Egypt operates a multi-modal transportation network connecting Cairo to Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea coast. The country spans approximately 1,010,408 square kilometers from the Mediterranean to Sudan, with the Nile River serving as the primary north-south corridor for 1,532 kilometers through Egyptian territory. Most travelers concentrate on the Cairo-Aswan corridor, which represents roughly 900 kilometers between the capital and Egypt's southernmost major city.
Cairo Metro began operations in 1987 as the first metro system in Africa and the Arab world. The network currently operates three lines covering 89 kilometers with 68 stations across Greater Cairo. Line 1 runs north-south from Helwan to New El-Marg for 44 kilometers, serving areas including Sadat Station at Tahrir Square, Saad Zaghloul near the Egyptian Museum, and Ghamra. Line 2 extends from Shubra El-Kheima to El-Mounib for 21 kilometers, intersecting Line 1 at Sadat and serving Cairo University. Line 3 runs from Attaba to Adly Mansour Airport for 34 kilometers, operational since 2012. Tickets cost 5 Egyptian pounds for up to 9 stations, 7 pounds for longer journeys as of 2024. The first two cars on each train are reserved for women during all operating hours. Trains run from approximately 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM, with headways of 3-5 minutes during peak hours.
Egyptian National Railways operates the state railway network established in 1854, making it the second-oldest railway system in Africa after South Africa. The network covers approximately 5,195 kilometers of track, though roughly 3,000 kilometers see regular passenger service. Cairo-Alexandria represents the busiest route, covering 225 kilometers with multiple departures daily. Spanish Talgo trains complete this journey in 2 hours 15 minutes, while older rolling stock requires 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours. First-class air-conditioned carriages cost approximately 80-120 pounds, second-class air-conditioned seats cost 50-70 pounds. Trains depart from Ramses Station in central Cairo, built in 1892 and serving as the network's primary hub.
Cairo-Luxor trains cover 670 kilometers overnight, departing Cairo between 7:30 PM and 10:00 PM and arriving 10-12 hours later. Sleeper trains operated by Watania Sleeping Trains Company offer two-berth compartments with dinner and breakfast included for approximately 100-120 US dollars per person. Standard seated carriages cost 80-150 Egyptian pounds depending on class, though seats often lack consistent air conditioning on older equipment. The Luxor-Aswan segment covers an additional 215 kilometers in 3-4 hours, with multiple daily departures and tickets costing 35-60 pounds depending on class.
Intercity buses connect all major Egyptian cities through multiple private operators. Go Bus operates modern air-conditioned coaches on fixed schedules between Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and other destinations. Cairo-Alexandria buses depart hourly from 6:00 AM to midnight from the Turgoman Bus Terminal, taking 3-3.5 hours for 100-130 pounds. Cairo-Sharm el-Sheikh requires 6-7 hours covering approximately 500 kilometers, costing 200-250 pounds. Super Jet operates similar routes with comparable pricing. East Delta Travel Company serves Red Sea destinations and Sinai Peninsula cities from Cairo's Abbasiya Terminal. Upper Egypt Bus Company connects Cairo with Luxor and Aswan, though flights and trains generally offer better time-to-cost ratios for these distances.
Domestic aviation connects Cairo International Airport with 15 Egyptian destinations. EgyptAir operates most routes, supplemented by Air Cairo and Nile Air. Cairo-Luxor takes 1 hour 10 minutes with 4-8 daily flights costing 1,200-3,500 pounds depending on booking timing. Cairo-Aswan requires 1 hour 40 minutes with 3-5 daily flights ranging from 1,500-4,000 pounds. Cairo-Sharm el-Sheikh takes 1 hour with hourly flights during tourist season, costing 1,800-4,500 pounds. Cairo-Hurghada requires 55 minutes with multiple daily departures for 1,500-3,800 pounds. Borg El Arab Airport serves Alexandria with limited domestic connections. Prices fluctuate significantly around Islamic holidays and Egyptian school vacation periods in January-February and June-August.
Nile River cruise boats operate between Luxor and Aswan on fixed 3-4 night itineraries. Southbound cruises typically sail Luxor to Aswan over 4 days, stopping at Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple. Northbound routes reverse this schedule over 3-4 days. Most vessels carry 70-150 passengers across 4-5 decks with cabins ranging from 12-25 square meters. Standard cabins include air conditioning, private bathrooms, and Nile-facing windows. Over 300 cruise vessels hold operating licenses, though roughly 200 operate regularly depending on seasonal demand. Cruise packages include accommodation, meals, guided temple visits, and onboard entertainment, with prices ranging from 400-2,000 US dollars per person for 3-4 nights depending on vessel standard and season. Peak season runs October-April when Nile water levels stabilize and temperatures moderate. Published schedules indicate departures Sunday and Thursday from both Luxor and Aswan, though smaller operators adjust frequency based on bookings.
Microbus networks provide short-to-medium distance transportation throughout Egyptian cities and between nearby towns. These privately-operated minivans carry 12-14 passengers on fixed routes, departing when full rather than on schedules. Cairo operates hundreds of microbus routes identified by destination callouts rather than route numbers. Fares range from 3-10 pounds for intra-city routes, paid directly to the driver or conductor. Microbuses connect Giza Plateau hotels to Cairo city center for 10-15 pounds, departing from informal stops near major hotels. Alexandria microbuses run along the Corniche from Montaza to Borg El Arab for 5-7 pounds. These vehicles follow customary routes without published maps or timetables, requiring familiarity with Arabic place names or assistance from locals to navigate effectively.
Cairo taxi services divide between metered white taxis and ride-hailing applications. White taxis equipped with meters charge 7 pounds initial fare plus 1.50 pounds per kilometer as of 2024, though many drivers prefer negotiating flat rates before departure. Cairo International Airport to Tahrir Square covers approximately 22 kilometers, costing 150-200 pounds negotiated or 100-130 pounds metered. Uber and Careem operate throughout Cairo, Alexandria, and coastal resort cities with pricing 10-20 percent below negotiated taxi fares. Cairo Airport to Tahrir Square via Uber costs 80-110 pounds depending on time of day. Yellow Cairo Taxi Company operates a metered fleet bookable by phone, charging standard meter rates without negotiation. All major hotels maintain taxi stands with vehicles charging premium flat rates typically 50-100 percent above street rates.
Private car rental requires an International Driving Permit alongside a home country license for tourists, per Egyptian traffic law. Major international agencies including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Europcar operate at Cairo International Airport, Borg El Arab Airport, Hurghada Airport, and Sharm el-Sheikh Airport. Compact cars rent for 400-600 Egyptian pounds daily, mid-size sedans for 600-900 pounds, with mandatory third-party liability insurance adding 100-150 pounds per day. Rental agreements typically exclude coverage for the Sinai Peninsula beyond Sharm el-Sheikh without supplementary insurance costing an additional 200-300 pounds daily. Egypt drives on the right side of the road. Speed limits post at 60 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on agricultural roads, and 100-120 km/h on desert highways, though enforcement varies by region.
Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road represents the primary northern corridor, extending 221 kilometers as a divided highway with three lanes each direction. The route bypasses the Nile Delta agricultural region entirely, reducing travel time to 2-2.5 hours compared to 3-4 hours via the delta route. Toll plazas charge 15 pounds for passenger vehicles. The road passes through entirely desert terrain with rest stops every 40-50 kilometers offering fuel, toilets, and food. Cairo-Suez Road covers 134 kilometers to the Suez Canal, requiring 1.5-2 hours. This route serves as the primary corridor to Sinai Peninsula destinations, continuing to Sharm el-Sheikh for a total of approximately 500 kilometers or 6-7 hours.
Desert roads connecting the Nile Valley to Red Sea resorts cross uninhabited terrain with limited services. The Luxor-Hurghada road covers approximately 290 kilometers through the Eastern Desert, requiring 3.5-4 hours. The route passes through Safaga Junction with no settlements between Luxor and the Red Sea coast. Fuel stations appear roughly every 100 kilometers. The Qena-Safaga road offers an alternative route covering 164 kilometers in 2-2.5 hours, connecting the Nile Valley to northern Red Sea destinations. Night driving on desert roads presents increased risk from unlit trucks, sandstorms, and minimal emergency services availability.
The Sinai Peninsula connects to mainland Egypt via the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, which runs beneath the Suez Canal south of the city of Suez. Opened in 1980, the tunnel extends 1,630 meters with a roadway 10.3 meters wide, accommodating two-way traffic for vehicles under 4 meters in height. Crossing requires no toll for passenger vehicles. The alternative Suez Canal Bridge, officially the Egyptian-Japanese Friendship Bridge, crosses the canal approximately 20 kilometers north of Suez with a clearance of 70 meters, opened in 2001. This cable-stayed bridge spans 3,900 meters total length and similarly requires no toll.
Internal Sinai travel follows two primary routes. The coastal route runs from the Suez Canal to Sharm el-Sheikh via the Gulf of Suez coast, extending approximately 400 kilometers and requiring 5-6 hours. This road passes through the Ras Sudr area with scattered fuel stations and rest stops. The central route from the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel to Sharm el-Sheikh crosses interior Sinai via the Mitla Pass, covering approximately 350 kilometers in 4.5-5.5 hours through mountainous terrain. The northern Sinai region, including areas north of El-Arish, faces travel restrictions requiring permits from military authorities due to security operations.
Ferries cross the Red Sea between Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, eliminating the need to return to Cairo or Suez to reach opposite coasts. These services suspended operations multiple times since 2011 due to low demand and operational issues. When operating, crossing takes approximately 2-3 hours covering roughly 100 kilometers of open water. Tickets cost approximately 250-400 pounds per person. Travelers should verify current operating status before planning itineraries dependent on this routing.
Service taxis, called servees, operate throughout Egypt on fixed intercity routes using seven-passenger cars or 12-14 passenger minivans. Vehicles depart from designated stations in major cities when all seats fill. Cairo's Ahmed Helmi Servees Station near Ramses Square serves destinations throughout the Nile Delta and Alexandria. Abdel Moniem Riyad Station beneath Tahrir Square serves Faiyum, Western Desert oases, and Red Sea destinations. Cairo-Alexandria servees cost 40-60 pounds per seat and depart every 10-15 minutes during daytime hours. Cairo-Hurghada servees cost 100-150 pounds and depart when full, typically every 30-60 minutes. Passengers pay per seat, and vehicles will not depart until completely full, leading to unpredictable wait times.
Aswan and Luxor operate local taxi services alongside horse-drawn carriages called caleches. Aswan taxis charge 30-50 pounds for most in-town journeys between the Corniche, Aswan Railway Station, and residential neighborhoods. Caleches cost 50-100 pounds per hour negotiated before departure. Luxor taxis operate on similar pricing for travel between Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple Complex, and the East Bank hotel district. West Bank access from Luxor requires crossing the Nile via the local ferry, which costs 5 pounds per person and operates from approximately 6:00 AM to sunset. West Bank taxis wait at the ferry landing and charge 150-300 pounds for half-day tours covering Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and other sites.
Alexandria operates a tram network established in 1863, making it one of the oldest electric tram systems in the world when electrified in 1902. The Raml tram line runs along the Corniche from Victoria to Ras El Tin for approximately 11 kilometers with 37 stops. Blue and yellow trams operate this route every 10-15 minutes from 5:30 AM to midnight, charging 2-3 pounds depending on distance. Additional tram lines serve interior neighborhoods, though tracks and rolling stock show significant wear. Alexandria also operates yellow taxis and Uber/Careem services similar to Cairo pricing structures.
Tourist transportation to Giza Plateau from Cairo hotels typically uses organized tours, private taxis, or ride-hailing applications. The distance from central Cairo to the Giza Pyramids spans approximately 17 kilometers, requiring 30-60 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Uber and Careem charge 60-90 pounds from Tahrir Square to the Giza Plateau entrance. Tour operators offer half-day and full-day packages including transportation, entrance fees, and guide services for 400-1,200 pounds per person. The Cairo Metro does not directly serve the Giza Plateau; the closest station, Giza Station on Line 2, lies approximately 10 kilometers from the pyramids, requiring taxi connection.
Convoy systems formerly required tourists traveling between Luxor and Aswan or to Abu Simbel to join police-escorted convoys departing at fixed times. These requirements relaxed significantly after 2018, and most routes no longer mandate convoy travel. Abu Simbel remains an exception in practice, with most tour operators organizing 3:30-4:00 AM departures from Aswan to arrive before peak heat. The journey covers approximately 280 kilometers southward requiring 3-3.5 hours each direction on a paved two-lane road through desert terrain. Private car rentals may encounter checkpoint requirements to join convoys or provide documentation of travel plans, varying by current security assessments. Domestic flights from Aswan to Abu Simbel operate 3-4 times weekly, taking 30 minutes and costing 2,500-4,000 pounds round-trip, eliminating ground travel variables.
Western Desert oases require dedicated transportation planning due to sparse public services and long distances between settlements. Siwa Oasis lies approximately 560 kilometers west of Alexandria and 830 kilometers from Cairo via Marsa Matruh. West Delta Bus Company operates daily service from Cairo's Turgoman Terminal to Siwa, departing around 9:00 AM and requiring 10-12 hours for 150-200 pounds. The route passes through Marsa Matruh with a rest stop, continuing south into the desert to Siwa near the Libyan border. Bahariya Oasis sits 370 kilometers southwest of Cairo, reachable by daily buses departing around 8:00 AM and arriving after 5-6 hours for 80-120 pounds. Upper Egypt Bus Company and private operators serve this route. Dakhla and Kharga Oases in the southern Western Desert connect via less frequent bus services, typically 2-3 departures weekly from Cairo, requiring 8-10 hours to Kharga and 12-14 hours to Dakhla.
Nile feluccas provide traditional sailing transportation between Aswan and locations immediately up or downriver. These wooden sailing boats, typically 6-10 meters in length, carry 6-12 passengers for short excursions of 1-3 hours costing 100-200 pounds per boat negotiated. Multi-day felucca journeys from Aswan toward Kom Ombo or Edfu offer basic overnight camping experiences on riverbanks or aboard the boat for 300-600 pounds per person per day including simple meals. These longer journeys cover 15-30 kilometers daily depending on wind conditions, as feluccas lack motors and sail entirely by wind power.
Transportation apps used in Egypt include Uber and Careem for ride-hailing, available in Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Luxor. Both accept cash or credit card payment, with credit cards requiring Egyptian-registered accounts or international cards set up before arrival. Uber Black offers premium vehicle service at approximately double standard UberX rates. Careem Plus provides similar premium service. Cairo Metro operates an official mobile app providing line maps and station information, though ticket purchase still requires in-person transactions at station windows.