Airports in Egypt: which one to fly into

Egypt has more than a dozen airports with international service, but for a normal trip only five matter. Cairo (CAI) is the hub: nearly all long-haul flights from the US, UK, Canada and Australia land there, and it is the only airport with frequent domestic links to Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. If your itinerary includes the pyramids and the Nile Valley, book into Cairo and treat the rest as internal hops.

Sphinx International (SPX) on the western edge of Giza is the closest airport to the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, but its international route list is short and changes seasonally — check before you build a trip around it. Luxor (LXR) and Aswan (ASW) sit at either end of the Nile cruise route and take a handful of direct European flights in winter; they are useful if you want to start on the river without a Cairo stopover.

Hurghada (HRG) and Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH) are resort airports. Hurghada serves the mainland Red Sea coast, El Gouna and Port Ghalib; Sharm el-Sheikh serves South Sinai, Dahab and Mount Sinai. Both take many charter and low-cost flights from Europe, which is why a Red Sea week is often cheaper to book as a separate return trip than as an add-on to a Cairo ticket.

At Cairo, Terminals 2 and 3 are far apart and are not always connected on foot — check which terminal your flight uses before arranging a pickup. Allow a buffer of at least three hours between a domestic and an international connection, more if you are changing terminals.

Build the trip around one arrival airport and one departure airport, and price the internal flight separately. Cairo–Luxor, Cairo–Aswan and Aswan–Abu Simbel are short hops on EgyptAir, Nile Air or Air Cairo, roughly US$60–150 one way, and they save a day compared with the sleeper train. The train is still the better overnight option if you want to save a hotel night — see the train page for cabins and fares.

For the airport run in Cairo, use the marked ride-hailing zones rather than accepting a driver inside the terminal; Uber and Careem are the default and avoid haggling. Agree the price before a private transfer, and remember that traffic can double the 45–90 minute estimate at peak times.

If you are combining the Red Sea with the Nile Valley, note that Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh are on opposite sides of the country and are not connected by a quick road transfer. Fly back through Cairo instead of trying to cross by land.

Carry small Egyptian pound notes for toilets, porters and luggage help at every airport; attendants expect a tip. Keep your passport and visa paperwork in your hand luggage, not the checked bag.