Cairo Airport to the City: Taxis, Ride-Hailing, and Buses
Cairo International Airport is about 20 kilometres northeast of downtown, and every practical route into the city is by road. Here is how the options compare, and how to reach each hotel in this guide.
No metro, despite the maps
Start with the correction that matters: the Cairo metro does not serve the airport. Line 3 runs east to Adly Mansour, but that terminus is not at the airport, and the long-planned extension towards the terminals has no confirmed opening date. Any guide telling you to “take the metro from the airport” is describing a line that has not been built. Budget for a car.
Ride-hailing: the default choice
Uber and Careem both operate at Cairo Airport, and for most travellers they are the sensible default: the fare shows upfront in the app, the cars are metered by the platform rather than negotiation, and a run to downtown or Zamalek typically costs around 250 to 350 Egyptian pounds. Expect 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, which in Cairo is a genuine variable rather than a rounding error. Pickup points are signposted; follow the app’s instructions for your terminal.
Official taxis and private transfers
White airport taxis quote roughly 16 to 22 US dollars to the city centre. Agree the fare or insist on the meter before setting off. Pre-booked private transfers run slightly higher, in the 300 to 500 Egyptian pound range, and make sense for late arrivals or groups with luggage.
Buses
Public buses connect the airport area with the city cheaply, but with luggage and Cairo traffic they are the slow option, and routes take local knowledge. One useful exception for hotel access: bus 324 stops at Oasis Mall, about 350 metres from the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis.
Reaching the hotels in this guide
Le Meridien Cairo Airport needs no transport at all if you are at Terminal 3: cross the pedestrian bridge from the mezzanine level. Novotel Cairo Airport runs a free 24-hour shuttle roughly every 30 minutes; give the hotel your flight details, or call on arrival for a pickup. Le Passage Cairo Hotel & Casino runs its own free shuttle around the clock over a five minute run. Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis operates a shuttle across its three kilometres; confirm times when booking. Hilton Cairo Heliopolis Hotel runs an hourly shuttle at 20 US dollars per person that must be pre-booked, and Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis offers a roundtrip shuttle for a surcharge, arranged in advance with your arrival details, with a taxi or ride-hailing car as the quick alternative over its five kilometres.
Onward to the sights
For the Pyramids of Giza, allow around 40 kilometres from the airport-area hotels and treat it as a half-day trip with traffic. Downtown, the Egyptian Museum and Nile-side Zamalek all fall inside the 30-to-60-minute band. If your gap is under eight hours, weigh the round trip carefully against a rest at the airport; our day rooms guide covers the alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a metro from Cairo Airport to the city?
No. Cairo's metro does not reach the airport. An extension of Line 3 towards the airport has been planned for years, but as of mid-2026 it has no confirmed opening date, so plan on road transport. Older guidance suggesting a metro link is wrong.
How much is a taxi or Uber from Cairo Airport to downtown?
Ride-hailing through Uber or Careem typically costs around 250 to 350 Egyptian pounds to downtown or Zamalek, with the fare shown upfront in the app. Official airport taxis quote roughly 16 to 22 US dollars. The drive takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.
Do the airport hotels run shuttles?
Novotel and Le Passage run free shuttles around the clock, Radisson Blu operates a shuttle over its short run, and Hilton Cairo Heliopolis runs a pre-booked hourly shuttle at 20 US dollars per person. Le Meridien needs no shuttle: it is connected to Terminal 3 by a pedestrian bridge.
Information last verified: July 29, 2026