Transport to and from Cairo Airport is rather chaotic, and the easiest option is to use the Uber or Careem mobile taxi apps.

Public buses also run to the airport, but they do not stop directly at the terminals and the journey to the city centre is confusing and uncomfortable.

You can find out how to get around the city in our guide to Cairo.

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What transport should you choose from CAI Airport?

✅ Uber / Careem – the best choice if:

• you’re visiting Cairo for the first time
• you want to know the price in advance
• you don’t want to haggle with taxi drivers – but be warned, Uber drivers will often try to charge you more at the end too, although the chances of this are much lower than with traditional taxis

❌ Traditional taxis – probably not, if:

• you’re not familiar with local prices
• you don’t want to haggle

💡 Alternative:
If you’re travelling light and want to save money, you can use the CTA city bus, which costs just a few Egyptian pounds, but the journey is very slow and less straightforward.

Uber, Careem

The best option is to use the airport Wi-Fi or your own mobile data – which you can purchase, for example, as an e-SIM from airalo.com – to book a ride via the Uber or Careem app.

The exact pick-up point is not usually directly in front of the terminal where the taxis are parked, but typically in short-stay car parks, always about 100 metres from the terminals.

The average prices for Uber or Careem are as follows:

• Tahrir Square – 290 egp
• The Pyramids at Giza – 460 egp
• GEM Grand Egyptian Museum – 510 egp
• Ramses Station – 210 egp

Prices on these mobile apps are dynamic and rise in line with demand. Expect the highest prices between 10.00 pm and 2.00 am, and also between 6.00 am and 11.00 am.

When using Uber, it is useful to be familiar with the Eastern Arabic numerals used in Egypt, which are significantly different from the standard Arabic numerals we are familiar with. When you book an Uber, the app will display the car’s registration number, but in the familiar Arabic numerals. However, these are not actually used on number plates, so you’ll need to convert the Arabic numerals into Eastern Arabic numerals in your head:

• 1 = ١
• 2 = ٢
• 3 = ٣
• 4 = ٤
• 5 = ٥
• 6 = ٦
• 7 = ٧
• 8 = ٨
• 9 = ٩

Taxi

Official white taxis are everywhere at the airport and throughout Cairo at any time of day or night.

However, taxis in Cairo do not run on a meter, and as a tourist you have little chance of negotiating a fare similar to what Uber or Careem would offer. Taxi drivers at the airport know they will always find someone willing to accept their price, so they do not even try very hard to haggle.

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When travelling from the city centre to the airport, you’ll have a much better chance of haggling for a good price.

Taxi drivers usually start by quoting around 500 egp, and you’re unlikely to be able to negotiate a price below 300 egp for the journey from the airport to the city centre.

Pre-booked taxi

In Cairo, it makes a lot of sense to book a taxi in advance through your hotel or via Booking.com.

In that case, a driver (holding a sign with your name on it) should be waiting for you in the terminal’s arrivals hall, and you’ll avoid having to haggle over the fare (which can sometimes happen even with Uber drivers and other apps).

However, prices tend to be considerably higher, ranging from 500 egp to 600 egp.

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City buses

There are many city buses operated by the CTA running to the airport.

Buses stop only at the bus terminal, which is situated approximately 1 km from each of the terminals (location at google.com/maps).

A free airport shuttle bus runs from all terminals to the coach station, making several stops within the airport grounds.

The shuttle bus stop is signposted ‘Airport Shuttle Bus’ and is always located directly in front of the terminal. The service is free of charge, and the bus runs 24/7 at intervals of 10–25 minutes.

Routes and ticket prices

There are many bus routes to the airport serving the surrounding neighbourhoods, which are mainly used by employees.

You’ll probably be looking for a bus to the city centre, to the main bus station “Abd al Moneim Riad” near Tahrir Square. If you don’t see any buses with a route number at the stops, simply ask locals or drivers by repeating the name “Abd al Moneim Riad”. Someone will always be able to help you.

• Route 356– runs to Abd al Moneim Riad station (Tahrir) and also stops at Ramses railway station
  • Fares – 15 egp
  • Modern, air-conditioned buses
  • Express route, stopping only at selected stops (journey time 60–70 minutes)
  • Operates between 6.30 am and 11.00 pm
  • Frequency – every 20 to 40 minutes
• Route 400– runs to Abd al Moneim Riad station (Tahrir) and also stops at Ramses railway station
  • Fare – 10 egp
  • Older buses without air conditioning
  • Stops at all bus stops (journey time: 90 minutes)
  • Runs 24/7
  • Frequency – every 20 to 60 minutes

There is no timetable, and the intervals are only very approximate.

You can usually buy tickets from the driver when you board. On some buses, there is a conductor who collects fares from passengers during the journey.

Always pay in cash, in Egyptian pounds.

Metro

Although many metro maps state that the green Line 3 runs to the airport, it actually terminates at Adly Mansour station, and an extension to the airport is still under construction.

No date has yet been set for when the metro will start running to the airport. It is currently expected that the metro to Cairo Airport will be operational around 2028.

Car hire

It’s worth hiring a car if you want to go on trips to the desert, the Egyptian countryside or explore lesser-known resorts on the Red Sea or Mediterranean coasts.

However, you must always be prepared for very chaotic and unpredictable traffic on Egyptian roads.

The terminal is home to many branches of major international car hire companies.

The average price for a week’s hire is around150 eur.

Compare prices – book a car at CAI Airport

Car hire counters are always available directly in the arrivals halls of the public area.