Cairo Airport: complete arrival guide, transfers and formalities

Your flight lands in Cairo in a few hours, or perhaps at 3am tomorrow (a common slot for flights from the UK). Cairo International Airport is a sort of airlock between your front room in London and your first hours on Egyptian soil. Frankly, without knowing what lies ahead it can rattle you: visa on arrival, changing money, dodgy taxi drivers hailing you, crowds and checkpoints.

Let me walk you through it stage by stage. No mystery, just plain facts, 2026 prices and, above all, the thing nobody ever mentions : why Uber beats the so-called official white taxi every time.

Terminal 2 or Terminal 3: which one will you actually arrive at?

For several years, Cairo has had two terminals for arrivals from abroad. It's important to know which one is hosting your flight to Egypt, as procedures and distances to the city center change.

Terminal 2: the standard

This is Cairo’s “historic” terminal. If you come from Europe (France, Belgium, Switzerland), you land most likely here. EgyptAir, Air France, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, all the major operators stop there. The terminal is functional, not luxurious, but you don't lose your bearings.

Terminal 3: the new

Inaugurated a few years ago, Terminal 3 welcomes some arrivals from abroad and the majority of domestic flights to Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada. These internal connections (Cairo-Aswan, Aswan-Luxor, Cairo-Hurghada), we organize them for you to connect the wonders of Egypt effortlessly. He is more modern, less crowded, with better amenities (clean toilets, decent restaurants). If you are transferring to Upper Egypt, you may pass through here.

Not sure which terminal? Your booking confirmation should say, or ring the airline 48 hours before departure.

Visa on arrival: 30 USD at the counter, no more

If you are a French, Belgian, Swiss or Luxembourg national, you have the right to apply for a visa on arrival. No embassy, ​​no waiting for weeks: you pay when you get off the plane.

Exact procedure

• Once off the plane: look for the “Visa on Arrival” signage. The dedicated counters sit in the arrivals hall, ahead of passport control.
• Cost: $25. Nothing else. If someone asks you for more, politely refuse and go to the next official counter.
• Documents: passport + completed form (we will give it to you on site). A passport photo too, just in case, even if rarely requested.
• Currency: USD only at this point. Keep small denominations.
• Duration: 5 to 10 minutes, queue permitting. Stay calm.

Once the visa is stuck in your passport, head to passport control itself. There, you present your visa to a police officer, he takes a look, stamps, and that's it. For more details on visa formalities, consult our complete guide to the Egypt visa for French people.

Baggage collection and customs control

Passport stamped, you move through to baggage reclaim. It looks chaotic, but take heart: 95% of the time your bags turn up exactly as they should.

Locate your carousel

Large screens show which carousel serves each flight. Find yours and wait. Pressed for time? Staff in yellow vests are usually about and will point you the right way.

Customs control

Then you go through a summary customs check. Agents randomly inspect baggage. If you carry valuable electronics, professional cameras or cash over $10,000, declare it. Otherwise, you cross without any problem.

A word of advice: don’t put your valuables in the checked suitcase. Keep them in hand luggage.

Currency exchange: classic airport trap

Once you have passed the customs officer, you find yourself in the “official” arrivals hall. And there you see colorful exchange offices, with flags. You need Egyptians (EGP), but be careful.

Airport prices are crap

The airport bureaux de change charge steep commissions on poor rates. You will throw away 5 to 8% of your cash for nothing. The oldest trap there is.

My advice: change just the minimum

• Need EGP right away for the taxi or bus? Change £80 to £120. No more.
• The rest you will withdraw at an automated teller machine (ATM) in the city center, where the exchange is better and the fees lower.

Cairo ATMs offer rates close to the real rate and charge a fixed withdrawal fee (usually 1 to 1). It's infinitely better than an airport currency exchange. To properly prepare your Egypt travel budget, see our detailed estimates.

Egyptian SIM card: which one to take?

You want to send messages, call, use Google Maps and WhatsApp. No question of depending on hotel WiFi all day. You need an Egyptian SIM.

Where to buy it

Vodafone and Orange both run small counters in the arrivals hall of the terminal. Pick up a pay-as-you-go SIM loaded with data.

Vodafone vs. Orange

• Vodafone: better coverage in rural areas and Upper Egypt. Slightly less reliable network in town.
• Orange: the steadier signal in cities (Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor). Weaker once you reach small villages.

For a first trip to Egypt, Vodafone is wiser. Take a plan of around with 5 to 10 GB of data. That's more than enough for a week. Discover our advice on internet and telephone in Egypt to stay connected.

Airport transfers: options and prices 2026

So here you are in arrivals: visa stamped, EGP in your pocket, SIM fitted, bags collected. All that remains is reaching your hotel, and you have four ways to do it.

1. Official white taxi: tradition

At the exit of Terminal 2, there is an official Taxi counter. You go there, you say your destination, they give you a voucher, you get on. It's regulated, safe, but more expensive.

• Price: £10 to £20 for the city center (Zamalek, Downtown, Gezira).
• Advantage: no negotiation, traceability.
• Disadvantage: often old car, random air conditioning, no easy emergency call.

2. Uber/Careem: the best compromise

And this is where I say what few guidebooks will admit: in Cairo, Uber beats the white taxi. Let me explain. To weigh up every option, read our full guide to getting around Egypt.

• Fixed price: you know the price before you go up. No negotiation with the driver at the end.
• Recent cars: Toyota Corolla, air conditioning that works.
• GPS trail: the hotel can follow your car live on the map.
• Peace of mind: the app sets the route, so no long detours.
• Price: £10 city center, sometimes less on promotion.

Careem operates in precisely the same way. It is hugely popular across Egypt, and some days its app behaves a little better than Uber's.

Downside: you must download the app and have an Internet connection. Your fresh SIM or airport WiFi (ask for the password at the counter) is enough.

3. Private transfer by tourist agency

A few international tour operators build a private transfer into the arrival. Pure luxury, and also the priciest option.

• Price: £20 to £30 for the city center.
• Advantage: driver with sign in your name, comfort, guaranteed air conditioning, possibility of requesting a stop.
• Disadvantage: expensive, and often agencies make you wait 30 minutes unnecessarily.

If your agency includes it, great. Otherwise, Uber is definitely more economical.

4. Public bus: the thrifty

An air-conditioned bus runs between the airport and the city centre for 2 to £0. Dirt cheap, yes, but you will stand around 20 minutes waiting, be packed in tight, and with suitcases it is miserable. Give it a miss if you land at night.

Travel times depending on your destination

It depends on the neighborhood and the time of day. Cairo is chaotic traffic level, especially between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

• Zamalek / Downtown: 25 to 45 min depending on traffic.
• Giza / Pyramids: 40 to 60 mins.
• New Cairo: 50 to 80 min (very far).
• Helwan (south): 50 to 70 mins.

Arriving late at night? Allow 20 minutes less. The streets are empty after 11 p.m.

Arrival at night: the majority of cases

Let's be honest: most France-Egypt flights arrive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. This is “normal” air timing. You're tired, it's dark, everything seems strange.

Tips for arriving at night

• Relax: arriving at night is actually the calmer option. Thinner crowds, less mayhem.
• Stay vigilant: When leaving the airport, don't hang around. Quickly get into your Uber or taxi.
• Hotel confirmation: let the hotel know you will be arriving late. Certain small hotels shut their reception at 11pm, which leaves you stuck.
• ATM: some airport ATMs operate 24 hours. If you need additional EGP, use the airport, not the street.

Transit to Upper Egypt: Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada

Cairo is just your entry point; you are really bound for Luxor, Aswan or Hurghada and would rather skip a night in the capital. Doable, with planning.

Internal flights

EgyptAir offers internal flights connecting Cairo to Luxor (1h30), Aswan (2h), Hurghada (45 min). You can sometimes have a match on the same day.

Caution: check with the company that your connection is guaranteed. Some flights arrive at midnight and internal flights do not depart until dawn. You would wait 6 hours at the airport.

Night bus

GooBus and other operators offer air-conditioned night buses (Cairo-Luxor, Cairo-Aswan). More economical than a flight, but 8 to 10 hours drive. To be booked on site or online before leaving.

New terminal: recent improvements

In 2024-2025, Cairo improved its airport facilities. You will notice:

• More exchange counters: and slightly better rates.
• Free WiFi: everywhere (well, when it works).
• Cafes and restaurants: some correct addresses, not just airport catering.
• Duty-free stores: classics (perfume, tobacco, alcohol).
• Faster customs: automated scanners and additional agents.

The overall experience has improved over the past 5 years, although Cairo airport is not like Dubai or Istanbul.

Checklist: before arriving

Prepare your arrival now. Here's what to do before getting off the plane.

• Confirm with your airline which terminal (2 or 3) you use.
• Download Uber or Careem to your phone (WiFi during the flight if possible).
• Make sure your passport still has at least 6 months to run after you get home.
• Prepare 25 USD in cash for visa on arrival.
• Inform your hotel of your exact arrival time.
• Check that you have valid travel insurance in Egypt.
• Take a screenshot of your Uber route (without connection, you will need the driver's number).

Frequently asked questions: Cairo airport arrival

And after the airport?

You have passed through the airport, you are at the hotel, you put down your luggage. GOOD. Now think about:

• Connect to the Internet (your SIM or WiFi) and check that Uber works at your home.
• Withdraw money with your ATM card if you don't have enough.
• Rest for 2-3 hours and stay awake until 8 p.m. to combat jet lag.
• Read our complete guide to visiting Cairo to explore the city tomorrow.

Heading on to Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan)? Have a look at our Egypt tour packages guide for fully inclusive options.

You also wonder how choosing a decent hotel in Cairo ? We talk about it too. And for prepare your trip with a complete checklist, it’s over here.

Arriving at Cairo airport is not a moment of panic. You just need to know: where to go, how much it costs, and what pitfalls to avoid. Now it's done.

Have a nice trip to Cairo. And if you have a question at the last minute, you know where to write to us.