Cairo airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

Every option below starts at the terminal curb or the arrivals hall, so the real difference is price against how much traffic you are willing to sit in. Prices are 2026 estimates in Egyptian pounds; the site converts them to your currency.

Uber and Careem are the default in Cairo because the price is set by the app and there is no negotiation. The catch is the pickup point: at Cairo International, ride-hail cars are usually restricted to marked zones outside the terminal, so follow the signs or the in-app instructions rather than waiting at the taxi rank. Expect a short walk with your bags.

White taxis wait at the rank outside arrivals. Agree the total fare in Egyptian pounds before you put your bag in the boot, and confirm whether tolls and the airport gate fee are included. If the driver will not name a price, walk to the next car. The airport limousine desks inside the terminal sell a fixed-price ride, which costs more but removes the argument, and is a reasonable choice if you land after midnight.

Have small notes ready. Drivers rarely carry change for a EGP 500 note, and the fare is small enough that a EGP 20–50 tip is normal. Save your hotel's address in Arabic as well as English, because not every driver reads Latin script.

Public buses and microbuses run between the airport area and central Cairo for a fraction of a taxi fare, but they are aimed at commuters: no luggage space, stops that are not signed in English, and a slower ride in the same traffic. They work if you land in daylight, travel light and are comfortable asking your way. Fares are in the EGP 10–30 band — check current routes and hours locally.

There is no rail link from the terminals to the city centre. Cairo Metro Line 3 has a station near the airport area, but it is not connected to the terminals, so reaching it means a taxi or a walk with bags. The Metro itself is cheap (EGP 10–20) and beats road traffic once you are in the city, with women-only carriages available.

Budget EGP 300–600 for a ride-hail or agreed taxi to downtown or Giza, EGP 600–1,000 for the airport limousine desk, and US$20–40 for a transfer booked before you fly. Public transport is under EGP 30. All figures are 2026 estimates and move with the exchange rate, so treat them as bands rather than quotes.

Two extras catch people out: the airport gate or parking fee, which some drivers ask you to add, and late-night surcharges on ride-hail apps. Ask about the gate fee before agreeing a taxi price, and check the app total before you confirm the ride.

Traffic is the whole story in Cairo. A run that takes 45 minutes at 6am can take 90 minutes or more on a Thursday evening, when the weekend starts, or on a Sunday morning. If you have a flight, a train or a timed museum slot, leave a wide margin and check the live traffic in your ride-hail app before you set off.

Ignore drivers who approach you inside the arrivals hall offering a ride; use the official rank, the limousine desk or the app. Buy a local SIM or eSIM at the airport if you want to book a car on landing, and keep a screenshot of your hotel address in Arabic. If you are heading straight to Giza or the Grand Egyptian Museum rather than downtown, say so before you agree a price — it is a different route and a different fare.