Cairo, Egypt

Getting around Cairo

How to travel around Cairo — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-08

1. Cairo Metro

Cheap and fast, with women-only carriages in the middle of each train.

Cost: EGP 8–15 by zone
Tip: By far the quickest way to cross the city, and it avoids the traffic entirely.

2. Uber and Careem

Both operate widely and are the practical choice for visitors.

Watch outRemoves the refused meter, the invented fare on arrival, and the luggage-hostage tactic.

3. Metered taxi

White taxis are metered by law; drivers frequently decline.

Watch outRefusing the meter and demanding a fixed fare on arrival is the standard Cairo taxi problem.

4. Nile ferry and river bus

Public boats across and along the river, cheap and quiet.

Cost: EGP 5–10

5. Getting to Giza

The pyramids are on the city's edge, reachable by metro plus a short ride.

Watch outDrivers claiming the main gate is closed and offering an alternative entrance via a stable or camel operator.

Booking apps in Egypt

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Uber

Widely used in Egyptian cities, with fares agreed before pickup.

Coverage: Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada and other larger cities.
Why it helps: Egyptian street taxis routinely refuse the meter; the app removes that negotiation and the luggage-hostage tactic.

Careem

The regional alternative to Uber, with the same fare-first model.

Coverage: Cairo, Alexandria and resort cities.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.