We use cookies to improve your website experience and provide more personalized services to you, both on this website and through other media. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy. Please read our Cookie Policy for more information on how we use cookies and how you can disable them.
Flying to Egypt is the best way to reach the country, especially from India. There are numerous daily flights to Egypt from several Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata to name a few. Egypt has two international airports – in Cairo and Luxor. The Cairo International Airport is the primary airport and it is located in Heliopolis, around 15kms from the centre of the city. As the second busiest airport in Africa, it sees more than 16 million passengers in a year. Various international airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Etihad and its own national carrier Egyptair serve the airport. The airport has three terminals and there’s a free shuttle bus to transport you between Terminal 2 and 3. From the airport, you can take a taxi, Uber or a bus to reach the city.
The other international airport in Egypt is in Luxor although this airport is mostly used for domestic flights and charters. This is a much smaller airport and thus lacks several conveniences. However, you can reach the city once you land here using taxis.
Buses from Israel to Egypt are available. In case you are coming from Jerusalem, then a bus trip to Egypt can easily be on the cards. It’s a good idea to book your ticket a day in advance although buses are known to be quite unreliable as the buses tend to break down often. Traveling by bus is not recommended if you are not able to tolerate the heat as it can get quite hot. Make sure you’re carrying plenty of water and some snacks with you.
Travelling to Egypt in a car from other nearby countries is possible but it’s not a good idea. Firstly, the traffic situation can be a little unreliable and drivers in places like Cairo tend to be a little unruly. Also, it can be a little confusing because in Egypt, vehicles travel on the right side of the road.
Although it’s not possible to reach Egypt by train, Cairo is connected to all the major cities via its railway station Ramses Station. It’s important to remember that trains in Egypt are often late and hardly ever run according to schedule. To make sure you get a seat, do remember to book your ticket in advance and try to get a first-class seat. There are some trains that are quite good, with air-conditioning and business style seats per row. However, although these are comfortable, they are also night trains and chances are you won’t be able to get much sleep as the lights remain on and you could be woken up repeatedly for ticket checks. An overall exhausting aspect of the journey indeed!
Travelling to Egypt in a car from other nearby countries is possible but it’s not a good idea. Firstly, the traffic situation can be a little unreliable and drivers in places like Cairo tend to be a little unruly. Also, it can be a little confusing because in Egypt, vehicles travel on the right side of the road.
Although it’s not possible to reach Egypt by train, Cairo is connected to all the major cities via its railway station Ramses Station. It’s important to remember that trains in Egypt are often late and hardly ever run according to schedule. To make sure you get a seat, do remember to book your ticket in advance and try to get a first-class seat. There are some trains that are quite good, with air-conditioning and business style seats per row. However, although these are comfortable, they are also night trains and chances are you won’t be able to get much sleep as the lights remain on and you could be woken up repeatedly for ticket checks. An overall exhausting aspect of the journey indeed!
Travelling to Egypt in a car from other nearby countries is possible but it’s not a good idea. Firstly, the traffic situation can be a little unreliable and drivers in places like Cairo tend to be a little unruly. Also, it can be a little confusing because in Egypt, vehicles travel on the right side of the road.
Although it’s not possible to reach Egypt by train, Cairo is connected to all the major cities via its railway station Ramses Station. It’s important to remember that trains in Egypt are often late and hardly ever run according to schedule. To make sure you get a seat, do remember to book your ticket in advance and try to get a first-class seat. There are some trains that are quite good, with air-conditioning and business style seats per row. However, although these are comfortable, they are also night trains and chances are you won’t be able to get much sleep as the lights remain on and you could be woken up repeatedly for ticket checks. An overall exhausting aspect of the journey indeed!
By Bus
Public buses are common in Egypt, but they tend to be crowded although the air-conditioned ones are much better. However, they are not very tourist-friendly as the numbers are displayed only in Arabic numerals. This is one of the reasons why buses are not popular among visitors.
By Tuk Tuk
Not too different from the local autorickshaw that you might be used to seeing in India, the tuk tuks are a great way of getting around the city at rates cheaper than a taxi. However, it’s always a good idea to negotiate and confirm your fare before you get inside.
By Microbus
These are usually 14 seater vans and are privately owned and unmarked. They are cheap and the drivers will stop anywhere along the route that you ask them to. However, they will also pick up passengers if there are empty seats. There’s no set schedule as microbuses just wait till they are full up and then leave. They are flexible however and can be found typically outside train and bus stations and at highway intersections. Tickets have to be bought right then.
By Servees
Servees or Service Taxis as they are known in this part of the world are just like the microbus but a smaller version as they are usually station wagon vehicles. They run on the same principle – once all the seats are filled up, they leave. You can find them near bus or train stations although they are slowly being phased out now. If you don’t want to wait till all the seats are filled up, you can buy extra seats as that will get you more space and will hurry your departure also.
By Taxis
Taxis can be found in most Egyptian cities. Some are metered and some have fixed fares. If you want to be sure about the fares, check with locals as fares change based on the petrol prices. Taxis can be hailed easily on the road and it’s always a good idea to negotiate before you get inside. Taxi drivers in Egypt are often known to overcharge, so make sure you confirm the fare before the ride begins.
By Tram
In Egypt, only Cairo and Alexandria have trams. However, these are not very useful in Cairo as there are just a few lines that it works, and riding a tram is more of a tourist activity than an actual way to get around the city. Alexandria still has a wider network than Cairo.
By Bicycle
Most people prefer not to go on bicycles because of the heat but in winter, this is quite an interesting way to get around the city. There are a few rental options from where you can rent a bicycle to explore the city.