If you are planning a vacation to one of the most visited African countries, Egypt, you may be interested in how to get around there. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to do so. What are they?
Trains are the ideal choice for longer distances. Timetables can be found on the Egyptian Railways website, where you can also purchase tickets. We recommend always buy tickets in advance, because it could happen that the connection will be sold out. From Cairo, the capital of Egypt, to the second largest city, Alexandria, there are air-conditioned express trains. From Cairo to Luxor or Aswan, it is even possible to use sleeper trains whose compartments are guarded by plainclothes police officers.
The most comfortable option when traveling by train is first grade, which is air-conditioned and very often offers waiter service or reclining seats. Second grade It is more affordable, but very crowded, seats are usually sold standing room only, and in most cases there is no air conditioning.
Some connections even have third grade, in which the padded seats are replaced by wooden benches. This is the cheapest and least comfortable option for traveling by train.
For long-distance connections, in addition to trains, you can also choose air-conditioned buses which run regular routes between Cairo and Alexandria, for example. In addition to air conditioning, Superjet buses also have toilets, and each seat is equipped with its own entertainment portal. Timetables change very frequently and are usually only published in Arabic. We recommend asking for specific timetables at hotel reception or tourist centers, for example.
Tickets can only be purchased at the local train station.
Bus transport also operates across the city, as public transportation. However, unlike long-distance connections, these are provided by old, sometimes barely functional vehicles. Another option is minibuses, which mainly shuttle between hotel resorts, but do not have a fixed schedule. They depart for their destination as soon as they are fully occupied.
Taxi transport is one of the most convenient and reliable options. While navigating city buses is really difficult, and the situation is further complicated by information available only in Arabic, taking a taxi is much more suitable for inexperienced tourists.
The prices are very reasonable and there are plenty of taxi drivers.
You can arrange transportation either at the reception desk or by hailing a taxi on the road. However, agree on the price with the driver in advance and confirm several times that you have understood where you are going. However, only give the driver the agreed payment when you get out, not at the start of the journey.
One of the most sought-after experiences in Egypt is a cruise on the second-longest river, the Nile, which can be arranged for several days. In Cairo, boats are also used as part of public transport. They are also widespread here ferries, which are very cheap, but also very battered. Similarly, the schedule for when the ferry departs is not very reliable.
Although there are many car rental companies, only truly experienced drivers should use their services. Egyptian drivers and pedestrians do not follow the rules, and speed limits are usually written in Arabic numerals. If you still want to rent a car, you must apply for an international driver's license and you must be over 25 years of age.
It is necessary to expect congested roads, with impatient Egyptians weaving in and out from all sides. For safety reasons, tourists are only allowed to travel in designated parts of Egypt and should avoid traveling in the evening hours if possible. This is due to higher crime rates, but also because Egyptians do not use lights, so collisions could easily occur.
Most roads are also bumpy and serve as routes not only for cars and trucks, but also for donkey or camel carts, which makes transportation even more difficult.
To cover longer distances, interested parties can also use air transport provided by Egypt Air. It is possible to travel by plane, for example, from Cairo to Alexandria or Marsa Alam. However, rail transport is a cheaper and more comfortable option for longer journeys.
Visitors to Cairo will certainly be pleasantly surprised by the fact that there is a metro, prices are similar to those in the US, and the frequency of service is very high. For shorter distances, it is also possible to use bike rental, which discourages most athletes due to the extremely high temperatures.
