Egypt: Cairo
How to get to and from hundreds of the world's airports by car, bus, train and other forms of public transport. Updates and requests for inclusion in these pages are welcomed. Information is from many sources including personal visits and may no longer be accurate.
Legal Disclaimer Last Update 07-Sep-12Visas can be obtained on arrival at Cairo airport. Prior to passport control, you will see a number of small booths belonging to banks, which offer visas. Simply pay them US$15, ~GBP 11 or equivalent in Egyptian pounds and they will give you 2 adhesive stamps to put in your passport. Then proceed to passport control.
Cairo Intl (CAI):
Location: 19 km/12 Miles NE of the City Centre. 40 km/25 Miles NE of the Pyramids.
| Airport Overview: | |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1: | Is for all domestic, and those intl flights which are not part of the Star Alliance including Alitalia, Aeroflot, Aerosvit, Air Algerie, Air France, British Airways, CSA, Cyprus Airways, El Al, Emirates, Ethiopian, Etihad, Gulf Air, Hapagfly, Iberia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean, Kuwait Airways, Libyan, Malev, MEA, Olympic, Oman Air, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian, Syrian, Tarom, Tunisair & Yemenia.. It is divided into several halls, which you can easily walk between: Arrival Hall 1 (has an ATM, hotel and information desks), Intl Departure Hall 1, Arrivals Hall 2 (very limited services with no ATM, information desks or hotel desks), International Arrivals Hall 3 (modern terminal with hotel and transport desks, but no ATM). |
| Terminal 2: | Has closed for refurbishments. Airlines have moved into Terminal 3 (Star Alliance carriers) and Terminal 1 (all others). |
| Terminal 3: | Is next to Terminal 2, and is now open. It houses all the Star Alliance Airlines including Egypt Air, Austrian, bmi, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss & Turkish Airlines. |
| Terminal 4: | Is near Terminal 1 and is the VIP/private aviation terminal. |
| Inter Terminal Transfer: | A free shuttle bus links terminals 1 and 3, which are ~2 km/1 mile apart. The bus runs throughout the night and departs every 30 mins or less. Note: An Airport Train system is due to open in December 2010 which will connect the terminals and the Airport Bus Station. |
| By Taxi: | |
|---|---|
| Local Taxis: | Official cairo taxis are Black and white, or just black, and are usually not air-conditioned. Increasingly, yellow air conditioned taxis are becoming available. Locations: Terminal 1: Taxis wait in a rank in the car park outside Arrivals Hall 1, although you will be approaced by taxi drivers as you leave arrivals. Terminal 3: Taxis generally wait outside Arrivals, although you will be approaced by many taxi drivers as you leave arrivals, all offering a good price! Transfer Times: Takes 30-60 mins to Tahrir Square in central Cairo, and up to 90 mins to the pyramids. Transfer times have been reduced with the opening of the new tunnel. Traffic in Cairo can be very heavy, and travel can take much longer than expected, particularly at busy times. Peak hours for heavy traffic are 2-6 pm. Cost: Expect to pay ~EGP 70-80 from the airport to Tahrir Square (central Cairo). For the trip to the airport expect a lower fare EGP 40-60. To Heliopolis drivers usually demand EGP 50. Prices are generally higher after dark. Expect much argument to obtain a realistic fare. Always agree a price before setting off!! Ashraf Taxi: Tel 0127 491579. EGP 45 to Tahrir Sq. Hary Taxi: A very knowledgeable and courteous driver who specialises in sightseeing tours. Contact: Tel 01221 50507, 01021 50507 or 01121 50507. |
| Airport Transfers Egypt: | A 24 hour, British run, airport transfer/taxi service specialising in Egypt Airport Transfers, providing a safe reliable private airport transfer service to and from all major Egyptian Airports. They have a range of vehicle size to choose from to suit your specific needs: Saloons, Executive Cars & 14/17 Seater Mini Buses. Contact: Tel (UK) +44 (0)113 3720290. |
| By Shuttle Van: | |
|---|---|
| Cairo Airport Shuttle Bus: | Runs a door to door shared shuttle service to Heliopolis, Nasr City, Cairo city centre, Giza, Mohandesin, Zamalek, Maadi & the Pyramids area. The use of this service avoids the inevitable problems of overcharging, common amongst Egyptian taxi drivers. They have desks in Terminal 1 (Arrivals Hall 1 & 3 and in Terminal 3 arrivals. Pay at the desk and then proceed to the bus stop (Terminal 1 bus stop is opposite the Intl departure Hall, exit Arrivals Hall 1 and turn left, cross the road. Terminal 2, there are blue signs on the pavement outside arrivals). Contact: Tel 19970. Internationally call +20 19970 or +20 2 265 39 38 or 37 or 53. Hotline +20 12 242 4992. Cost: For groups of 1 to 7 people: To Heliopolis EGP 44/20 mins, Nasr City EGP 50/30 mins, Downtown Cairo EGP 55/45 mins, Giza or Maadi EGP 77/60 mins, Mohandesin or Zamalek EGP 66/45 mins & Haram/Pyramids area EGP 99/60 mins. |
| By Bus: | |
|---|---|
| Hotel Buses: | Many hotels provide transfers for guests. You may be met by a representative before passing through immigration. Otherwise, the hotels have desks in the arrivals greeting areas (in terminal 1 in arrivals halls 1 or 3, in terminal 2, exit and turn left). Hotels with transfers: Concorde El Salam Hotel, Heliopolis, Le Meridien, Hilton, Conrad, Marriott, 4 Seasons, Sonesta, Intercontinental & Baron Hotel & Resort. |
| Airport Bus: | The Airport Bus Service operates from Terminal the Airport Bus Station which is in between all the terminals, and leaves when it is full. It stops at Midan Tahrir (Tahrir Square) in downtown Cairo and also in Mohandeseen, and along The Pyramids Road in Giza. Timings: Runs ~every 30 mins. Cost: EGP 2. |
| Rental Cars: | |
|---|---|
| On-Airport Rental Car Providers: | AVIS has a desk in Terminal 1 arrivals hall 3. Budget, AVIS, eSixT & HERTZ have desks in Terminal 3 arrivals. |
By Train: There is no train service to the airport, but Cairo does have a very good Metro system. The Red line (Line 1) does extend from Helwan, via the city centre towards the airport, but terminates at El Marg. Cost EGP 1. A taxi from here would complete the journey. Note: An Airport train system is due to open in December 2010 which will connect the terminals and the Airport Bus Station.
Car Parking: Car parks are outside each Terminal. Cost: First 3 hrs: Cars EGP 5. Minivans EGP 10.
Airport Tax: Arrival: Passengers can apply for a tourist visa on arrival at Cairo airport. Just before the immigration desks, are a series of booths offering the service. It costs around US$15 or GBP 11 and can be completed in 5 mins. Departure: Departure tax is now included in the ticket price and NOT paid separately on departure.
Money Services: ATMs/Cash machines are not easy to find at this airport, but there is one in Terminal 1 arrivals hall 1, and in Terminal 3 arrivals. Most large hotels in Cairo have an ATM.
Notes: Beware of scams operating at the airport: on arriving at departures, you may be led away by someone offering to fast track you through lines at security. This is not necessary. People also approach you and ask for your passport! Trolleys/Carts are free at this airport. Hotel desks are in arrivals. There is a Post Office in Terminal 3 arrivals.
Airport Hotels: Novotel 291 8520 & Movenpick Hotel 291 9400. A Le Meridien Hotel and Holiday Inn are also close to the terminals. Iberhotel le Passage is near Terminal 1.
Airport Website: www.cairo-airport.com
Airport Tel No: Terminal 1 Information desk: +202 265 5000, Terminal 2 Information desks: Arrivals 265 2077 & Departures 265 2222.
Updated Oct10 ADV. Last Visit Jun10.
