Arriving at Cairo Airport (CAI) — also at night: visa, exit, the ride to your hotel
Cairo Airport (CAI) is about 25 km from Downtown Cairo and Zamalek — 40–75 minutes by car. After the visa, passport control and customs you walk out into the arrivals hall; Uber and Careem work, but you look for the pickup point yourself, and airport taxis negotiate. A pre-booked private car with a name sign costs from $35 per car, not per person, with no night surcharge and 60 minutes of free waiting after landing. Prices checked .
- Airport code CAI
- To the main hotel zone ≈ 25 km · 40–75 min
- Visa e-visa or visa on arrival
- Night landing no surcharge · 60 min free waiting
Where exactly does the driver meet me?
After passport control and customs, in the public arrivals hall of Cairo Airport: the driver holds a sign with your name. If you cannot see him, write on WhatsApp — the number is in your confirmation. He follows the flight number, so a delay or an early landing is not a problem.
Cairo Airport has three passenger terminals (1, 2 and 3) far apart from each other — your ticket shows which one you land at; tell us, and the driver waits at that exit. Night arrivals are common and the drive into town is fastest after 22:00.
Do I need a visa, and where do I get it?
Most visitors either buy an e-visa in advance on the official portal or a visa on arrival at the bank counters before passport control (US$25 single entry, according to the UK FCDO). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Rules change — check the official portal before you fly.
Is there a bus, or how do people get to the hotels?
Cairo Airport: Uber and Careem work, but you look for the pickup point yourself, and airport taxis negotiate.
Staying by the pyramids or the Grand Egyptian Museum? Giza is about 50 km from Cairo Airport across the city; the newer Sphinx Airport (SPX) west of Giza is about 30 km from the pyramids if your airline flies there.
How much is a private transfer, per car?
| Route | Sedan | Minivan (Hiace) | Bus (Coaster) | Premium van |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo Airport to Cairo hotels (Downtown, Zamalek, New Cairo) one way | $35 | $50 | $105 | $80 |
| Cairo Airport to Giza & Downtown Cairo one way | $35 | $50 | $105 | $80 |
| Sphinx Airport to Giza pyramids hotels one way | $40 | $50 | $110 | $80 |
| Cairo to Alexandria by private car one way | $200 | $275 | $490 | $440 |
| Cairo to Hurghada by private car one way | $315 | $420 | $790 | $675 |
| Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh by private car one way | $330 | $395 | $745 | $635 |
Prices are per car for the whole route, including the driver, fuel, tolls and parking. The same price day and night.
What if my flight lands at 2 a.m. or is delayed?
Nothing changes: no night surcharge, and the 60 minutes of free waiting start from the actual landing. If the flight is cancelled or moved to the next day, we move the transfer or refund it.
Taxi, app or pre-booked car — compared
| Way | Time | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi at the exit | right away | varies — agree before you get in | the price is negotiated; ask for the total, per car |
| Hotel transfer / tour-operator bus | waits for all passengers | set by the hotel or tour operator | shared bus stops at several hotels |
| Pre-booked private car (us) | right away, waits 60 min | from $35 per car | name sign, fixed price, child seat free |
SIM card and cash at the airport
ATMs and exchange counters are in the arrivals hall; mobile operators (Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat, WE) sell tourist SIM cards with your passport. The driver waits while you buy one.
Sources and checks
- Egypt e-Visa portal (official) — Government of Egypt; checked by us
- Egypt travel advice — entry requirements — UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk); checked by us
- Uber in Cairo — Uber; checked by us
- Egypt’s Sphinx Airport upgraded to welcome 1.2 million passengers a year — Egyptian Streets, 2025-10-22; checked by us
You may also need
- Cairo to Alexandria and El Alamein: train or private car?
- Cairo to Bahariya Oasis and the White & Black Desert
- Cairo to Siwa Oasis: the long road, done in one car
- Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh by road: the Suez tunnel, checkpoints and visa
- Giza, Saqqara & Dahshur day with driver — from $160
- Cairo Airport transfers
Questions
How much is a taxi from Cairo Airport to my hotel?
Taxis at the exit negotiate. A pre-booked car with us costs from $35 per car, fixed in advance, at any hour.
Is there a night surcharge?
No. The price is the same at 3 a.m. as at noon.
What if my flight is delayed?
The driver follows the flight and waits 60 minutes from the actual landing at no cost.
Can I pay in cash?
Yes: pay 50% online to confirm and the rest in cash to the driver, or pay 100% online. Trips under $100 are paid in full online.
Do you provide child seats?
Yes, free on request — tell us the age of the child.
How do I cancel?
Transfers can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before pickup.