Egypt Taxis and Car Rental

While taxis in the larger cities are not necessarily the safest mode of transportation in Egypt, they are certainly the cheapest and most efficient. All taxis have official markings and are different colors in different cities. Travelers should be wary of fake cabs which try to extort money from tourists. Some have meters, but most do not, so it is best to negotiate a price before departure to avoid conflict with the driver after the journey.

Most of the international rental car companies are represented in Egypt, including Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Budget. Vehicles can be picked up from the local airport or through travel agencies. While the quality of the roads is generally good, the same cannot be said for the standard of driving. Travelers choosing to drive themselves should be particularly careful when commuting through the busier cities.

Egypt Ferries

Ferry journeys exist between Hurghada and Sinai on either a fast or a slow boat. Travelers always have the option to sail down the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan or Cairo and Aswan.

Egypt Trains and Buses

Egyptian National Railways operates most of the train services in the country. The most popular route is Cairo to Alexandria, which runs frequently every day. Other popular lines are Cairo to Luxor and Cairo to Aswan. Tickets can be either first class, which is quite comfortable, or second class. Another company, Abela Egypt, offers luxury train travel with clientele that is largely tourists. The train cars are generally air conditioned and meals are served. This company operates overnight trains on the same routes as Egyptian National Railways.

There are several government-owned bus companies which compromise an extensive network of routes. The long distance service is quite popular with both locals and tourists, and during peak season tends to get quite crowded with tickets selling out fast. Most buses are comfortable, with the exception of some which blast loud videos throughout the journey.