On the spot

Here are a few practical tips to feel more comfortable in Egypt and avoid any misunderstanding.

Staff
Restaurant
Sinai, Colored Canyon

 


At the airport

Rent a limousine with fixed fees according to your accommodation location from the airport.
Or use Cairo airport transportation service which covers all the country and airports.
Tel: 19970

Transport inside main tourist cities

The easiest way to move inside any city is using taxis. They are numerous in the major cities.
Cairo has a fleet of metered, air-conditioned Yellow Cabs.
Book your taxi one hour before your journey and even ask for a receipt (Tel: 16516-19155-19730).
You can also easily take a regular taxi from the street or in front of your hotel.
Each city has its own coloured public taxi: yellow and black in Alexandria, black and white in Cairo.

Buses and coaches

Most of Egypt's major cities have their own bus system and there's an extensive network of buses running between each city too. You can catch Superjet, Delta and Upper Egypt buses to go straight from one city to another. They provide air-conditioned buses, with catering facilities, toilets and TV show. In general, buses stop more frequently. So, for a long journey we advise you to go by rail.


Underground

The underground is the cheapest and fastest way to move inside Cairo and Giza governorate especially in the rush hours (from 2 pm to 5pm). It has two long lines and a line under construction between Giza and the Cairo Airport.
The first from Helwan to El Marg has 33 stops; the second from Giza to Shoubra El Khema has 18 stops.
Note that the first carriage is always strictly for “women only”.
Summer working hours: from 6:00 am to 1:00 am
Winter working hours: from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm


Rent a car

Many transportation companies offer a wide choice of luxury cars and coaches with well trained drivers. Car rental agencies are represented in the major cities, international and domestic airports.
For more information visit www.etaa-eg.com


Travelling between tourist cities

You have different options to travel in Egypt in an easy and comfortable way. Choose between car rental, luxury trains, coaches or even domestic flight to connect tourist cities.

Regular tourist transportation companies

Extensive network of long distance air conditioned coaches serve all main cities. You can also use regular air-conditioning buses with catering, toilets and entertaining facilities. Many terminal stations are located in the main cities. In Cairo, those stops are Ramses, El Tourgman, Almaza, El Nozha, Ahmed Helmy, Abed El Mouneem Ryaid, El Tahreer Square.
Choose among the following companies:
• West & middle of Delta (Gharb & wasat el Delta ); Ahmed Helmy - Ramses - Cairo : 25756595- 25765582
• Super Jet
Almaza – Helopolis Cairo: 22909013
El Nozha Helopolis Cairo: 26986161 -26986262
Ramses Al Tourgoman Cairo : 25759996-25798181
• East of Delta (Shark el Delta ) Mubark Station –El Tourgoman-Ramses station: 25749084 – 25763579- 25766514
• Upper Egypt
El Moneeb, Giza : 35736700
Oases El Baharyyia-Al Bawaetty: 38473610
Nasr City Youssef- Abbas St. 22615132 22608731
El Tougoman Ramses- Cairo 25762897

Trains

The train is one of the best ways to travel among major Egyptian cities. Three kinds of trains are available: the ordinary, the express and the turbo. The express and the turbo are more expensive but you will reach your destination rapidly with all catering facilities and airconditioned.
An excellent turbo train service is available between Cairo and main cities. The turbo train takes about two hours to go from Cairo to Alexandria.
Cairo Railway Station Ramses -Tel 25771388 - 25751000

The Abela Sleeping Train is another luxury way to travel to Upper Egypt
For more information, ask the nearest local Information Tourist Office
Visit http://www.sleepingtrains.com/
Tel 25761319 – 25761954

Domestic Flights

Egypt Air, the national carrier, links most of the tourist cities in Egypt thanks to regular domestic flights. Now you can fly directly from Luxor to Sharm El Sheikh or Alexandria.


DINING

Egyptian Dishes are very delicious and moderately spiced, with a wide range of choices to suit all tastes and budgets. Try stuffed pigeon with rice, grilled meat Kebab and Kofta or Molokhaya soup with Fresh Baladi (typical Egyptian bread). "Ful" and Falafel "taameya" sandwiches can be found everywhere. Fresh Sea food makes perfect dishes in coastal and Nile
cities as well. There is a wide variety of deserts for all occasions. Vegetarians can easily find their interest too. International Typical Cuisine, Italian, French and fareast (Chinese, Indian, Thai, Korean) even international fast food chains can also be easily found in Egypt.
Hotels also offer all international cuisine.
To choose your restaurant visit www.cte-egypt.org


Children

Egypt offers a very wide range of activities suitable for children and young teenagers: theme parks, libraries and museums for children, kids section in big shopping centres or kids clubs in many resorts. Children can also enjoy plenty of different sporting activities like swimming, snorkelling, scuba-diving, sailing, hiking, kite surfing, windsurfing or attending special
schools for golf & diving. Babysitting service is also available in many hotels.

Shopping

Egypt has a wide range of local handcrafts reflect the spirit of a land which is deeply steeped in history. You can buy blown glass, pottery, jewellery, papyrus, carpets, leather goods, scarves, cotton textiles, alabaster, perfumes and spices. All can be found in tourist souks, galleries besides a variety of other modern goods in shopping malls.

Entertainment

Egypt has a variety of entertainment offers. Start off with the visit of a collection of very interesting historical and art museums. Attend then to a sound & light show in most beautiful archaeological sites or a performance in Opera House in Cairo or Alexandria. Enjoy at least folkloric and belly dance performances in short or long Nile cruises. There is also a large number of luxurious night clubs to spend the most pleasant evenings amid eastern and western music, singing and shows. But for totally different and exotic experience, spend one night in Egyptian desert, enjoying dinner and folkloric shows.


Do...

  • .... stock up on sun cream to avoid sunburn, especially between 11am and 2pm, especially in summer time...
  •  ... wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes and head.
  •  ... make sure you have a rough idea of where you're going and always have a map or guide book close at hand.
  •  ... learn a few common phrases so that you can ask for help when needed. People will appreciate your efforts.
  •  ... respect customs. There are dress rules when visiting mosques, holy places, and some other public places too, so be aware.
  •  ... keep your valuables and all your important documents in a safe place.
  •  ... go for the nearest local Information Tourist Office to get the most of Egypt.
  • ... make sure you travel at the right time for your Nile cruise, because each year there is Esna lock where the level of the Nile will be too low for the navigation otherwise you will have to complete your trip by car (twice a year, for one week in June and December).
  • ... check opening and closing times for monuments and museums for they might change during national holidays and ramadan.
  •  ... take your camera with you. That way you won't be disappointed.

Don't ...

  • ... forget to take enough money with you on your daily outings.
  • ... take anything from the natural parks and not to leave nothing behind
  •  ... get into a taxi without  asking the price  or use a meter counter Yellow cab in Cairo.
  •  ... go on holiday without telling your friends or family how to reach you.
  •  ... leave your hotel or any other accommodation without some form of identification.

  • *** List of local tourist information offices
  • Alexandria Head office:
    Tel: 03 4843380 / 03 4851556
    Address: 23 East Port
    Saad Zaghlool Sq. Raml Station

    Misr Station:
    Tel: 03 3925985
    Address: Misr Station
    Inside the station building, on the platform n°1

    Sidi Gaber:
    Tel: 03 4263953
    On the platform n°4, inside Sidi Gaber Station

    Alexandria port:
    Address: Inside the port

    Nozha Airport:
    Tel 03 4207023
    Address: Inside the airport departure Hall
  • Luxor Head office:
    Tel: 095 2373294
    Fax: 095 2373294
    Address: Inside tourist information center,
    beside railway station of Luxor

    Luxor station:
    Tel: 095 2370259
    Fax: 095 2370259
    Address: Inside railway station of Luxor,
    in tickets Hall

    Luxor museum:
    Tel: 095 9280004
    Fax: 095 9280004
    Address: Inside the Ministry od Tourism building,
    in front of Luxor museum

    International Luxor Airport:
    Tel: 095 2372306
    Address: Inside the International Luxor Airport
  • Hurghada Head office:
    Tel: 065 3463220
    Fax: 065 3463220
    Address: In front of sailing sports club Hall
  • Sharm Elsheikh Head office:
    Tel: 069 3664721
    Fax: 069 3664721
    Address: The Zoo Street
  • Aswan Head office:
    Tel: 097 2312811
    Fax: 097 2312811
    Address: Railway Station Square
  • Port Said Head office:
    Tel: 066 3235289
    Fax: 066 3235289
    Address: Palestine St.

    Custom office:
    Address: Gate 20 - Customs

    Railway Station office:
    Address: Inside the station
  • Useful phone numbers Tourist police 126
    Fire 180
    Ambulance: 123
    Telephone guide: 140
    Cairo Airport Shuttle Bus service 19970
    Flying hospital service 37766393/2
    Gas emergency 129
  • *** List of local tourist information offices
  • Siwa Tel: 046 4602338
    Fax: 046 4602338
    Address: Inside the City Council
  • El Wadi El Gedid "New Valley" El Dakhala:
    Tel: 092 821686
    Fax: 092 821686
    Address: Inside the City Council

    El Kharga:
    Tel: 092 921206
    Fax: 092 921205
    Address: Building of Governorate
  • El Arish Tel: 068 363743
    Address: Fouad Zakri St.
  • Marsa Matrouh Tel: 046 4931841
    Fax: 046 4931841
    Address: Building of Governorate
  • Cairo Airport New Airport:
    Tel: 22694195
    Address: Inside the airport

    Old airport:
    Tel: 22695475
    Fax: 22695475
    Address: Inside the airport

    Pyramids:
    Tel: 33838823
    Fax: 33853526
    Address: In front of Mena House hotel
  • Pyramids Tel: 33838823
    Fax: 33853526
    Address: In front of Mena House hotel
  • Adly "Down town" Tel: 23913454
    Fax: 23913454
    Address: 5 Adly St. Down Town
  • Elfostat Tel: 25325269
    Fax: 25325269
    Address: Inside Elfostat Market - old Cairo
  • Railway Station Ramsis Station Tel: 25790767
    Fax: 25790767
    Address: inside railway station of Ramsis
  • Railway Station Giza Station Tel: 35702233
    Fax: 35702233
    Address: inside railway station of Giza