Geography · Cairo
Cairo's location, hotel zones, attractions, and distances to other Egyptian cities.
Useful for trip planning — how long it takes to reach key attractions and other Egyptian cities.
| Destination | Distance | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Pyramids of Giza | 15 km | 30 min drive |
| Saqqara | 30 km | 45 min drive |
| Luxor | 680 km | 10h drive / 1h flight |
| Hurghada | 470 km | 6-7h drive / 1h flight |
Cairo is served by Cairo International (CAI).
Hotel zones, nearest airport first. Distances are by road; transfer times assume a private car rather than a shared shuttle.
| Zone | From airport | Transfer | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heliopolis | ≈ 10 km | 20 min | Shortest transfer, good for a short stay |
| Downtown / Tahrir | ≈ 20 km | 40 min | City centre, museums and old Cairo |
| Zamalek | ≈ 25 km | 45 min | Walkable centre — restaurants, shops, nightlife |
| New Cairo | ≈ 25 km | 40 min | Modern district, malls, far from the old city |
| Giza / Pyramids | ≈ 40 km | 60 min | Closest to the Pyramids of Giza |
Taxis are everywhere and cheap by European standards, but agree the fare before you get in — meters are rare. Uber works in Cairo; in the Red Sea resorts it does not. For anything outside town our drivers collect you from your hotel, whichever zone you are in.
Cairo International (CAI). The zones above sit 10–40 km from the terminal, which is 20 min to 60 min by car. We meet every guest in the arrivals hall.
It depends on the trip you want. The zones nearest the airport mean the shortest transfer; the central ones put restaurants and shops within walking distance; the outlying bays are quieter but you will rely on taxis. Our tours pick up from every zone on this list at no extra charge.
They are road distances rounded to the nearest five kilometres, taken from the routes our own drivers use. Cairo traffic can double any figure between 7–10am and 3–7pm.
Now you've seen the map — check our tours. Private guided day-trips with English-speaking locals, direct booking from people who actually live in Egypt.