Pyramids area): Approximately €6 per person, journey time is just over an hour.

Interesting details

• Journey **time: ** In addition to the time and distance shared above, you'll have to add the waiting time for the shuttle to depart; and if you're travelling in heavy traffic, the journey may take longer.
• Recommended yes... This is an excellent option especially if you are travelling alone and looking to save money; if you are travelling with friends or family, the sum of the individual price could easily cover a private transfer alternative (seen in point one).
  -Frequency: A bus departs approximately every 40 minutes.

From the airport you can also reach the city centre by local public transport, which is operated by the local Egyptian company Mwasalat Misr; from the airport you should take bus number 111 into the city; there is usually a new bus every 50-60 minutes.

Some points against this option that you should be aware of are: this service is not really a tourist-oriented option so don't expect to find English or Spanish speaking staff; you will have to pay the fare when you get on the bus so you will need small denomination tickets in the local currency; finally, as observed this shuttle service can be very late and can experience delays in arrival and operates only until certain hours and will not be available for night flights.

Details of interest

• Journey **time: ** The bus journey from the departure point to the Cairo Centre takes approximately 1.5 hours, plus waiting time for the bus.
• Price: The price to be paid may vary, but the equivalent in local currency ranges from €1 and upwards.
• Recommended if... You want to save as much as possible on your trip to Egypt; also if you're travelling to the city as a backpacker with little luggage otherwise it could be really uncomfortable.
• Frequency: Every 1 hour.

If you are taking a taxi from the airport in Cairo to your hotel destination, keep in mind that this service is usually offered at the airport exit where taxi drivers and operating companies are waiting for tourists; no matter what time you arrive in Cairo, taxi service is available.

However, taking taxis in Cairo is not an easy task when you are a tourist; many taxi drivers will want to take advantage and charge excessively high fares. The most important advice is to never get into a taxi without agreeing a fare beforehand, as if you do so the taxi driver will feel entitled to charge you whatever amount he deems fit. Some local taxi companies in Egypt are: Nile TAXI and Cairo Airport Travel

Details of interest

• Journey **time: ** Taxi journey time from the airport can vary from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on conditions such as the location of your hotel and traffic.
• Price: It will depend on the deal you get with the person providing the service; approximately €30 for the journey is a reasonable price.
• Recommended if... you have bargaining skills and can communicate effectively in other languages such as English. Otherwise it can be an uncomfortable experience.

Although the Cairo Metro is quite functional and punctual, its service has not been expanded enough to cover the points around the city, meaning that the metro does not go all the way to the airport. If you want to use this transport option, you'll have to make your way to the nearest stop, called Cairo Fair, and take line 3 towards Downtown Cairo.

Few, if any, tourists use this transfer option, but locals use it very often because it's so economical. The first part of the journey is usually done by bus, taking the 111 bus, as explained above, to reach the stop that allows them to board the metro. As with the bus option, be sure to carry small denomination notes in local currency when taking the bus.

See the Metro Map of the city

Details of interest

• Journey **time: ** Excluding waiting time for transport, the journey can take approximately one hour.
• Price: The bus will cost the equivalent in local currency of €1 and upwards, the metro will cost the equivalent of €2 or more.
• Recommended yes... not an option I would recommend in any scenario, if you are travelling alone and looking to economise, the Shuttle Bus is the more suitable alternative.
• Frequency: For the public bus every 1 hour approximately.

If you are planning a trip to Cairo for a few days, take a look at these detailed itineraries to help you organise your next holiday.

• See Cairo in oneday
• Getting to know Cairo in two days
• Getting to know Cairo in three days