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Buy Egyptian train tickets at Bookaway.com. Booking opens 17 days ahead.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the creative commons licence. See larger map |
See Egypt by train
Egypt is fabulous, Cairo one of the world's most fascinating cities. It's easy to travel round Egypt independently by train, at your own pace. Egyptian Railways are the most comfortable way to travel between Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, Port Said & Suez. The views from the train along the Nile give you a real insight into the country. This page will give you the knowledge & confidence to travel around Egypt by train.
How to buy tickets
How to buy tickets at the station
What are Egyptian trains like?
Station guides
Train times & fares for key routes
Cairo
to Luxor, Isna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan
Cairo/Alexandria
to El Alamein & Mersa Matruh
Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Siwa
Oasis (bus)
International travel to/from Egypt
Cairo-Amman-Damascus-Istanbul by bus/train
Cairo-Khartoum (Sudan) by train & ferry
Other useful information
Useful country
information - visas, currency, dial code, etc
Recommended hotels in Cairo, Alex & Luxor
Travel insurance, mobile data
packages, VPNs & other tips
Route map: Click for larger map
Useful country information
How to check train times
Timetables for Cairo-Alexandria & Cairo-Luxor-Aswan and several other routes are shown further down this page. But here's how to check train times online:
Check train times at enr.gov.eg
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The most reliable way to check train times & fares for express trains between major cities is using the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) website enr.gov.eg.
Only Egyptian citizens can buy tickets here, but foreigners can still use it to check train times and availability. It's more accurate than most other apps or ticket ordering websites as you're looking at 'live' booking data. In fact, I'd check train times at enr.gov.eg before buying tickets from a ticket ordering website such as www.bookaway.com or 12Go.com.
Be aware of its limitations: It won't show trains within the next 24 hours, only from 24h onwards. You can only look up to 2 weeks ahead, so check times for next week and assume they'll be similar for the next few months. It only shows air-conditioned express trains between major stations, it doesn't show unreserved ordinary trains or trains to/from smaller stations such as Kom Ombo or El Alamein.
The ENR site shows how many seats are left on each train, so you can get a feel for how busy trains are and how soon they get booked up.
PLD = Passenger Long Distance. Special = VIP Express or Express.
AC1, AC2, AC3 = Air-Conditioned 1st, 2nd, 3rd class. GA2 = Good Air 2nd, meaning pressure-ventilated, non-air-con.
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ENR app |
Download the ENR app
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You can also download the ENR app for your phone, using this link for iPhone or this link for Android.
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The ENR app shows the same data with the same limitations as their website, but is useful to have on your phone when travelling.
Or download a third-party app
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Egypt Trains |
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I recommend Egypt Trains by Ahmed Mokhtar, use this link for iPhone or this link for Android.
The app's ads are annoying, but unlike the ENR app, this shows all trains between all stations, even local trains and smaller stations. So for example, you can look up trains from Alexandria to El Alamein using this app (use Maraham Bek for Alexandria as this is the station).
On the other hand, the app shows a standard daily timetable which they only update periodically, so you may not see any recent changes - the ENR website/app will be more accurate, at least for express trains between major stations.
On the app, VIP express trains are shown as VIP, express trains are shown as Spanish A/C, trains using Russian cars are shown as Russian or (if they have air-con cars) Russian AC. The app shows Egyptian citizen prices and availability.
Since December 2022, non-Egyptians must pay higher 'foreigner prices' for train tickets, priced in US dollars. The Egyptian National Railways app and website only sell tickets at Egyptian prices for Egyptian citizens, so you'll need to either buy in person at the station when you get to Egypt, or (if you want your tickets sorted in advance) order tickets online from an agency such as www.bookaway.com (option 1) or 12Go.com (option 2).
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Buy Egyptian train tickets online at www.bookaway.com |
Option 1, order online at Bookaway.com
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Why use Bookaway?
Bookaway.com is a reliable agency which allows you to order foreigner tickets for express trains between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan and they can book the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan deluxe sleeper trains too.
You can see prices in various currencies including £, €, $, Au$, overseas credit cards no problem. You obviously pay an agency mark-up but it's the hassle-free way to get your train tickets sorted in advance if you need to be sure of being on a specific train on a specific date.
Tip: When booking tickets between Cairo and Alexandria, ignore options to/from Sidi Gaber which is a station on the outskirts. Make sure you select a ticket to or from Alexandria Train Station, in the city centre.
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When does booking open?
Booking normally opens 17 days before departure. You must normally book at least 2 days ahead.
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How are tickets delivered?
The Cairo-Luxor/Aswan sleeper trains are e-ticketed so can be emailed.
Foreigner tickets for all other trains cannot be e-ticketed, Bookaway use a ground agent in Cairo to buy hard-copy foreigner tickets and deliver them to your hotel or have them waiting for you with the tourist police at Cairo Ramses station. It is not 'live' online booking.
After booking you'll be emailed a voucher with details of how to contact their Egyptian agent at least 10 hours before departure to arrange ticket delivery to your hotel or ticket collection at Cairo Ramses station.
If you ask to collect tickets at Cairo Ramses, your tickets will be left with the tourist police. From outside the station, find the two entrance passageways marked Entry No.(1). Walk into the left-hand passageway. The tourist police office is a door on the left just before you reach the x-ray scanner. Alternatively, once inside the station just ask at either of the tourist police desks in the corners of the main hall. Don't be surprised if the police don't ask for your name or booking reference or voucher, just for the time and date of your train and any return train. They then reappear with tickets for those trains! Feedback appreciated.
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Buy Egyptian train tickets online at 12Go.com |
Option 2, order online at 12Go.com
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Why use 12go?
Also an easy way to order foreigner tickets for the air-conditioned express trains between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan, and for the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan sleeper trains.
Like Bookaway, 12Go.com is a reliable agency, you pay an agency mark-up but it's hassle-free. You can see prices in various currencies including £, €, $, Au$, overseas payment cards no problem. Feedback appreciated.
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When does booking open?
You can book with them several months ahead, 12go's handling agent will buy your tickets when Egyptian Railways opens bookings.
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How are tickets delivered?
The Cairo-Luxor/Aswan sleeper trains are e-ticketed so can be emailed.
Foreigner tickets for all other trains cannot be e-ticketed, 12go use a ground agent in Cairo to buy hard-copy foreigner tickets and deliver them to your hotel or have them waiting for you with the tourist police at Cairo Ramses station.
After booking you're emailed a voucher with details of how to contact 12go's Egyptian agent at least 10 hours before departure to arrange local ticket delivery to your hotel or ask for ticket collection at Cairo main station.
Some 12go bookings are sub-contracted to Bookaway, using Bookaway's ground agent with the same ticket delivery or collection options explained in option 1 above. Other bookings are sent to a different ground agent, in this case collection at Cairo Ramses station was by meeting a member of their ground agent's staff an hour before departure, rather than collection from the tourist police. Feedback appreciated.
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Buy daytime train tickets online at enr.gov.eg (if working!) |
Option 3, buy online at enr.gov.eg
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Sadly still not an option for foreigners
enr.gov.eg is the official Egyptian National Railways website. However, a message makes it clear that booking is for Egyptian nationals only, booking for foreigners is still under construction and has been for several years now.
You can still use it to check train times, they will be more accurate than most other websites, but until it's sorted you'll have to buy using Bookaway or 12go as shown above or buy at the station.
I've known several people use it to book trains as an Egyptian national, then go to the Arab and Foreign Reservation Office in Cairo, show the booking and pay the extra for foreigners. That may or may not work!
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What can it book?
It can book tickets for all major air-conditioned express & Russian trains between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan.
It won't book the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan deluxe sleeper trains, see how to book the sleepers. It won't book 2nd & 3rd class non-air-con tickets for slower ordinary or Russian trains. It won't sell tickets for unreserved ordinary trains, or to all stations, for example Alexandria to El Alamein.
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When does booking open?
Booking opens 2 weeks before departure, and closes 2 days before departure. If you try to book more than 2 weeks before you want to go, it says there's no availability. So wait until booking opens. If you need tickets for today or tomorrow, you must buy at the station.
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4 people per booking maximum
You can only book 4 people at a time. If you want to book more, you'll have to make two bookings and if necessary open two accounts.
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How to use it
Go to enr.gov.eg, it opens in Arabic (eventually, it's slow!), change ar to en top left for English.
Click Sign up and enter your email. They send you a code to enter to verify your email. When your account has been set up, log in again. Run an enquiry on a date within the next 2 weeks, remember you can't book further ahead than this.
AC1, AC2, AC3 = Air-Conditioned 1st, 2nd, 3rd class. GA2 = Good Air 2nd, meaning pressure-ventilated, non-air-con.
You get a pdf e-ticiket which you can show in the app or print out.
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Feedback would be welcome if you use this system, successfully or unsuccessfully.
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ENR app |
Option 4, buy using the ENR app
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Also sadly not an option for foreigners
The official Egyptian National Railways (ENR) mobile phone app is available for iPhone and for Android.
The app works just like the website, selling tickets at Egyptian citizen prices for major express trains. But there remains no option for tourists to buy tickets at foreigner prices. You can at least use the app to check train times and availability.
Option 5, buy sleeper tickets at Abelatrains.com
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The deluxe sleeper trains between Cairo & Luxor/Aswan are privately-run by Abela Trains and they have a separate booking system.
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Use the Abela website
You can buy tickets online at Abelatrains.com.
Booking opens 4 to 5 months ahead, but this varies.
For Cairo, select Upper Egypt, the new station in Cairo also known as Bashtil. Or select Giza if you prefer to board there.
Select Elite for beds in sleeping-cars which have been refurbished in 2025-26 with the new Elite interior, or Beds for beds in cars with the much older and more worn Spanish or German interiors. I strongly recommend Elite, these cars are vastly superior to those with the older Spanish or German interiors see the photos here.
When completing the online booking form, it won't work if you leave any of the fields blank. For example, if you don't have a middle name, enter a dot.
If booking 2 people in a 2-berth sleeper, at the point where you enter your passenger data, make sure you select Yes under Family. That ensures you are given 2 beds in the same compartment. Otherwise you may get berths in separate compartments each shared with another passenger of the same gender.
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Or the Abela app
Their website does work, but if you have any problems, download the Abela app for iPhone or Abela app for Android. The app usually works even if the website doesn't. For English, click the language button top left, labelled with an 'A' for Arabic.
You print your own ticket and can board the train. Feedback appreciated.
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Or book with Bookaway.com
Reliable ticketing agency www.bookaway.com can book these sleeper trains for you with a small mark-up.
You may find this easier than using Abela's site or app. You'll see the sleeper train listed twice, once for regular sleepers, and a second time for booking an Elite sleeper with a slightly higher price and photo of an elite sleeper.
Tickets are emailed to you.
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If neither website nor app work for you
Alternatively, contact Abela by phone or fax, fax your booking request to + 202 37 489 680 quoting your email address or phone their reservation office on + 202 374 893 88 or + 202 374 894 88 (lines open 09:00 to 15:00 Egyptian time, daily except Fridays, English spoken, feedback appreciated!).
They will email you a booking reference and you can pick up the tickets and pay for them in Egyptian pounds, US Dollars or euros at the Abela reservation offices in Cairo, Giza, Luxor or Aswan.
How to buy tickets at the station
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Are tickets usually available on the day?
Many people end up buying tickets at the station, as options for booking Egyptian trains online are limited, although www.bookaway.com works for many daytime trains and the sleeper trains between Cairo, Luxor & Aswan can be booked online easily enough.
Between Cairo & Alexandria it's normally easy to buy 1st class tickets on the day of travel or the day before. If you find a particular train or class fully-booked, there will usually be seats available on another train or in another class. Availability is not normally a problem.
Between Cairo & Luxor or Aswan it's better to book a few days ahead, although you may well find seats available at least on some trains if you book on the day or the day before.
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How to check availability
You can use the ENR website or ENR app to check seat availability, even if they won't let you buy online. Run an enquiry for the day after tomorrow and see how many seats remain available on each train. That should give you the confidence to buy in person at the station a day or two ahead, even if you're normally obsessed with booking things months in advance. Remember that it won't show availability within the next 24 hours, so a lack of trains shown for today and tomorrow morning doesn't mean all the trains are booked up!
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In Cairo, go upstairs to the Arab and Foreign Reservation Office
In Cairo there's a special Arab and Foreign Reservation Office, you can buy all your tickets here.
Walk into the main hall at Cairo Ramses station, passing through the metal detector and X-ray bag check at the station entrance. Head up the escalators to the mezzanine floor & foodcourt. Turn left into the corridor, then right along the corridor to the Arab and Foreign Reservation Office. Sometimes it's busy, sometimes it's quiet. If you find it a zoo, come back later!
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In Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan
Look for a ticket window marked Tourist tickets (or similar) in the row of windows in the regular ticket office.
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Payment for train tickets
You can pay in USD, euros or (at the Arab and Foreign Reservation Office in Cairo) by credit card.
Credit cards may or may not be accepted at other main stations such as Alexandria, Luxor or Aswan, feedback appreciated.
I recommend carrying crisp clean USD or Euro notes. Egyptian Pounds might be accepted, but usually not. It may depend who you talk to!
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Tickets for the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan sleeper
The Cairo-Luxor-Aswan deluxe sleeper can be booked online or booked in person at the separate Abela Trains Reservation Office at Cairo Ramses station, located on the outside of the western facade of the station building, next to Entry No.(1). The office location is marked on this satellite view of Cairo station. Tickets must be paid for foreign currency, either US dollars, euros or pounds sterling, credit cards accepted. There's an Abela sleeper office at Giza station, and Abela sleeper ticket windows at Luxor & Aswan stations.
The sleeper may have berths available if you book a day or two in advance, but at peak times such as Easter it gets fully-booked by tour groups, so pre-booking is strongly recommended.
What are Egyptian trains like?
Overview
There are two broad categories of train in Egypt, express and ordinary.
Express trains are air-conditioned with 1st & 2nd class seats and refreshments, they are all-reserved and tickets come with a specific assigned seat.
Express trains further divide into three categories, Talgo using new Spanish-designed Talgo trains, VIP express using cars with a stainless-steel exterior and Express.
Talgos are higher-quality than other trains and higher fares apply. VIP Express and Express have the same fares and there's frankly little to choose between them.
Ordinary trains are slower, are unreserved with non-air-con 2nd & 3rd class, although a few trains convey an air-con 2nd class car with reserved seats and some trains with the new Russian-built carriages have air-conditioned 3rd class which is perfectly acceptable.
A fleet of Russian-designed carriages has progressively entered service since 2020, initially replacing older cars on ordinary trains, but in due course may also operate some air-con expresses.
Most visitors understandably stick with the air-conditioned expresses, although I've used a 2nd & 3rd class slow train between Aswan & Luxor, the advantages are opening windows and lots of local colour.
Last but not least there are the 'deluxe' sleeper trains which provide time-effective overnight travel between Cairo and Upper Egypt. This has been outsourced to private company called Abela.
Talgo trains
These are Egypt's premier express trains, introduced in 2023. They are a cut above other express trains and higher fares are charged. They operate several Cairo-Alexandria express services plus a Cairo-Luxor-Aswan overnight seated service.
The Talgos are modern air-conditioned articulated trains built by the Spanish Talgo company, with 1st & 2nd class and a cafe counter. Each car is much shorter and smaller than a conventional carriage with just one pair of wheels beneath each articulation. A trolley service comes down the train selling tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks and you may be offered a pre-packed meal served at your seat, veg or non-veg, typically costing around £4 or $5. They may give you a meal and come back for payment later, it is not included in the fare. See video, Cairo to Alexandria by Talgo.
The 07:00 Talgo train from Alexandria to Cairo, boarding at Alexandria station.
VIP special express trains
These are the next best trains after the Talgos, on both the Cairo-Alexandria and Cairo-Luxor-Aswan routes. They are air-conditioned with 1st & 2nd class (AC1 & AC2) and a cafe counter, all tickets come with a specific reserved seat. A refreshment trolley comes down the train selling tea, coffee & soft drinks. Seats normally face forward (staff rotate them at the end of each trip) or can be rotated to create a bay of 4 for families by pressing a foot pedal. These trains consist of stainless-steel cars with bodyshells built in China, assembled in Egypt, over 200 of which were delivered 2015-16. On some departures you may be offered a meal served at your seat, veg or non-veg, typical cost around £4 or $5. They may give you a meal and come back for payment later, it is not included in the fare.
VIP express 906 from Alexandria, arrived at Cairo Ramses platform 1. Note the stainless steel exterior and Venetian blinds between the panes of glazing.
Express trains
The next rank down from VIP Express is (plain) Express, but there's little difference between VIP Express and Express and the same fares apply, so just pick whichever departure suits you best. They have comfortable 1st & 2nd class (AC1 & AC2) seating, all tickets come with a specific reserved seat. A refreshment trolley comes down the train selling tea, coffee & soft drinks. Seats all face forward (staff rotate the seats at the end of each trip), but can be rotated to create a bay of 4 for families by pressing a foot pedal.
Air-conditioned express train 913 from Cairo to Alexandria, arrived at Alexandria station. The I near the door indicates AC1. You can also see a small square next to the right of the entrance door, this shows the car number, written as an Arabic numeral.
Russian trains
The first batch of new carriages built in Russia & Hungary were delivered in 2020-2021. This huge order includes 500 pressure-ventilated 3rd class cars (shown as GA3 class, GA = Good Air), 500 air-conditioned 3rd class cars (the first air-conditioned 3rd class cars in Egypt, shown as AC3), 210 air-conditioned 2nd class cars (AC2) and 90 air-conditioned 1st class cars (AC1). The first batch of these cars has now replaced older 2nd & 3rd class non-air-con cars on many Alexandria-Cairo & Cairo-Asyut-Luxor ordinary trains and they may turn up on air-con expresses in due course.
A Russian train at Alexandria station, in a distinctive colour scheme.
Air-conditioned 3rd class on a Russian-built train.
Ordinary trains
Ordinary trains are much slower, with non-air-conditioned 2nd & 3rd class seats. They are unreserved, you sit where you like, which means at busy times they may be crowded. Few visitors bother with these trains, although there's no reason why you shouldn't use them if you like. One advantage is that without air-con the windows open, which is better for seeing and photographing the scenery. I once took one from Aswan to Luxor as that's only a short hop, my train wasn't crowded, a breeze blew through the open windows, and I met some interesting Egyptian people on board.
A few trains - shown as Ord+ in the timetables on this page - convey one or two air-conditioned 2nd class cars with reserved seats. These air-con 2nd class cars are a good way to travel between Cairo and Port Said, Suez or Mersa Matruh, or even Alexandria if the express trains are fully-booked.
Reports in 2024 suggest foreigners are being refused tickets for non-air-con cars on these trains, at least at the main stations, unacceptable discrimination. You could try buying an air-con ticket, then board one of these trains for the experience and the open-window photographic opportunities. On the other hand, it's reported that the ticket offices at small local stations are often unaware of the existence of 'foreigner fares' and will sell tickets for local trains at local prices, no problem. It's the main stations such as Luxor, Aswan, Cairo and Alex where difficulties arise.
An ordinary non-air-con train at Cairo Ramses station, with 3rd class seats.
Deluxe sleeper trains
One, two or occasionally three comfortable sleeper trains link Cairo & Giza with Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo & Aswan in each direction every night, with air-conditioned sleeping-cars and a club car. It's the most time-effective way to travel between Cairo and Upper Egypt, it saves a hotel bill, and waking up to palm trees along the Nile is a real Egyptian experience!
Trains 86 (southbound) & 87 (northbound) run every day all year, extra trains run when needed. Train 1088/1089 runs Alexandria-Luxor-Aswan on Thursdays & Sundays southbound, Fridays & Mondays northbound.
Foreigners are charged higher fares than Egyptian nationals and there are separate quotas of berths for Egyptians and foreigners in separate cars.
Egyptian National Railways have outsourced the operation of these sleeper trains, since 2023 they've been operated by a company called Abela Trains who took over from former contractor Ernst, who ran the service as Watania Sleeping Trains.
Elite, Spanish or German interior?
This is important so listen up! All the sleeping-cars on these trains were built in East Germany in the early 1980s, but they come with 3 very different interiors. Bear this in mind when reading reviews!
When you book, if you choose Elite you'll get a modern sleeper freshly refurbished to a high standard in 2025-2026, see the Elite photos below. In early 2026 Abela had 12 sleeping-cars refurbished as Elite out of a fleet of over 100 cars, but more are being given the Elite makeover in 2026-27. A journey in an Elite car is wonderful, I've experienced it myself.
If you choose a regular sleeper, you'll either get a sleeping-car with the original 'German' interior as delivered in the 1980s, or one with a 'Spanish' interior, refurbished with the help of Spanish company CAF in the 2000s, see the Spanish & German photos here. Both these interiors are getting tatty, worn and dusty, although the good news is that dinner, breakfast, clean bedding and service are the same as in Elite. The original German interior has held up better than the fibreglassy Spanish interior. Abela tell me that by the end of 2027, all cars with the Spanish interior should have been refurbished as Elite, but cars with the German interior will remain.
Service on board
The sleeping-cars have lockable 2-berth compartments which can be sold for single or double occupancy. The berths fold away to reveal seats for evening and morning use, the middle of the three seats folds down to form a table as you can see in the photos.
Each compartment has a washbasin, soap, towel & clean bedding are provided. The Elite cars have a 2-pin socket near each berth for recharging laptops or phones. Luggage goes with you into your compartment, there's a large recess for bags over the door to the corridor.
The fare includes a tasty tray-meal in the evening and breakfast with omelette and tea or coffee in the morning, served in your compartment. Your sleeper attendant will set up small tables for you, these slot into the wall next to each seat.
The sleeping-cars are non-smoking, but you can smoke if you need to in the vestibules at each end of the carriage. There's a connecting door between adjacent compartments which can be opened if 3 or 4 of you occupy both compartments.
Passengers travelling alone who don't want to pay the single-berth fare can book one bed in a 2-berth and share with another passenger of the same sex.
There is a lounge car roughly in the centre of the train serving tea, coffee and soft drinks, but not alcohol.
For more information see Abelatrains.com. Watch the sleeper video. Sleeper train times & fares. How to book the sleeper.
Elite sleeper in day mode (above left) and night mode (above right.
Above left, dinner is included in the fare, served in your compartment. It's tasty!
Above left, luggage space above the door. Above right, breakfast with tea or coffee (and a nice omelette!) is included in the fare.
Club car at Cairo Upper Egypt station.
Club car selling tea, coffee and soft drinks, although not alcohol.
Sleeping-cars with the older 'Spanish' or original 'German' interiors, on sleeper train 86 boarding at Cairo Upper Egypt station.
Above left, a sleeper with the 'Spanish' interior, refurbished in the 2000s. Above right, a sleeper with the original German interior from 1980.
Video: Cairo to Aswan in Elite class
Station guides
Cairo Upper Egypt (Bashtil) station
Cairo Ramses station
Most mainline trains use Cairo's impressive main station, usually known as Cairo Ramses station, see location map.
The first station opened here in 1856, the current building dates from 1892. It was extended in 1955 and modernised in the 2010s with marble flooring and air-conditioning.
How to reach Cairo Ramses
You reach Cairo Ramses station by metro, Al-Shohadaa metro station on lines 1 & 2 is directly adjacent.
Entering the station
You enter the station from the west side through one of four passageways labelled Entry No.(1) and Entry No.(3), putting your bags through an X-ray machine and walking through a metal detector, as you do when entering most Egyptian tourist attractions, museums and major hotels. It only takes a few seconds, it's nothing like an airport, there's no need to remove shoes or belts or metal-framed glasses. Indeed, I have walked through with my iPhone in my pocket and the metal detector still didn't register.
Ticket gates
Automatic ticket gates were installed in 2022. The row of ticket gates on the north side of the main hall (on your left immediately after walking in) gives access onto platform 8, from where a pedestrian subway runs under the tracks to platforms 9, 10 & 11. The row of gates on the east side of the hall between the two escalators (on the far side of the hall after walking in) gives access to platforms 1-4, from where you can access platforms 5, 6 & 7. You scan the QR code on you ticket to let you through the gates.
Which platform for your train?
The station is both a through station and a terminus, see satellite view station plan.
On the east side of the main hall is an impressive trainshed housing terminus platforms 1-4 facing Alexandria, with terminus platforms 5, 6 & 6 outside to the left.
Talgo, VIP express & express trains to Alexandria usually leave from platforms 1-4.
On the north side of the main hall are the through platforms, numbered 8-11, with platform 8 adjacent to the main building.
Trains to Luxor & Aswan leave from the through platforms, with key trains such as VIP express 980 to Luxor & Aswan typically leaving from platform 8.
In fact, there are more terminus platforms on the far side of the station, numbered 12 upwards, used by ordinary trains heading north, but you're unlikely to need these. There's also a separate station known as Cairo Pont Limon (or sometimes Cairo Allimon or El-Qahira El-Liamoon), southeast of the main station, which handles local trains to the Nile Delta, but again you're unlikely to need this.
Food court
For somewhere to wait for your train, head up one of the two escalators from the main hall to the food court on the mezzanine level. There are two good cafes here, the main one is A La Gare, which has table service and sells good coffee, good food and you can pay by card.
Arab and Foreign Reservation Office: See the how to buy tickets section.
Abela sleeper train ticket office: See the how to buy tickets section.
Cairo Ramses station, western side. The ornate central doorway is locked shut, the main station entrances are either side of it, labelled Entry No.(1) on the right and Entry No.(3) on the left. The Abela sleeper reservation office is to the right of Entry No.(1). As with all main stations in Egypt, your bags are X-rayed when you enter the station. Courtesy of Paliparan.com.
The air-conditioned main hall at Cairo Ramses station, taken from the mezzanine floor with platforms 1-4 behind the camera. You can just make out the X-ray baggage scanners at each of the entrances. The passageway to platform 8 is out of shot to the right. Courtesy of Paliparan.com.
The main hall at Cairo station, looking the other way, towards terminus platforms 1-4 used by express trains to Alexandria. The passageway to platform 8 is out of shot to the left. To reach the Arab and Foreign Reservation Office, go up the escalators & turn left. Courtesy of Paliparan.com.
There's a food court up the escalators on the mezzanine floor, overlooking platforms 1-4. A good place for a coffee, snack or meal before your train. Photos courtesy of Paliparan.com.
Platforms 1-4 are terminus platforms in this impressive trainshed, platforms 5-7 are also dead-end platforms, alongside the trainshed out of shot to the left. The platforms are numbered right to left. The main hall is behind the camera. Courtesy of Paliparan.com.
Cairo Upper Egypt (Bashtil) station
An impressive new station called Cairo Upper Egypt station or sometimes Cairo Bashtil opened in October 2024, roughly 7 km west of Cairo Ramses station, see location map. The sleeper trains to/from Luxor & Aswan now use this station, but so far all daytime trains and overnight seated trains to/from Upper Egypt continue to use Cairo Ramses station. To reach this station it's best to use a taxi or Uber, as there are no metro stations nearby.
Entrance to the modern Bashtil station. Photos courtesy of Katie Mead.
Booking hall with ticket windows either side. Courtesy of Katie Mead.
Above left, ticket windows. Above right, ticket gates to access the platforms. Photos courtesy of Katie Mead.
Cairo Bashtil platforms. Courtesy of Katie Mead.
Alexandria station
Alexandria is the oldest railway station in Africa, first opened in 1856. The current station is a magnificent landmark in its own right, built between 1915 & 1927. Note that trains to El Alamein and Mersa Matrouh now leave from Maharam Bek station a few km away.
Entering the station
You enter the station through a passageway to the left of the central portico, putting your bags through an X-ray machine and walking through a metal detector, as you do when entering most Egyptian tourist attractions, museums and major hotels. It only takes a few seconds, there's no need to remove shoes or belts or metal-framed glasses or even empty your pockets. You then find yourself in the ticket hall with the row of ticket windows to your left. Walk forwards into the trainshed.
Ticket gates
Two rows of automatic ticket gates separate the circulating area at the rear of the trainshed from the platform area. You scan the QR code on you ticket to let you through the gates.
Which platform for your train?
The station has 8 platforms, with platforms 1-6 lined up in front of you inside the main trainshed, numbered from left to right. There are no departure boards, so the first thing to do is know what sort of train you're booked on and what this type of train looks like. For example, there is only likely to be one Talgo train sitting in a platform leading up to departure time, so if you're booked on the Talgo, that'll be it! You may then need to ask to be sure.
Buying tickets
You pass through the ticket office when entering the station, to the left of the central portico as you look at the station facade. One window has a paper sign sellotaped to it saying Tourist tickets.
Station cafe
The station cafe is a comfortable place to wait, opening off the circulating area opposite the ticket gates to platforms 2 & 3. They do a decent double expresso if you need waking up for the 7am train! You can also buy water or soft drinks here, or there are various kiosks around the station and on the platforms.
Alexandria station.
Looking towards the buffer stops on platforms 4 & 5. You exit through ticket gates and through the main central exit straight ahead.
Alexandria station. You enter through the passageways visible to the left of the central portico, through an X-ray & metal detector check.
Ticket gates into the platform area, with platforms 2 & 3 in view. Scan your ticket's QR code to enter.
Above left, ticket windows, one of which is marked for tourist tickets. Above right, the station cafe. Click for larger photos.
On the left on platform 5 is express train 913 from Cairo. On the right on platform 4, a VIP express train stainless-steel carriages.
Travel tips
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Download a train timetable app!
Download an Egyptian train times app as shown here, using this on your phone will be much easier than asking at the station every time. It also means you'll already known which train you want (and perhaps have a second choice train if your first choice is fully-booked) when you go to buy tickets at the station.
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Learn Arabic numbers!
A tip for train travel in Egypt is to learn Arabic numbers. A seat and car number will be printed on your ticket using western numerals. However, when boarding a train you'll often find the car numbers written in Arabic on a small sign next to each car's entrance door. Although once inside the train, seat numbers are written in both Arabic and western script.
Departure boards at stations often use Arabic numerals to show train numbers, departure times & platform numbers, only the main departure boards flick over periodically to western script and numbers. If you know Arabic numbers, you can read these, making it easy to find your train from the departure time, even if you can't read the destination.
Arabic numbers are written left-to-right, the same as western numbers, even though Arabic words are written right-to-left.
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How to find your train & seat
The main departure boards at major stations such as Cairo or Alexandria show train number, platform, destination. They switch between Arabic and Western script/numerals every few seconds. Each platform at Cairo Ramses station has an LED display showing the departure time, train number & destination of the train at that platform.
There's no check in, you just go and get on your train any time before departure, but remember there's a baggage X-ray check at the entrance to the station. I'd be at the station half an hour before.
Your ticket will show your train number, train type, class, car number and seat number, in both Arabic and Western script. When you reach your train, car numbers will be shown in both Arabic & Western numerals on a small metal plate next to each car's entrance door.
Automatic ticket gates have been installed at the entrance to the platforms in Cairo, you'll need your ticket to open the gates.
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Do Egyptian trains run on time?
Of course not, this is Egypt! However, Express trains get priority, so are more likely to run on time than slower ordinary trains. An express train from Cairo to Alexandria might arrive on time or maybe 10 or 20 minutes late. On a recent trip, the 19:00 Talgo from Aswan reached Luxor spot on time. Southbound sleeper train 86 was just 8 minutes late into Aswan from Cairo, but returning northbound on sleeper train 87 we were 60 minutes late into Cairo from Luxor. Just take it in your stride, make sure you have supplies with you, and enjoy the ride. Avoid booking trains due to arrive at midnight, so you don't end up arriving at silly o'clock.
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Cafe at Cairo Ramses station
If you arrive at Cairo Ramses station early, there are a couple of good cafes in the food court on the mezzanine floor, up the escalators from the main hall. This is a good place for an inexpensive coffee and bite to eat before your train, the main A La Gare cafe accepts card payment, too. The food court overlooks platforms 1-4 through a large glass wall.
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Taxis & Uber in Cairo & Alexandria
Always use a white taxi as these are metered, and are a cheap way to get from anywhere in central Cairo to the station. Make sure the meter is switched on. Cairo's black & white taxis and Alexandria's black & yellow taxis do not have meters and you will need to agree a price before you get in, so they usually work out much more expensive. You can also use Uber, which may be a better option as you can see what the price is, specify your destination clearly in the app, and pay with card.
Cairo to Alexandria
The best way to travel between Alexandria and Cairo is by train. There are two broad categories of train, air-conditioned expresses with comfortable 1st & 2nd class reserved seats, and slower ordinary trains with basic non-air-con unreserved 2nd & 3rd class seats, many now composed of new Russian-built carriages. Most visitors stick with the air-conditioned expresses, which are highlighted below in bold type.
The air-conditioned expresses further divide into three types, the new premier Talgo trains, the second-rank VIP Express trains (shown on the ENR website as Special and on most other apps & websites as VIP), and the plain Express trains, shown on the ENR website as Speed and on most other apps & websites as just AC. All are comfortable and can be recommended, but the Talgo trains are easily the best, as good as anything in western Europe and worth building your plans around. However, there isn't much difference between the VIP Express trains and the (plain) Express trains, so just take whichever departure best suits you time-wise.
Train times northbound
Train times southbound
Notes for the timetable
Bold type = Air-conditioned express trains. Most visitors will want one of these.
Talgo = new articulated train made by the Talgo company, being introduced from January 2023. 1st & 2nd class, air-conditioned, higher fares.
VIP = VIP special express train, extra-fast air-conditioned express with 1st & 2nd class reserved seats & refreshments, using stainless-steel carriages built in China/Egypt in 2015-16. Most only stop at Tanta & Sidi Gaber, or just Sidi Gaber. These are the best trains, higher fares apply than for the Spanish trains. Shown on enr.gov.eg as Special Service OD, and on most other apps & websites as VIP, see the photos above.
Exp = Express train, fast air-conditioned express with 1st & 2nd class reserved seats & refreshments, using either red & white Spanish carriages or French stainless-steel carriages. Comfortable & recommended, but older than the VIP trains. They are all shown on enr.gov.eg as Speed AC Spanish and on other apps & websites as AC, see photos above, although notices posted at stations may correctly identify which are Spanish trains and which French trains.
* Tip: Train 89 is an overnight through service from Aswan & Luxor to Alexandria, best avoided for Cairo-Alexandria journeys as it may be delayed.
Ru = Russian train. Composed of new Russian-built carriages, 2nd & 3rd class anon-air-con, may have some 2nd & 3rd class air-con carriages.
Ord = Ordinary train, 2nd & 3rd class unreserved seats, non-air-con, not normally used by tourists, see the photo above.
Ord+ = Ordinary train, 2nd & 3rd class unreserved seats, non-air-con, also conveys one or more cars of air-conditioned 2nd class reserved seats.
How to buy tickets. Check these times & fares online or using an app as shown above.
Hotels in Alexandria: The two classic hotels right on the Corniche are the famous Cecil Hotel & the Metropole Hotel. Both hotels are a 19-minute 1.4 km walk or 11 minute taxi ride from Alexandria station.
Cairo-Alexandria is 208 km (129 miles). All these trains call at Sidi Gaber, a local station 3 km from Alexandria's main station.
Children aged 0 to 3 travel free, children 4 to 9 travel at half fare, children 10 and over pay full fare.
Higher prices for foreigners were introduced in December 2022, these are early 2026 prices. If you get a photo of the latest foreigner fares list, please get in touch!
How to buy tickets
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Option 1, buy tickets at www.bookaway.com.
This is by far the easiest option, and the least hassle. www.bookaway.com is a reliable agency, you pay a reasonable agency mark-up but it's a painless way to get your train tickets booked in advance from outside Egypt.
Booking normally opens 17 days before departure, you must normally book at least 2 days ahead.
www.bookaway.com can book seats on all the most popular air-conditioned express trains between Cairo and Alexandria, although it can't book every possible train or book to/from smaller stations.
Tip: As a tourist, you should buy tickets to/from Alexandria train station, the main terminus in the city centre. Be careful not to select an option to/from Sidi Gaber, which is a secondary station in the east of the city, most trains call there on their way to/from Alexandria station.
Bookaway will give you a voucher which you must print out, it shows details of how to contact their agent at least 10 hours before departure to arrange local ticket delivery to your hotel or perhaps collection Cairo Ramses station.
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Option 2, buy tickets at the station, see the advice here.
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Tickets for ordinary trains can't be booked online, see the advice for buying tickets at the station.
Cairo to Luxor & Aswan
The deluxe sleeper is the most comfortable & time-effective way to travel between Cairo & Luxor or Aswan, in effect as fast as flying, but far more of a genuine Egyptian experience and better for the environment, too. It's more expensive than normal trains, but it saves a hotel bill. You'll still see Nile Valley scenery in the morning, at least going southbound to Aswan.
If time is tight, go sleeper both ways, but personally I'd go one way by sleeper and the other by daytime train, to experience the train ride along the Nile Valley. Incidentally, travelling overnight in a seat saves time and is cheap, but not comfortable, I'd either splurge on a sleeper or take a daytime train.
I have highlighted the deluxe sleeper train and the best air-conditioned daytime train in bold type. I recommend that particular daytime train (980/981) as it's the best VIP type, it'll show you most of the route in daylight, and an hour or two delay won't mean arriving at silly o'clock. By all means take another train if you prefer, for example train 2010 southbound or trains 2011 or 983 northbound, all Spanish trains. Most visitors stick with the air-conditioned expresses (marked VIP or Exp below) but even ordinary non-air-con trains can be fine for short hops, for example when travelling between Qena, Luxor, Kom Ombo, Edfu & Aswan.
Important: Cairo Bashtil station is now open: An impressive new station called Bashtil opened in Cairo in October 2024 and the deluxe sleeper trains to/from Upper Egypt have already been switched to Bashtil instead of using Cairo Ramses. It's not yet clear what other trains (if any) are using Bashtil. More about Bashtil station.
Train times southbound
Train times northbound
Notes for timetable
* = sleeper train 82/83 only runs at peak periods with tickets for it typically released a month in advance. 86/87 runs every day.
** = New Talgo train, 1st & 2nd class air-conditioned with premium fares.
Bold type = recommended daytime train & sleeper train for journeys between Cairo & Upper Egypt. But by all means take one of the others.
Sleeper = Deluxe sleeper train, sleeping-cars & lounge car. Special fares apply. Can be used between Luxor & Aswan, sitting in empty sleepers in seats mode. Run by Abela Trains, Abelatrains.com. Uses Bashtil station in Cairo, also known as Upper Egypt station.
VIP = VIP special express train with air-conditioned 1st & 2nd class reserved seats & refreshments, using modern stainless-steel carriages built in China/Egypt in 2015-16. These are the best trains, higher fares apply. Shown on enr.gov.eg as Special Service OD and on most other apps & websites as VIP, see the photos above.
Exp = Express train with air-conditioned 1st & 2nd class reserved seats & refreshments, using Spanish-built carriages. Also comfortable, but older than the VIP trains. Shown on enr.gov.eg as Speed AC Spanish and on other apps & websites as just AC, see the photos above.
Ru = Russian train. Composed of new Russian-built carriages, 2nd & 3rd class anon-air-con, may have some 2nd & 3rd class air-con carriages.
Ord = Ordinary train, 2nd & 3rd class seats, unreserved, slower, not air-conditioned, not normally used by tourists (fine for short hops).
Giza station is a fair way from the Giza Pyramids, but if you're staying out that way it can be better than going into Cairo city centre. You can travel between Cairo & Giza on the Cairo Metro, www.cairometro.gov.eg.
Al Balyana is the station for the Great Temple of Abydos, a 22-minute 9.8 km taxi ride from the station.
Qena is the station for the Dendera temple complex, a 22-minute 9.3 km taxi ride from the station.
Recommended hotel in Luxor: The famous & fabulous Old Winter Palace Hotel is a Luxor highlight in its own right, request a room in the old part of the hotel, not in the 1970s extension. The hotel is a 14 minute 1.1 km walk or 4 minute taxi ride from Luxor station.
Cairo to Luxor is 671km (419 miles). Cairo to Aswan is 879 km (549 miles).
How to buy tickets. Check these times & fares online or using an app as shown above. See the section on tourist restrictions.
Fares are one-way, a return is simply two one-ways. Add 2.5% credit card fee if paid by card.
Children aged 0 to 3 travel free, children 4 to 9 travel at two-thirds fare, children 10 and over pay full fare.
On the deluxe sleeper train, children aged 4 to 9 pay $70 one-way, children under 4 go free but without a berth - you pay child rate if you want them to have a bed.
Higher prices for foreigners were introduced in December 2022, these are early 2026 prices. If you get a photo of the latest foreigner fares list, please get in touch!
Although foreigners have always had to pay higher prices for the sleeper trains.
How to buy tickets
Tickets for seats:
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Option 1, buy tickets online at www.bookaway.com.
This is by far the easiest option, and the least hassle. www.bookaway.com is a reliable agency, you pay a reasonable agency mark-up but it's a painless way to get your train tickets booked in advance from outside Egypt.
Booking normally opens 17 days before departure, you must normally book at least 2 days ahead.
www.bookaway.com can book seats on all the most popular air-conditioned express trains between Cairo/Giza and Luxor/Aswan, although it can't book every possible train or book to/from smaller stations.
Bookaway will give you details of how to contact their agent at least 10 hours before departure to arrange local ticket delivery to your hotel.
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Option 2, buy tickets at the station, see the advice here.
Tickets for sleepers
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Option 1, book the sleeper trains at the Abela website or use the Abela app, see the how to buy tickets section.
Tip: For Cairo, select Bashtil. You can also select Giza if you prefer to board there.
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Option 2, you can also buy sleeper tickets online at www.bookaway.com and receive an e-ticket.
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Option 3, buy tickets at the station at the special Abela sleeper ticket office, see the how to buy tickets section.
Travelling by day on an air-con express
They're not as time-effective as the overnight sleeper of course, but the daytime air-conditioned express trains are safe, comfortable and incredibly cheap - and best of all, the journey is an insight into Egyptian life. It's a pleasant ride along the Nile Valley, past palm trees, feluccas, camels and fellahin working in the fields. You will see how the Nile makes a small strip of land green either side of the river before the desert resumes. See the traveller's report below about a journey on these daytime Upper Egypt trains.
Travelling overnight in air-con seats
If you don't mind sleeping in a seat, which not a very nice or comfortable experience, these overnight trains save time compared with daytime trains but cost much less than the deluxe sleeper. Take a fleece or jumper as the air-con can be powerful.
Travellers' reports: The sleeper
Traveller Sean Sickinger reports: "On the ticket you're advised to be on the platform at least 30 minutes before departure, although this doesn't mean the train will be on time! On my trip, the train was 30 minutes late leaving and nearly 2 hours late into Luxor, so factor a possible delay into your plans. Giza mainline station is right next to Giza metro station and there are a few small shops selling snacks or water, plus a small restaurant. At the station there are small numbers hanging from the platform canopy, these indicate the approximate location of the carriages so if you're booked in car 6, stand next to sign number 6. Don't expect to find any Abela staff on the platform, just wait for the sleeper train on the main platform with everyone else. You may be approached by people with official looking notebooks offering to help you who ask you for your ticket, but don't show it to them - they write down your name and destination as if they were verifying your ticket, then call their buddies in Luxor who will approach using your name and claiming they are there to pick you up, a basic taxi and hotel scam. Once the train arrives at the platform, Abela staff will step out in front of each carriage to check your ticket and make sure you get into the right car & compartment. The onboard staff are generally very friendly and helpful. Car numbers are posted just inside each entrance door, but not outside the train. After the train leaves and people have settled into their compartments, the staff bring you your dinner, as selected when you book your ticket. The meals are similar to what you would get on an airline, although fairly heavy on breads & starches! Breakfast is served about one hour prior to arrival at your destination, again, heavy on the bread. Don't expect the same level of smoothness as a European overnight train, as there's a certain amount of jostling and vibration from the tracks, but overall this is not a bad option to get from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan."
Traveller Jess Painter took the sleeper from Cairo to Luxor and back: "When boarding from Cairo to Luxor, no-one asked for a marriage certificate, although they checked our tickets as we boarded - onto the wrong carriage, telling us it was the right one, of course! They serve dinner within an hour which was a piece of breaded chicken, rice, vegetables, potato wedges and some sort of cake. I preferred to eat my tuna sandwiches but my friend ate the train food happily enough. An hour later, just after 10pm, they come around to turn the seats into beds. Next time I'll ask for this to be done straight away as the beds are much more comfortable than the seats, two people can sit on the bottom bunk playing cards very comfortably. The rooms have a sink so you can brush your teeth, with bottled water if you have some, and there's a power socket so you can keep everything charged in the case of a delay. There is a lounge car on the train but it didn't appear to be open, no drinks were available so people must take their own, alcohol included if you want to sleep better! Breakfast was very basic, something claiming to be a croissant, a bread roll and a selection of jam, butter and cheese spread. They also serve tea and coffee, which I don't drink but my friend said they were disgusting! The toilets are cleaned at regular intervals but you have to time it right. There are two toilets per carriage. You might go in one time and have a horrendous greeting and decide to wait you might go in another time and feel comfortable enough to use the facilities! They permit smoking on the trains but not in the cabins, only at either end of the carriage. So it's best to leave your door shut so the wafting smoke doesn't enter your cabin, even though this can feel a little claustrophobic at times! Very easy to pick up a taxi from outside the station once in Luxor, it's LE20 (£2) to any hotel (don't pay any extra), but if you can use some broken Arabic you will get them down to LE10, begrudgingly. The return journey was much the same except that tickets weren't checked on the platform, again no marriage certificate check. Tickets were not even checked on board. We asked for our beds to be made up immediately, passed on dinner as it was already 10.30pm when we boarded, and we slept right through until 8am. I had slept badly on the outward trip, thinking that the bunk bed was going to fall due to the rockiness of the train, but knowing what to expect made the return journey easier and we were so sleepy after a 5am hot air balloon ride that it was a very comfortable ride. We were then delayed three hours and the 'carriage host' couldn't say where we were, how far we were from Cairo or anything so we had GPS out on the iPhone trying to locate ourselves. It was a very successful journey and one I would recommend to anyone and definitely do again!"
Traveller's reports: Day trains
Traveller Jerome Wise reports: "We took the daytime air-conditioned express train from Cairo to Luxor, which took 10 hours or so. It was great fun, a bit of an adventure and a great way to see the real Egypt. The children (8 and 6) even enjoyed it. The great thing about the first class seats is that, whilst they are in an airline configuration, you can swivel them so you have facing and back - great for four people travelling together."
Traveller Ian Green took a Cairo to Luxor then Aswan to Cairo daytime trains: "We bought our train tickets online at the Egyptian National Railways website having followed your instructions and signed up. We caught train 980 from Cairo to Luxor in first class leaving at 8am (platform 8) and the 983 train from Aswan to Cairo first class, leaving at 7am. The tea was lovely, service pretty good, seats comfy. Toilets passable. Both trains left on time, both were in the station half an hour early, but both were about 3 hours delayed getting to the final stop. Take supplies!"
Travellers' report: Visiting the temples at Abydos & Dendera
Traveller Krys Garnett reports: "Visiting the temples of Abydos and Dendera from Luxor is easy by train, and much more convenient than the convoy or bus. For Dendera, take a train to Qena, where the station master will arrange a taxi and inform the tourist police. A policeman will accompany you in the taxi, but you won't get a convoy. Visiting the Abydos, take the train to Al Balyana, then a taxi."
* Alexandria Mu. Bek = Muharam Bek New station, 4km from Alexandria's main station, see location map. The station is near a major bus station, ignore taxi drivers who tell you there are no trains and want to take you there instead!
Ord = Ordinary train with 2nd & 3rd class unreserved non-air-con seats.
Ord+ = Ordinary train with 2nd & 3rd class unreserved non-air-con seats plus one or more air-conditioned cars with 2nd class reserved seats.
Note A = Express train with air-conditioned 1st & 2nd class seats, runs June-September only.
Note B = Sleeper, Abelatrains.com. Runs on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday from mid-June to mid-September.
Note C = Sleeper, Abelatrains.com. Runs on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday from mid-June to mid-September.
Fares: Cairo to Mersa Matruh foreigner fare not known.
By summer-only sleeper, Cairo to Mersa Matruh is $43 per person in a 2-berth sleeper, $60 in a single-berth sleeper.
Buy tickets at the station, see the advice here.
Or you can tickets for 2nd class air-con reserved seats on trains marked Ord+ at the ENR website, see the advice in the How to buy tickets section above.
Cairo & Alexandria to Port Said
Ord = Ordinary train with 2nd & 3rd class unreserved non-air-con seats.
Ord+ = Ordinary train with 2nd & 3rd class unreserved non-air-con seats plus one or more air-conditioned cars with 2nd class reserved seats.
Exp = Spanish express with air-con 1st & 2nd class.
Fare: ?? each way in 2nd class air-con.
Buy tickets at the station, see the advice here.
Or you can tickets for 2nd class air-con reserved seats on trains marked Ord+ at the ENR website, see the advice in the How to buy tickets section above.
Ord = Ordinary train with 2nd & 3rd class unreserved non-air-con seats.
Ord+ = Ordinary train with 2nd & 3rd class unreserved non-air-con seats plus one or more air-conditioned cars with 2nd class reserved seats.
Exp = Air-conditioned express with 1st & 2nd class seats.
Adly Mansour station is a modern station located northeast of downtown Cairo, see location map. It's around 11km further out than the Ain Shams station which is replaces as terminus for the direct line to Suez.
Fare: Not known.
Buy tickets at the station, see the advice here.
Or you can tickets for 2nd class air-con reserved seats on trains marked Ord+ at the ENR website, see the advice in the How to buy tickets section above.
There are no trains to Abu Simbel, but a bus service operates from Aswan (275 km). It departs Aswan at 07:00, arriving Abu Simbel at 10:00. It leaves Abu Simbel at 13:00 arriving back in Aswan at 16:00. There are also many tourist day tours, most leaving Aswan very early - for example, 04:00 - for about LE55 (£5 or $9).
Sharm el Sheik, Hurghada, Siwa
Sharm el Sheik
To/from Cairo: There are no trains to Sharm el Sheik, but there are buses to/from Cairo. The 485 km journey takes about 7 or 8 hours by bus.
Go Bus Egypt run a dozen or more buses a day between Sharm el Sheik and Cairo. The cost varies depending on the class of bus.
Buses can be booked online from reliable booking agencies 12go.com or www.bookaway.com.
If you use this route, feedback & any photos would be appreciated. There are also buses run by the East Delta Bus Co and the Super Jet Bus Co. although currently neither company has a website.
To/from Luxor: Sharm El Sheik is the far side of the Gulf of Suez from the Nile Valley, so for Luxor you need to return to Cairo by bus, then travel by train from Cairo to Luxor, There are no longer any ferries between Sharm El Sheik & Hurghada on the other side of the gulf.
Hurghada
To/from Cairo: There are no trains to Hurghada, but there are buses to & from Cairo. The 500 km bus journey takes about 7 hours, the fare ranges depending on the class of bus. Go Bus Egypt run a dozen or more buses a day between Hurghada and Cairo, they can easily be booked online at reliable booking agencies 12go.com or www.bookaway.com. If you use this route, feedback & any photos would be appreciated.
To/from Luxor: Luxor to Hurghada (255 km) takes 4 hours by bus, with 2 or 3 departures daily. The buses can easily be booked online at reliable booking agencies 12go.com or www.bookaway.com.
Siwa Oasis
To/from Alexandria: 3 daily buses link Alexandria with Siwa taking 6 hours for the 590 km, check at www.bookaway.com.
To/from Cairo: There's a daily overnight bus from Cairo at 21:15 to Siwa, arriving around 08:15 next morning, run by the West Delta Bus co. You can also book a shred minivan or tourist car. You can book all of these www.bookaway.com.
International buses & ferries
There are no international trains from Egypt, but buses will get you to Libya, there's a ferry to Jordan and a Nile steamer from Aswan to Sudan. There are now NO Mediterranean ferries to Egypt, from anywhere in Europe, at all.
Cairo - Amman (Jordan) - Damascus (Syria) - Istanbul (Turkey)
You can travel from Egypt to Jordan without going via Israel, using a ferry. Here are details northbound - for the southbound journey see the Jordan page.
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Day 1, take a bus from Cairo to Nuweiba on the Red Sea.
A bus usually leaves Cairo main bus station at around 08:00, taking about 6 hours to reach Nuweiba. It's run by the Shark el Delta Bus Co.
Stay overnight in Nuweiba.
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Day 2, take a ferry from Nuweiba to Aqaba in Jordan.
A ferry sails leaves Nuweiba every day at 12:00, arriving Aqaba 15:00, see www.abmaritime.com.jo.
The fare is US$80. You must check in at least 2 hours before departure, and pay your fare in US$ cash. There may also be an Egyptian exit tax to pay, about $10.
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Step 3, take a bus from Aqaba to Amman.
There are regular buses and service taxis from Aqaba to Petra and Amman, journey time around 4.5 hours, cost around 3 or 4 JD, see the Jordan page. You'll find buses waiting for the ferry arrival to take you to Amman.
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For obvious reasons, travel from Jordan through Syria to Turkey is currently not possible.
Cairo - Tripoli (Libya) - Tunis (Tunisia) - Morocco
IF you have a Libyan visa, there are buses from Egypt into Libya. However, at present the Libyan government will not grant visas for independent travel to Libya, only for people on tours organised by a recognised Libyan travel agency. There are buses from Libya into Tunisia, but it's not possible to travel on to Morocco overland, as the Algerian/Moroccan border is closed and Algeria has security problems which make it a no-go zone for westerners.
Cairo - Aswan - Wadi Halfa - Khartoum (Sudan): See the Sudan page
A weekly Nile steamer used to link Aswan with Wadi Halfa in the Sudan, from where a twice-monthly train used to run,) to Khartoum, see the Sudan page for details.
It's now ridiculously difficult to get to Egypt without flying.
Option 1: London to Egypt by train & ferry
This used to be easy, but is currently tricky. The Med is now full of cruise liners going round in circles, but remarkably short on actual ferries doing anything useful. Until 1995, Adriatica Line's Espresso Egitto used to sail weekly from Venice and Piraeus to Alexandria. Michael Palin used it in 1989 and I used it in 1990 to travel from London to Cairo, Luxor & Aswan and back without flying - Michael gets everywhere a year or two before I do, and he doesn't have to pay for his own ticket. Sadly, the terrorist problems in Egypt ended this service.
Until 2001, Salamis Lines sailed weekly from Greece to Egypt via Cyprus, but their services were suspended because of the problems in Israel, the ship's ultimate destination. Then a new weekly ferry service started in May 2010 linking Venice in Italy with Alexandria in Egypt, www.visemarline.com. However, sorry as I am to be proved right, this service didn't last more than a year - it ran in a circle via Syria, and fell victim both to the problems in Egypt reducing tourist numbers and the current strife in Syria. It was cancelled in May 2011.
But yet another ferry then started up, the only ferry across the Med to Egypt, running twice a week from Iskenderun in southern Turkey to Port Said in Egypt, www.sisashipping.com. But this ended in 2013. There are currently no passenger ferries to Egypt, your only hope is a cruise liner or freighter.
Grimaldi Lines run weekly or so freighters to Alexandria from various European ports including Southampton, Salerno (Italy) and Piraeus (Greece), www.grimaldi-freightercruises.com. However, it's reported that they don't allow embarkation or disembarkation at Alexandria.
One option that may still work, if they allow disembarkation in Egypt, is this: thecruisepeople.wordpress.com offer voyages with French freighter line CMA-CGM from Le Havre and Fos sur Mer (west of Marseille) to Suez/Damietta in Egypt, Le Havre to Egypt taking 10 days at around €120 per day including food and cabin accommodation.
Option 2: London to Egypt overland via Paris, Vienna, Istanbul, Syria & Jordan
Obviously, the situation in Syria has now scotched this route too, as all travel to or through Syria is currently inadvisable.
Guidebooks
Paying
for a guidebook may seem an unnecessary expense, but it's a
tiny fraction of what you're spending on your whole trip.
You will see so much more, and know so much more about what
you're looking at, if you have a decent guidebook. For
independent travel, easily the best guidebook is either the
Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. Both books provide an
excellent level of practical information and historical and
cultural background. You won't regret buying either of
them..!
Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk
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Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website, from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.
Hotels in Egypt
In Cairo, the famous Shepheards Hotel, beloved of British officers in two world wars was burned down in 1952, although the name is now (mis)used by a modern hotel. The Windsor Hotel had old-world charm and character, a traveller's favourite, but has sadly closed. On a budget, try the Hotel Carlton for comfort with character, 1.3km from Cairo station. For something more upmarket, the Steigenberger el Tahrir is also in the city centre, in an excellent location overlooking Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum.
In Luxor, easily the most classic place to stay is the famous and fabulous Old Winter Palace Hotel, from $109 or £55 a night. At least have a drink in the bar! Tip: Request a room in the old part of the hotel, not in the 1970s extension.
In Alexandria, the most famous & historic hotel is the Cecil Hotel (from about $153 or £100 a room), now part of the Steigenberger chain, right on the corniche. Also try the Metropole Hotel across the square, slightly cheaper with great art deco features and a lift dating from 1932, from $80 or £55 a night.
Backpacker
hostels
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & other tips
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Always take out travel insurance
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com
is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I get a small commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from buy from Amazon.com.
Touring cities? Use hill walking shoes!
One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa. They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Bangkok, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities. My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!