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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 welcomed by e-mail to Steve. Information is from many sources including personal visits and may no longer be accurate.  Please note I am an airline pilot, not a travel agent and cannot provide any travel services. Legal Disclaimer  Last Update 28Jan08

Cairo       Rest of Egypt

Visas 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 8 or equivalent in Egyptian pounds and they will give you 2 adhesive stamps to put in your passport. Then proceed to passport control.
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Cairo Intl (CAI):  Location: 19 km/12 Miles NE of the City Centre. 40 km/25 Miles NE of the Pyramids.  Airport Overview: 4 Terminals: Terminal 1 is for all domestic, and some intl flights. 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). Airlines include Aeroflot, Aerosvit, Air Algerie, Air France, CSA, Cyprus Airways, Egypt Air, El Al, Ethiopian, KLM, Libyan, Malev, MEA, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, Syrian, Tarom, Tunisair & Yemenia. Terminal 2 is for Intl flights only, and is used by foreign airlines including Alitalia, Austrian, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Hapagfly, Iberia, Kenya Airways, Korean, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Olympic, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian, Singapore Airlines, Swiss & Turkish Airlines. However, some Egypt Air flight seem to operate from here. It is divided into departure and arrivals buildings, which are side by side. No ATM was obvious in the terminal. Terminal 3 is next to Terminal 2, but is still under construction. Terminal 4 is near Terminal 1 and is the VIP/private aviation terminal. There is a free shuttle bus between terminals 1 and 2.


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 2: Taxis generally wait outside Arrivals, although you will be approaced by many taxi drivers as you leave arrivals, all offering a good price! There is a taxi office in Terminal 2 Arrivals.
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.
For pre-booked cars from the airport, see www.cairotaxi.com.

By Limo: Several Limousine companies have desks in the arrivals areas of Terminals 1 and 2, including Shahd Limousine, Targets Limousine & Limousine Misr. Find limo service, click here.
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 2 arrivals (left side as you exit customs). 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.
Resorthoppa.com: Resorthoppa.com can arrange transfer by minivan, coach or taxi from this airport. Click here to book.

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.
The following buses are reported by several sources to run, but in February 2007 I could find no trace of any of them:
Airport Bus: The Airport Bus Service operates from Terminal 1 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. Runs ~every 30 mins for EGP 2.
Bus #400 Bus#400 leaves the airport ~every 30 mins during the day and ~every hour at night. Cost EGP 0.5.
Bus #422: Bus #422 leaves the airport every hour 0600-2400 to and from Tahrir Sq. Cost EGP 0.5.
Other Buses: Minibus #27 also runs. Cost EGP 0.5.
Air-con Coaches: There are air-conditioned coaches (#355 & #357) from the Airport to the Pyramids. Cost EGP 3.

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.  Inter Terminal Transfer: A free shuttle bus links the 2 terminals, which are ~2 km/1 mile apart. The bus runs throughout the night and departs every 30 mins or less.
Rental Cars:
On-Airport Rental Car Providers: AVIS has a desk in Terminal 1 arrivals hall 3. Budget, EUROPCAR, Oroba, HERTZ, CRC & Thrifty claim to be represented here, but I could find no trace in February 2007.
Weblinks: Click here to book -----> Car Trawler Car Hire.

Car Parking: Terminal 1: Car parks are outside each hall. Terminal 2. Car Parking is reached by a free shuttle bus that passes outside the terminal.  Airport Tax: Arrival: Passengers can apply for a tourist visa on arrival at Cairo airport. Just before the immigration desks, on the left are a series of booths offering the service. It costs around US$15 or GBP 10 and can be completed in 5 mins. Departure: Departure tax is now included in the ticket price and NOT paid separately on departure.  Notes: ATMs/Cash machines are not easy to find at this airport, but there is one in Terminal 1 arrivals hall 1. Most large hotels in Cairo have an ATM. 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!  Airport Hotels: Novotel 291 8520 & Movenpick Hotel 291 9400. A Le Meridien Hotel is under construction.  Airport Tel No: Terminal 1 Information desk: +202 265 5000, Terminal 2 Information desks: Arrivals 265 2077 & departures 265 2222.  Updated Dec07 ADV.  Last Visit Feb07  [back].[top]

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Travel guide created by Steve Pells

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