Flights to Egypt · UK guide
Flying into Cairo from the UK
Cairo International (CAI) is Egypt's primary gateway and where almost every UK guest on a Pyramids + Nile cruise trip lands. Here's what arrivals actually looks like, and how to skip the queues.
Updated 18 May 2026 · Reviewed by Discovery Tours Egypt editorial team
- Airport code
- CAI (Cairo International)
- Terminals from UK
- T2 (EgyptAir, Star Alliance, BA), T3 (legacy)
- Distance to central Cairo
- 22 km · 30–60 min by road
- Distance to Pyramids
- 45 km · 60–90 min by road
Terminal layout for UK arrivals
If you've flown EgyptAir or British Airways, you'll arrive at Terminal 2 (TB2) – the newer of the two passenger terminals, opened 2012. Star Alliance and SkyTeam carriers also use TB2. If you've come on a one-stop via Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa or KLM, you may arrive at Terminal 3 (older, smaller, slightly more chaotic at peak hours). Both terminals are landside-connected by a free shuttle.
Visa: what to do in the first 10 minutes
Before passport control there's a bank kiosk selling tourist visa stickers. Cost £30 or $35, cash only, in clean unworn notes (the booth refuses torn or markered bills). They stick the visa into your passport and you walk to immigration.
If you've already done the e-Visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg, skip the kiosk and head straight to passport control. The e-Visa queue is usually shorter. We strongly recommend the e-Visa for Christmas, Easter and February half-term arrivals – the cash booth backs up to 45 minutes at peak.
We can also pre-arrange the official visa fast-track service (around £35 per person) – a uniformed airport rep meets you at the jet bridge, walks you to a dedicated immigration counter, and waits while you collect bags. Worth it for late-night arrivals or if you're travelling with elderly parents or small kids.
Taxis, Uber, or pre-booked transfer?
We always recommend pre-booked. Here's why.
The airport taxi rank uses zone-based pricing that's posted on a board, but drivers routinely quote double for foreign passengers and the meter is rarely run. Expect EGP 600–800 (~£10–13) for a metered ride to central Cairo if you can find a driver willing to use it; expect EGP 1,500+ (~£25) if you negotiate at the rank.
Uber and Careem both operate at Cairo airport but the pickup is at a designated zone 200m from arrivals and the wait can be 15–25 minutes at peak. Fare is usually EGP 350–500 to central Cairo, paid by card in the app.
A pre-booked transfer is meet-and-greet inside the arrivals hall with a name-board, fixed price, modern sedan or SUV depending on group size, English-speaking driver. We include this on every Discovery Tours Egypt booking.
The drive into central Cairo
It's 22 km from CAI to the Tahrir Square / Garden City hotel cluster – most of it on the elevated Salah Salem and 6th October expressways. Off-peak it's 30 minutes. Peak traffic (8–10am, 4–7pm Sunday to Thursday) can stretch to 60–90 minutes. If your hotel is in Giza near the Pyramids, allow another 30 minutes through Mohandesin or via the Ring Road.
Friday mornings are the quietest time to land – most of Cairo is at the mosque or asleep.
Plan the trip with us
Discovery Tours Egypt is an Egypt-based tour operator with offices across the country – Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh. Hold your own flights or let us package them; either way we handle every guide, ticket and transfer from the moment you land.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Cairo Airport to central Cairo?
30 minutes off-peak, 60–90 minutes during weekday rush hour (8–10am and 4–7pm Sunday to Thursday). The 22 km drive uses the Salah Salem and 6th October expressways. Pre-booked transfers and Uber both quote based on the off-peak time.
Do I need to pay for the Egypt visa before arriving at Cairo Airport?
No, you can buy the visa sticker at a bank kiosk before passport control for £30 or $35 cash. But we strongly recommend the e-Visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg (£25 / $30) – cheaper, no queue, immediate processing. Apply at least a week before departure.
Is Uber available at Cairo Airport?
Yes, both Uber and Careem operate at Cairo Airport. The pickup is at a designated zone about 200m from the arrivals hall and waits can be 15–25 minutes at peak. Fares to central Cairo are EGP 350–500, paid by card in the app.
Which terminal do British Airways and EgyptAir use at Cairo Airport?
Both British Airways and EgyptAir use Terminal 2 (TB2) at Cairo International – the newer terminal, opened in 2012. Turkish Airlines and most European one-stop connections also use TB2; some KLM and Lufthansa services use the older Terminal 3.
Should I pre-book a transfer from Cairo Airport?
Yes, especially for a first visit. The airport taxi rank routinely quotes double-fare to foreign passengers and the meter is rarely run; Uber pickup involves a 200m walk and 15–25 minute waits at peak. A pre-booked transfer is meet-and-greet inside arrivals, fixed price, and includes English-speaking driver – included on every Discovery Tours booking.