Cairo International Airport (CAI) — Taxi Fare Guide
Cairo International has several taxi tiers. Old black-and-white metered taxis are being phased out; the practical choices are the official airport limousine desks inside arrivals (fixed, pre-paid prices), regular white metered taxis, and ride-hailing apps. Meters are frequently "broken" for tourists, so agreeing the fare before you get in is the norm for any street taxi.
The single biggest tip is to use Uber or Careem, both of which operate reliably at the airport with transparent upfront pricing and no haggling. A Downtown trip through the apps typically runs 200-350 EGP. The official arrivals limousine counters charge more, often 400-700 EGP to central Cairo, but are safe and fixed-price. Avoid unofficial "helpers" who steer you to overpriced cars.
If you take a street taxi, negotiate firmly and expect to pay 250-450 EGP to Downtown or Zamalek. Note that Cairo's airport pickup point for ride-hailing may be a designated lot, so follow the app's directions. A small tip is appreciated but not obligatory.
| Destination | Approx. fare | Time |
| Downtown Cairo (Uber/Careem) | 200-350 EGP | 30-50 min |
| Downtown Cairo (official limousine) | 400-700 EGP | 30-50 min |
| Zamalek / Gezira | 250-450 EGP | 35-55 min |
| Giza / Pyramids | 350-600 EGP | 50-80 min |
Practical tips: Download Uber or Careem before you land for the fairest price. For street or limousine taxis, agree the total in advance and have small Egyptian pound notes ready. Traffic is unpredictable, so allow extra time and be wary of anyone offering an unsolicited ride inside the terminal.
Other ways to the city
Cairo Airport is not yet on a metro line, but a new light rail plus airport buses give budget alternatives to a taxi.
- Cairo LRT (Light Rail Transit) - the Adly Mansour station in eastern Cairo connects to Metro Line 3, and airport shuttle buses link the terminals to the LRT. Total cost is only a few EGP but expect 70-90 minutes and transfers with luggage.
- Airport buses - CTA/Mwasalat Misr air-conditioned services run from the terminals toward Heliopolis, Nasr City, Tahrir Square and Giza for roughly EGP 10-30, taking 60-90 minutes.
- Free inter-terminal shuttle - a complimentary bus circulates between Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and the car parks, running around the clock.
- Hotel and pre-booked transfers - most Cairo and Giza hotels arrange a fixed-price car for about EGP 500-900, which removes negotiation on arrival.
Cairo — Highlights in photos
Fares are researched from official and public sources and are approximate — always confirm the meter or fixed fare before you travel.