Getting Around Cairo: Uber, Metro, Taxis and Transport Guide

Getting around Cairo looks intimidating at first: 22 million people, endless traffic, traffic lights that nobody obeys, and horns at all hours. The good news is that it's actually quite simple — with Uber, the metro and a bit of patience you can cover the whole city stress-free and for very little money. This guide walks through every option, with real fares, pros and cons, and the mistakes worth avoiding.

Quick summary

Uber and Careem: your best option

Uber has operated in Cairo since 2014, and Careem (the local equivalent, also Uber-owned) has been around even longer. Both apps work exactly like in any other city: you type a destination, see the price before accepting, follow the route by GPS and pay by card or cash.

Why they're ideal for tourists:

• Fixed price up front: no haggling or arguments on arrival.
• No language barrier: the destination is pinned on the map.
• Trip tracking: if anything happens, there's a record of the driver and the route.
• Flexible payment: card or cash, your call in the app.
• Much cheaper than airport taxis or hotel cars.

Reference fares (UberX):

• Downtown ↔ Zamalek: 50–90 EGP
• Downtown ↔ Pyramids of Giza: 150–250 EGP
• Airport ↔ Downtown: 250–400 EGP
• Downtown ↔ Islamic Cairo (Khan el-Khalili): 70–120 EGP

Tip: always request the car from inside the hotel or a restaurant — not from the street — so the driver finds you easily without rushing.

Careem is often a touch cheaper than Uber and has better coverage in the early hours. It's worth installing both apps and comparing.

The Cairo Metro

The metro is the city's best-kept secret: fast, clean, cheap and air-conditioned. At rush hour it's the only way to cross the centre without spending 45 minutes stuck in traffic.

Practicalities:

• Fare: 10 EGP (up to 9 stations), 15 EGP (up to 16) or 20 EGP (more than 16).
• Hours: roughly 5:30 am to midnight.
• Useful lines: Line 1 (Helwan ↔ New El-Marg) connects Maadi with downtown and Tahrir; Line 2 (Shubra ↔ Mounib) crosses under the Nile and stops at Opera (Zamalek), Sadat (Egyptian Museum) and Dokki; Line 3 is expanding towards the airport but doesn't reach it yet.

Women's carriages: the first two carriages of every train are women-only. If you travel alone, use them — they're less packed and you avoid unwanted contact.

How to use it:

1. Buy the ticket at the booth or from a machine (some take card, others only cash).
2. Pass the ticket through the turnstile (it's plastic — keep it, you'll need it to exit).
3. Check the platform board for direction (names are in Arabic and Latin script).

Avoid rush hour (7:30–9:30 and 4:00–7:00 pm) if you have a big backpack or suitcase — it gets very crowded.

White taxis (metered)

The modern white taxis replaced the old black-and-white ones over a decade ago. They're required to use a meter and the flag drop is 10 EGP.

The catch: many drivers pretend the meter is broken or "forget" to turn it on, then charge double. Rules to avoid the drama:

• Before getting in, say clearly: "meter, please" or "addad" (عداد). If they refuse, find another taxi.
• If they insist on negotiating, walk away.
• Know what it should cost (use Uber as a reference even if you take a taxi).
• Carry small notes (10, 20, 50 EGP); don't expect change from 200.

Honestly: with Uber working so well, there's no reason to flag a white taxi unless you're in an area with poor app coverage or you happen to be right next to one.

Black taxis (disappearing)

The legendary black-and-white taxis of the 20th century still circulate in outer neighbourhoods. No meter, everything is verbal, and as a tourist you'll always be quoted double. Don't use them unless you speak some Arabic.

Microbuses

Microbuses (white 14-seater vans) are the locals' favourite: they cost 5–15 EGP and run fixed routes across the whole city. Fast, cheap, and the only option for some neighbourhoods.

But they're not for casual tourists:

• No official stops or maps — you hail and exit on demand.
• Destinations are shouted in Arabic.
• Money is passed forward over other passengers to the driver.
• The driving is fairly aggressive.

If you speak some Arabic and want a taste of local life, they're a very authentic experience. Otherwise, skip them.

Private driver for excursions

For full-day excursions — Saqqara, Dahshur, Memphis, Alexandria, sunrise at the Pyramids — hiring a private driver for the day is by far the best option.

Reference rates:

• Pyramids of Giza + Saqqara + Dahshur (half/full day): 800–1,200 EGP for the car (not per person).
• Full day in Cairo (10 hours, with waiting time): 1,000–1,500 EGP.
• Alexandria (round trip, 12–14 hours): 2,500–3,500 EGP.

How to arrange it:

• Ask your hotel: most have trusted drivers at known rates.
• Or book Uber for the long trip (a bit more expensive but predictable).
• Agree the price in writing before leaving, and include stops, waiting time and fuel.

They're not guides, just drivers: they take you, wait, and bring you back. If you want explanations inside the monuments, hire an Egyptologist separately.

Rental cars: why not

Short version: don't rent a car in Cairo. Reasons:

• Traffic ignores lanes, lights and signs.
• Parking is practically impossible downtown.
• GPS often misfires in narrow, poorly signed streets.
• An accident — even if it's the other driver's fault — becomes a major hassle as a foreigner.

For the same price (or less) you get a car with driver. No debate.

Walking in Cairo

Walking works very well within specific zones, not between them:

• Zamalek: pretty, quiet, ideal for walking.
• Downtown: chaotic but safe on foot by day.
• Islamic Cairo: Al-Muizz street and Khan el-Khalili are perfect pedestrian zones to wander.
• Coptic Cairo: very compact, all walkable.

Things to know:

• Traffic lights are advisory. To cross, follow a local or join a group.
• Decent pavements are rare — expect to dodge parked cars, holes and motorbikes.
• May to September heat rules out walking between 11 am and 4 pm.

Airport transport

Cairo International Airport (CAI) has three terminals connected by free shuttle. Options to reach downtown (about 22 km):

Arrival at the Pyramids: if you fly straight to a Giza hotel, it's 300–500 EGP by Uber. Ask the hotel to recommend a specific driver if you land in the middle of the night.

Essential apps

Before you land, download:

• Uber and Careem: must-haves, set up your card in advance.
• Google Maps: works well in Cairo and includes metro routes.
• Maps.me: offline backup in case you lose data.
• Vodafone Egypt / Orange Egypt: cheap local SIM (buy at the airport).
• XE Currency: quick EGP conversions in your head.

Safety: the realistic view

Cairo is safer than it looks in transport terms:

• Uber drivers are registered and tracked.
• The metro is patrolled and very busy.
• Solo female travellers may experience minor harassment in taxis and microbuses — which is exactly why the women's carriages on the metro exist.

Good habits:

• Share your trip in Uber with a contact from within the app.
• Always keep your phone charged and a power bank handy.
• Don't pull out your wallet in the middle of the street; count cash discreetly.
• At night, always Uber, never a random black taxi.

Tipping (baksheesh) for transport

• Uber / Careem: not mandatory, but rounding up (10–20 EGP tip) is appreciated.
• White taxi: round up if the driver used the meter honestly.
• Private driver for the day: 100–200 EGP tip at the end of the day if everything went well.
• Airport luggage porters: 20–50 EGP per trolley.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Accepting the first taxi quote. Always ask for meter or call Uber.
2. Hailing a taxi without knowing what it should cost. Check the app first as a baseline.
3. Getting into a microbus without knowing where to get off. Destinations are shouted in Arabic.
4. Driving yourself. No.
5. Trusting that the driver "knows the hotel". Pin the address on the map.
6. Only carrying large notes. They'll say they have no change.
7. Booking a transfer by email at inflated prices ("exclusive limousine 80 USD"). Uber to the airport costs a tenth of that.

Which to pick? By traveller type

• First-time, short trip: Uber for almost everything + 1 driver day for Saqqara/Dahshur.
• Backpacker / tight budget: Metro whenever possible, Uber for the rest.
• Family with kids: Uber XL or private driver; metro at rush hour is exhausting with children.
• Business trip: Careem (its premium "Careem Business" tier is good) or private driver.

Take a look at the recommended hotels below — most sit in zones well covered by Uber and the metro, which saves you time and money every day.