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Pyramids, Egypt

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Getting Around Egypt

Air: 

EgyptAir (www.egyptair.com) operates daily flights between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Sharm El Sheikh, Assiut and Hurghada.

Side of road: 
Right
Road quality: 

There are motorways in and around Cairo but the standard of driving is notoriously chaotic and lawless.

Besides the Nile Valley and Delta, which are served by an extensive road network, there are paved roads along the Mediterranean and African Red Sea coasts.

The road looping through the Western Desert oases from Asyut to Giza is fully paved.

Private motoring in the desert regions is not recommended without suitable vehicles and a guide.

Along some roads, the government often imposes convoy conditions for the protection of tourists; this has been recently suspended but check locally for any reinstatements.

Car hire: 

Car hire is available through international and local car hire companies. The driver must be at least 25 years of age.

Taxi: 

Taxis are available in all the larger cities and are metered. In Cairo, taxis are white and black, in Alexandria they are orange and black. Taxis which are Peugeot 504s are 'service' (shared) taxis. Long-distance group taxis for all destinations are relatively cheap. It’s important to agree fares in advance, and preferably after shopping around to get some idea of the right price. Be prepared to haggle if necessary.

Bike: 

You would have to have a death wish to cycle in Cairo. That said, in Luxor it’s a pleasant way to get around town, and there are many places for bicycle hire especially on the west bank.

Regulations: 

The speed limit is usually 90kph (56mph) on motorways and 100kph (62mph) on the desert motorway from Cairo to Alexandria (there are substantial fines for speeding).

Documentation: 

Visitor's own insurance and an International Driving Permit are required to drive any motor vehicle. Carnet de Passage or a suitable deposit is necessary for the temporary import of visitor's own vehicle. All vehicles (including motorcycles) are required by law to carry a fire extinguisher and a red hazard triangle.

Getting around towns and cities: 

The government-owned Cairo Transport Authority runs buses and tram services in Cairo and also operates cross-Nile ferries. There is a central area flat fare. In addition, there are other buses and fixed-route shared taxi and minibus services run by private operators. Vehicles normally wait at city terminals to obtain a full load, but there are frequent departures. Fares are three to four times higher than on the buses with the advantage of a little more comfort. Cairo's suburban railways have been upgraded to provide a rapid transit network, including Africa's first underground railway, the Metro.

Alexandria also has buses and tramways, with first- and second-class and distance-regulated fares. The trundling tram, although quaint, can be very slow to travel through the city.

Luxor has minibuses with fixed routes. A more picturesque way to travel around the city is in a caleche (horse-drawn cart). Aswan and Luxor also have passenger boats criss-crossing the Nile.

Rail: 

A comprehensive rail network run by Egyptian National Railways (www.egyptrail.gov.eg; tel: (2) 574 9474 or 575 3555) offers a high standard of service, with a range of fast and slow services. Routes operate from Salloum on the Libyan border to Alexandria and Cairo, and south down the Nile from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan. There are also links to Port Said and Suez and frequent trains between Cairo and Alexandria.

To serve the Nile Valley tourist trade, several luxury air-conditioned day and night trains with sleeping and restaurant cars run from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan. For the overnight train, make bookings one week in advance through a travel agent, or through Abela Egypt (in front of Ramses Station, Cairo (tel: (2) 2574 9274 or 9474; www.sleepingtrains.com). On Egyptian State Railways, children under four years travel free, and children aged four to nine years pay half fare. Holders of Youth Hostel cards are entitled to reductions.

By water: 

There are slow and fast ferry services linking Hurghada with Sharm el-Sheikh in Sinai (journey times - 1 hour 30 minutes (fast ferry) or 6 hours (slow ferry)). The traditional Nile sailing boats, feluccas, can be hired by the hour for relaxed sailing on the Nile. Regular Nile cruises operate between Luxor and Aswan, and sometimes between Cairo and Aswan.

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