Cairo - Essential Information
- Nearby guides:
- Eilat
- Sharm el-Sheikh
- Hurghada, Luxor and Marsa Alam
- Cyprus
- Antalya
- Rhodes
- Marmaris
- Kos
- Bodrum
- Crete
- Other guides in Egypt:
- Hurghada, Luxor and Marsa Alam
- Sharm el-Sheikh
- More
Airport
Cairo International Airport is located 25 km northeast of the city centre. There are 2 terminals: Terminal II is the new terminal and services most international flights, while Terminal I, the old terminal, is the hub for EgyptAir and services both their domestic and international flights. There are large official taxis (called “limousines”) that charge a fixed rate of E£46 for a trip to the city centre. A taxi for the same ride should cost E£35, but will involve some heavy haggling, so the official taxi may be the easier option.
There are two city busses and a mini-bus that takes you to and from the Airport. Bus number 356 is the designated airport service, which is a large white, air conditioned, luxury coach. It runs to the city centre at Midan Abdel Moniem Riad (behind the Egyptian museum) and costs E£2, plus E£1 per large luggage item. Local bus No 400 (25pt) also goes to the city centre, as well as minibus No 27 (50pt). The bus stand is at the far end of the car park.
Public transport
The local buses are like a carnival ride, as they rarely come to a full stop to let passengers on and off! There is a mini-bus that has set routes like the normal bus, but they are smaller and carries fewer passengers, but on the other hand -actually stops properly to let people on and off!
Taxi
Taxis are inexpensive in Cairo, and the way that most tourists navigate the city. It is important to fix a price before you get into a taxi, and always haggle over the price. Attempting to take advantage of naive tourists is a favourite pastime of Cairo taxi drivers.
Post
The Central Post Office is located at Midan Ataba and is open 7am-7pm.
Hospitals
Both of these hospitals are open 24 hours:
The Anglo-American Hospital
Address: Sharia Hadayek al-Zuhreyya, Geriza
Phone: +20 2 735 61 62
The As-Salam International Hospital
Address: 3 Sharia Syria, Mohandiseen
Phone: +20 2 302 90 91
Pharmacy
Al-Esa’af Pharmacy has 24 hour service. Please call for advice and for more information.
Dentist
The best emergency dental care is found in hospitals in Cairo, try the Anglo-American Hospital.
Telephone
Country Code: +20
Area Code: 02
Electricity
220V AC, 50 Hz
