Cairo International Airport (CAI)

Terminals — which one you need

Cairo International Airport has three terminals, and they're not close together — a mistake here can cost real time. Terminal 3 is the newest and largest, and handles the great majority of international traffic, particularly EgyptAir (Egypt's national carrier and a Star Alliance member, for which Cairo is the primary hub) and its partner airlines. Terminal 1 handles a mix of other international carriers, while Terminal 2 is used for a smaller set of routes and, at various points, has handled a larger share of low-cost and charter traffic. Check your terminal on your boarding pass or airline confirmation rather than assuming, since transfers between terminals require a bus or taxi ride, not a short walk, and can eat 20–30 minutes you don't want to lose on a tight connection.

Cairo has functioned as Egypt's principal aviation gateway since long before the current terminal buildings existed, and its role as EgyptAir's hub means it carries a genuinely high volume of connecting traffic between Europe, the wider Middle East and Africa — worth knowing if your itinerary routes through CAI rather than starting or ending there, since it shapes how busy specific times of day tend to be. Renovation and expansion work has periodically affected specific gates and facilities within Terminal 3 in particular, so signage and facility locations can shift from what an older blog post or guidebook describes; airport staff and information desks are generally the most reliable source if something doesn't match what you expected.

Visa and immigration on arrival

Many nationalities can obtain an Egyptian visa on arrival at the airport for a cash fee, paid at a kiosk before the immigration counters, or arrange an e-Visa online in advance, which is generally faster on arrival since it skips the payment step at the kiosk entirely. Requirements vary by nationality and do change, so confirm current rules on Egypt's official visa portal shortly before you fly — see our dedicated visa guide for the full process, including a Sinai-only exception that doesn't apply if Cairo is part of your trip.

Immigration queues can be substantial at peak arrival times, particularly when several wide-body flights land close together in the evening — this is one more reason an e-Visa arranged in advance is worth the small extra planning effort over visa-on-arrival, since it moves you to a separate, generally faster queue. Passport control officers may ask about the purpose and length of your visit; having your hotel booking or return flight details easily accessible on your phone speeds this along.

Getting into the city

Uber and Careem both operate at CAI and are a straightforward, fare-transparent option — look for the designated ride-hailing pickup area rather than the general taxi rank, which is usually signposted separately, and confirm the pickup point matches what the app shows since large airports sometimes have several. Official airport taxis and hotel transfers are also available; if using a taxi rather than a ride-hailing app, confirm the fare before departing rather than after, since unmetered taxi fares from the airport are a common source of overcharging complaints. Traffic varies hugely by time of day, so budget generously — anywhere from 25 minutes to well over an hour to central Cairo, longer during evening rush hour.

For a group or family with luggage, or if you're arriving after a long-haul flight and don't want to navigate an app or negotiate a fare, a pre-booked hotel transfer arranged in advance is worth the modest premium — a driver will typically wait in the arrivals hall with a name sign, which removes a layer of friction on what's often a tiring first hour in a new country. See our getting around Cairo guide for a fuller comparison of all these options for the rest of your trip beyond just the airport transfer.

SIM cards and money at the airport

Egyptian mobile operators (Vodafone, Orange and Etisalat/e& among them) typically have kiosks in the arrivals hall selling tourist SIM cards with data packages, which is the easiest way to get connected immediately rather than relying on hotel wifi for your first hours in the country — see our SIM cards and internet guide for a fuller comparison. Bring your passport for SIM registration, since Egyptian regulations require ID for mobile activation, and check what identification and paperwork the specific operator's kiosk requires before joining the queue. ATMs are available in the arrivals area for withdrawing Egyptian pounds, generally offering a better exchange rate than the currency-exchange counters nearby, though rates and fees vary by bank — the money and ATMs guide covers this in more detail.

If you have a long layover

With a layover of six hours or more and a valid visa or visa-on-arrival eligibility, it's realistic to leave the airport for a short taste of the city — even just a couple of hours at the Egyptian Museum or a walk through Zamalek — though this only works cleanly if you're not checked through to a connecting flight in a way that complicates re-entry, and only if your visa situation is sorted in advance rather than something to figure out under time pressure. Factor in a real buffer: clearing immigration and customs, the drive in, the drive back, and security again on re-entry can easily consume two to three hours of a six-hour window before you've seen anything, so this only makes sense with a genuinely long layover, not a five-hour one that looks long on paper.

For shorter layovers, or if leaving feels like too much of a gamble on traffic and immigration timing, CAI has a reasonable range of airside cafes and shops, particularly in Terminal 3, though nothing especially distinctive to Cairo itself — pack a book or download entertainment in advance rather than expecting a memorable airport experience. Left-luggage facilities exist at some terminals for travelers who do want to leave the airport briefly without carrying bags, worth asking about at an information desk on arrival if this applies to you.

Departing from CAI

Build in more buffer time than you would at a smaller or less congested airport — security and check-in queues can be lengthy at peak times, and Terminal 3 in particular handles a very high volume of EgyptAir departures within tight banks of scheduled times. Arriving three hours before an international departure is a sensible default rather than an overcautious one. If you're due to check in at a different terminal from where you arrived, factor the terminal transfer into your own timing rather than assuming airport signage will make it obvious at a glance.

Duty-free shopping is available airside in the main terminals, and departure taxes are generally built into your ticket price rather than collected separately at the airport, though this can vary by fare type and route — check your booking confirmation if you're unsure. Keep boarding passes and any remaining local currency accessible until you've cleared the final security check, since Egyptian pounds have limited value once you've left the country and are worth spending down, converting back, or saving as a souvenir rather than carrying home in large amounts.

Practical tips

Have your hotel address written in Arabic if possible, since it helps drivers and reduces confusion — most hotels will email or message this to you on request ahead of arrival. If you're arriving very late or departing very early, consider a hotel near the airport for that one night rather than doing the full drive at an awkward hour — see our airport hotels guide for options within a short distance of the terminals. Free wifi is generally available throughout the terminals, useful for confirming a ride-hailing pickup or messaging a hotel before you've bought a local SIM; it's usually accessed via a short registration screen rather than being fully open, so allow a minute or two to get connected on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions