Getting around · Cairo · Egypt
Getting around Cairo
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wildoo78, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cairo is huge and its traffic notoriously heavy, so plan days by area: Giza and the GEM; Downtown and the Egyptian Museum; Islamic Cairo and the Citadel; and Coptic Cairo with NMEC. The metro is fast for the centre and Coptic Cairo, while ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to reach Giza and Islamic Cairo. No — driving in Cairo is chaotic.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- CAI, SPX
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Metro
Three metro lines cross the city: Line 1 links Downtown (Sadat, under Tahrir Square) with Coptic Cairo (Mar Girgis) and Maadi, Line 2 runs west across the river towards Giza but not to the pyramids, and Line 3 serves Attaba near Islamic Cairo.
The middle carriages of each train are reserved for women; avoid rush hours, when trains are packed.
Ride-hailing
Uber and other ride-hailing apps are widely used, inexpensive and avoid fare haggling, making them the easiest way to reach the pyramids, the Citadel and Islamic Cairo.
Check the plate number before getting in, and expect long journeys at rush hour.
Taxi
White taxis are everywhere, but meters are not always used; agree the fare before setting off or book through an app instead.
Walking
Downtown, Zamalek and Islamic Cairo are rewarding on foot, but pavements are uneven and crossing big roads takes patience — cross alongside locals.
Boat
Feluccas and small motorboats along the Corniche offer short trips on the Nile, a calm break from the traffic.
Car
Hiring a car with a driver for the day is common and good value for Saqqara, Dahshur and longer trips; self-driving in Cairo is best avoided.
From the airport
Cairo International (CAI) is about 20 km north-east of Downtown; taxis, ride-hailing and pre-booked transfers take about 45–90 minutes to Downtown, Zamalek or Giza depending on traffic. Sphinx International (SPX), west of the city, handles fewer flights and is closer to the pyramids.
Do you need a car?
No — driving in Cairo is chaotic. Use ride-hailing and the metro in the city, and hire a car with a driver for Saqqara, Dahshur, Alexandria or Fayoum.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Saqqara | About 1 hour by car | Car with driver or tour |
| Dahshur | About 1–1.5 hours by car | Car with driver, often combined with Saqqara |
| Memphis | About 45 minutes by car | Car with driver, usually combined with Saqqara |
| Alexandria | About 2.5–3 hours by train | Train from Ramses Station, or car |
| Fayoum and Wadi El Hitan | About 2.5–3 hours by car | Car with driver or 4x4 tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Cairo?
No — driving in Cairo is chaotic. Use ride-hailing and the metro in the city, and hire a car with a driver for Saqqara, Dahshur, Alexandria or Fayoum.
+How do you get from the airport to Cairo?
Cairo International (CAI) is about 20 km north-east of Downtown; taxis, ride-hailing and pre-booked transfers take about 45–90 minutes to Downtown, Zamalek or Giza depending on traffic. Sphinx International (SPX), west of the city, handles fewer flights and is closer to the pyramids.
+What is the best way to get around Cairo?
Metro: Three metro lines cross the city: Line 1 links Downtown (Sadat, under Tahrir Square) with Coptic Cairo (Mar Girgis) and Maadi, Line 2 runs west across the river towards Giza but not to the pyramids, and Line 3 serves Attaba near Islamic Cairo.