Cairo

Travel to Cairo

Cairo International Airport is Africa's second busiest airport so there are plenty of flights heading in from the UK. The cheapest routes tend to be from London, but it's worth checking out other major airports too to avoid travelling too far. It takes around four and a half hours to fly to Cairo from the south of the UK; allow extra time for the northern airports.
Cairo Airport website

On arrival in Cairo

Taxis and private shuttle buses are the easiest way to get to your hotel in Cairo, but you'll certainly pay for the privilege. Be sure to set a taxi price with the driver before you embark. Shuttles need to be booked in advance, which means you know your budget before you leave. Public buses also serve the airport, and these are a lot cheaper, although you might need more of an intrepid spirit! Car hire is also available but the driving in Cairo is erratic.

Getting around Cairo

With bad driving and huge traffic problems, Cairo isn't a city you want to see by car. Thankfully, there are some great public transport options as well as the usual taxis. Taxis come in two types, black-and-white taxis have no meters so you'll need to haggle a price before you get in, whilst the all-yellow or all-white taxis have meters, although this might not end up saving you money. There is a metro system that serves central, downtown and Old Cairo, and up to the north too, and local and regional buses will carry you all over the city for a small price. You can even get to the Pyramids (al-haram in Arabic) on public transport very easily.

Travelling further afield

Trains head out of Cairo to the major cities in Egypt. Slow services call at all the minor towns on the way too so check before booking. First or second class is best, and you'll need to book in advance. There are two major hubs for long-distance travel, Ramses Station for Alexandria and Giza Station for Aswan and Luxor. Intercity coach travel can get you even further, with most departing from Cairo Gateway. Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Siwa are all direct journeys, and look out for jet buses to get there as quick as possible. Hiring a car and driving across Egypt is slightly easier than driving through Cairo but is still not for the faint hearted!