Is Cairo Safe at Night?
Terminal layout, late-night arrivals and other notes
- Terminal 3: main international terminal (Star Alliance carriers — EgyptAir, Lufthansa, United, Turkish, Singapore). New large terminal; clearly signed.
- Terminal 2: re-opened 2022 after renovation; SkyTeam carriers (Delta, Air France, KLM, Saudia).
- Terminal 1: domestic and budget carriers (Air Cairo).
- Inter-terminal shuttle: free; runs every 15 minutes 24/7.
- Late-night arrivals (00:00-06:00): pre-arranged hotel transfer is strongly recommended; Uber availability drops; touts are most aggressive.
- ATMs: present in arrivals; National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr ATMs work with foreign cards. Daily withdrawal cap 5,000-10,000 EGP (~US$100-200).
- SIM cards: Vodafone, Etisalat, Orange and WE booths in arrivals; ~EGP 200-300 for a tourist SIM with 5-10 GB data.
- The Sokhna/Sharm El-Sheikh transfer: bus from Cairo Airport to Sharm El-Sheikh airport takes 6 hours; the East Delta Bus Co. operates this route. Cheaper than a domestic flight but a long journey.
FAQ
- Is it safe to arrive at Cairo Airport at night?
- The airport interior is safe 24/7. Late-night arrivals (00:00-06:00) carry materially more tout pressure and Uber availability drops slightly. Pre-arranged hotel transfer is strongly recommended for any late-night arrival — driver waits in arrivals with a name sign, takes you directly to the hotel, no tout interaction. Marriott Mena House, Four Seasons Cairo, Kempinski Nile and Sofitel El Gezirah all offer reliable pre-arranged transfers.
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