Cairo, Egypt is the capital city of Egypt and, with a total population of more than 16,000,000, one of the biggest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. It’s also the 19th biggest city globally, and among the world’s most densely populated cities.

Cairo, EgyptPositioned on the River Nile, Cairo is feted for its own history, saved in the great medieval Islamic town and Coptic sites in Old Cairo.

The Egyptian Museum in the middle of the city is an absolute must see, with its numerous traditional Egyptian artifacts, as is shopping at the Khan al-Khalili bazaar in Islamic Cairo.

No Cairo tour would be acceptable without a day trip to the Giza Pyramids, and to the close by Saqqara Pyramid, where visitors will see Egypt’s most important step pyramid built by Imhotep for the 3rd dynasty pharaoh Djoser.

Though decisively attached to the past, Cairo is also base for a colourful contemporary society. The Tahrir Square area located in downtown Cairo area, built in the 19th century under the rule of Khedive Ismail, has attempted to be a “Paris on the Nile”.

A felucca ride on the Nile is a great method to flee from the busy town, as is a trip to the pyramids. Cairo, Egypt is best to go visit in the autumn or spring, when the weather isn’t so hot.

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Dreaming about an Egypt Nile Cruise?

The Nile River gave birth to one of the planet’s greatest ancient civilizations three thousand years before the birth of Christ: Egypt.

The landscape became the ground for the start of the civilized world and the earliest country ever to be conceived, for it was blessed with water, fruitful soil, and sunshine.

These days, travelling through the length of the provoking Nile Stream is less complicated and more convenient than ever with the plethora of Nile cruises available.

Good to Know About Egypt Nile Cruises

When returning to Cairo International Airport for departure, allow plenty of time (2-3 hours to be safe) to get to the airport, as the roads can be very congested.

The new airport road connects the airport with the intersection of the Ring Road and Suez Road and doesn’t have traffic jams. If you depart on Friday morning/mid-day, the trip to the airport will be quick, as roads are deserted while people go to the mosque for Friday prayers.

If you need help upon departure as well as transport from your accommodation of choice please see our Airport transfer services.

Which Terminal?

Egyptair and all Star Alliance airlines (Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines, LOT etc.) are leaving from Terminal 3. Saudi Arabian Airlines leaves from Terminal 1 Hall 2. All other airlines (Sky Team, Oneworld, Emirates, Etihad, etc.) leave from Terminal 1 Hall 1.

Security Checkpoints

Upon arriving to the airport, you need to pass through a security checkpoint before you can get to the ticket counter/check-in area. You must bring a print-out with you of your itinerary or ticket to show the security staff, in order to pass through the checkpoint. You will pass through a second security checkpoint just before boarding your aircraft.

Allow plenty of time for getting through the security checkpoints and checking in, as lines can be long. Note that there is no baggage room at the airport. You can avoid the queues by using the Airport’s “Exclusive Service” which will do all the check-in and emigration formalities for you while you wait in a comfortable lounge and then let’s you jump the lines at the first security check and passport control.

Duty Free Shopping

Both terminals offer a good variety of duty free shops and restaurants. In Terminal 1 you’ll find some Egyptair Duty Free shops opposite the gates. More shops and designer outlets are on the first floor. The lounges, a pub, McDonald’s and Coffee Shops such as Starbucks are on the second floor.

Terminal 3 has a central market place and food court. The shops in the concourses are limited. Gates in both terminals open maximum one hour prior to departure. Observe the flight data displays for delays as seating in front of the gates is very limited.

Part 1: Traveling to Cairo by Plane – Arrival in Cairo International Airport

Discover the best of Cairo, Egypt. Explore our Cairo Day Trips

When you travel to Cairo by plane you will arrive in Cairo International Airport (IATA: CAI) which is the second biggest airport in Africa with more than 16 million passengers a year.

Cairo Airport is well served by Egyptair, the national carrier and its Star Alliance partners (Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, BMI, LOT and starting may 2011 Continental), Sky Team (Air France, KLM, Delta, Alitalia), Oneworld (British Airways), Gulf Carriers (Emirates, Etihad) as well as budget carriers TUI-fly and Jet-Air-Fly).

Arrival in Cairo Airport

Go ahead and exchange some money upon arrival in the airport. It is best to do this before going through customs. ATMs for all mayor cards are available in the arrival halls. Visas are available at the bank counters before immigration. At these counters you can exchange cash. The Visas cost USD 15 and can also be paid in other currencies. Change is given in EGP or USD.

If you need help upon arrival as well as transport to your accommodation of choice please see our Airport transfer services.

Visitors are allowed to buy duty free articles on arrival. If you’re visiting European or American friends they are always keen to get your passports to get more booze and cigarettes than the excepted quantity at customs. At the airport, the additional quantity is 4 bottles of alcohol.

In Terminal 3 there is one shop before immigration opposite the smoker’s lounge (well not really). A much bigger one with a broader variety is found in the arrival hall after customs. At the check-out a customs official will check your passport and give approval for the purchase. You can be accompanied by the person picking you up (i.e. your host can choose the booze and pay while you only provide your passport).

3 Terminals

The airport has three terminals, the latest of which was opened in 2009. Egypt-Air and all Star Alliance members now operate all flights to and from the new Terminal 3.

Most other airlines arrive at Terminal 1. Terminal 2 is closed since 2010 for renovation works.

Free Shuttle Bus

A free shuttle bus runs between the two terminals and the bus station every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. Taxi drivers trying to lure you at the airport will try to tell you otherwise regarding the shuttle bus, but go outside the terminal and you will find the free shuttle bus.

At Terminal 3 it is located at the arrival level at the end of the bus lane (turn right after the exit).

At Terminal 1 the Shuttle Bus stops are at Hall 3 in front of the AirMall and at Hall 1 at the curb side. Unfortunately the bus stops are not marked. Sometimes you have to change busses at the bus station due to the driver’s coffee break.

Hotels near Cairo International Airport

The airport is on the north-eastern outskirts of the city at Heliopolis. If you want to spend the night at the airport,there are currently two hotels available: Novotel Cairo Airport and Le Passage.

A new 5-Star Hotel is beeing build at Terminal 3. There are other lodging options in nearby Heliopolis.

Part 2: Traveling to Cairo by Plane – Depature from Cairo International Airport

Discover the best of Cairo, Egypt. Explore our Cairo Day Trips

When you are seeking the best Egypt tours, decades of expertise in making dreams and hopes become true, together with a really flexible package of tours and accommodation, is of utmost importance.

Most Egypt sightseeing vacations are targeted on the significant ancient Egyptian sites in Cairo and Luxor and so the best Egypt tours will have a school trained and approved expert guides to answer questions and deliver transient lectures on each place visited.

If you want a customized service and a seriously more detailed experience of express sites, you may wish to explore the various options for a private guided Egypt tour package. These trips will make a visit more personalised and informative. For instance, the best private Egypt tours may be able to visit sites and locations that are basically unavailable to bigger groups of any sort.

A few of the best Egypt tours

12 Day Egypt Nile Cruise Tour

Enjoy a truly grand journey on the classical Egypt Nile Cruise Tour. It takes in some of the most famous, notable, and treasured sites of ancient Egyptian history as well as some contemporary “hot spots” during this fully escorted, 12 day adventure.

10 Day Egypt Highlights Tour

See the “Best of Egypt” on the remarkable ten-day Egypt Highlights Tour that takes travelers to some of the most famous sites of Egypt, including ancient historical locations and modern tourist destinations too.

8 Day Egypt Adventure Tour

The Classic Egypt Adventure Tour is an eight day exploration that takes in the most famous sights of the region, but begins with a day in Cairo where the Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum are on the itinerary.

The secret of Egypt tour packages is in their diversity. Precisely where else in today’s world is one able to encounter top class sports facilities, challenging golf courses, along with genuinely spectacular sightseeing destinations than in the land of the pharaohs itself?

Striking a balance between some great golfing and the most surprising Egypt sightseeing tours of the great monuments of this traditional land, our versatile Egypt golf holidays are the perfect choice for the serious golfer as well as the weekend golfing putter.

Discover Egypt your way! You can see the glories of Egypt your way with an individualized package that we customize to your preferences. Any budget, any kind of travel, we will be able to create an Egypt tour that is perfect for you.

Our experienced organizers will work with you personally in selecting the sights and activities to satisfy your desires and aspirations.

Cairo travel packages let visitors to discover the ancient remains as well as the present day facet of Egypt. Colourful marketplaces, respected nightlife as well as first class shopping are sometimes all a part of what makes these Egypt tours so incredible.

Cairo is actually one of a few highlights of modern-day Egypt. Cairo is of course the capital of Egypt and the liveliest city when talking of recreation.

Egypt tour packages open the ancient world of the Egyptian pharaohs to modern-day explorers. There are a range of packages available with trips included to all the famous visitor attractions plus some places little known.

The difficulty with planning an Egypt tour is you’ve got to line up tickets to museums and other destinations together with taking care of the basic travel arrangements that come with every trip away from home.

Fortunately, it is possible to get around this work by booking an Egypt tour package.

Popular Egypt tour packages

Dreaming about all inclusive Egypt vacation packages? There are many vacation locations worldwide that appeal to travelers, but there are just a select few which have an interesting and mystical quality to them, not to mention a rich culture and history. Top among these is Egypt.

Once you have come to a decision that you’re going to Egypt during your vacation, the very next step for you is to select from the Egypt tour packages that are presently being offered.

Don’t just select the first one you come across but ensure that you take a look at the other choices that are generally accessible. Also, feel free to get in touch with one of our professional tour consultants by clicking the button in the upper right corner. This way, you’ll be in a position to visit the places that you wish to see and maximise the time that you have got for your Egypt vacation.

Popular Egypt vacation packages

• Classic Egypt Tours
• Nile Cruise Holidays
• Egypt Luxury Tours
• Egypt Tours & Beyond