Cairo, Egypt Hotels and City Guide

Cairo - Getting There

Cairo is easy to reach by road, rail and air. Be prepared for delays if you travel during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca as Cairo's airport becomes extremely busy at this time.

Cairo International Airport has excellent facilities for the traveller that include a fully functioning banking area, ATMs, bureaux de change, restaurants, coffee shops, 24-hour bars, a pharmacy and some of the finest airport shopping in the world. In addition, for the business traveller, Terminal 1 has an exclusive business centre.
The car-parking area of Cairo International Airport is split into two distinct areas: short-term parking is located close to the terminals and has space for 1000 cars and Terminal 1 also has a car park (predominantly, though not exclusively, for long-term parking).

Flights

Cairo International (CAI) is 24km (15 miles) northeast of the city at Heliopolis (journey time – 1 hour). A busy two-terminal airport, Cairo International Airport is used by most major international airlines as well as a large number of local operators.
To/from the airport: There are bus services every 30 minutes, and taxis are available. Special limousines are offered by local and international operators. Hotel cars may also be available.
Facilities: Incoming and outgoing duty-free shops selling a wide range of goods, car hire, post office, bank/bureau de change, restaurants and bar, hotel reservation service, souvenir shops, bookshop and travel insurance services.

Borg El Arab (HBE) is 60km (37 miles) southwest of Alexandria.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, bank and exchange services, VIP lounge, post office and restaurant.

Luxor Airport (LXR) is 5.5km (3.5 miles) from Luxor.
To/from the airport: There is a regular bus service to the city centre (journey time – 15 minutes). Special limousine and local taxi services are available.
Facilities: Car hire, bank and exchange services, Internet cafe, duty-free shops, information desk, bar and restaurant. 

By Rail

There are no international rail links to any of Egypt’s northwestern neighbours. The railheads at Aswan and Wadi Halfa, Sudan are connected by a ferry across Lake Nasser.

By Road

The road border between Libya and Egypt is open. There are two border crossings between Israel and Egypt: one runs from Cairo via El Arish to Rafiah on the north Sinai coast; and the other from Cairo via Suez and Taba to Eilat. Daily coaches leave early in the morning from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel for travel via El Arish/Rafiah to Cairo and vice versa. There are no direct buses from Eilat to Cairo; it is necessary to change in Taba. The crossing from Taba to Eilat is open 24 hours a day. Passengers in taxis and hired cars are not permitted to cross the borders between Israel and Egypt.

Privately owned vehicles may be taken across other borders, provided the appropriate documentation is obtained. All private vehicles entering Egypt must have a three-month triptyche or carnet de passage en douane from an automobile club in the country of registration. The driver must hold an International Driver’s Permit. Visas should normally be obtained in advance; however, travellers entering Egypt via Taba may be able to obtain visas at the border. Contact the tourist office for further details of entry restrictions.

By Water

Main ports: Alexandria, Nuweiba, Port Said and Suez.
The Saudi Sea Transport Company runs a regular car ferry service between Suez and Jeddah. A ferry service usually travels twice per week up the Nile between Wadi Halfa (Sudan) and Egypt High Dam. However, it is occasionally suspended. For further information, contact the Nile Valley Association (tel: (2) 2578 9256). There is also a ferry service that operates between Nuweiba in South Sinai and Aqaba (Jordan).

Hotels in Cairo, Egypt