Train routes: Click for larger map |
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© OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the creative commons licence. |
See Egypt by train...
Egypt is fabulous, Cairo one of the world's most fascinating cities. There's no need to book a tour, it's easy to travel round Egypt independently by train, seeing what you want. 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 independently, by train...
Important: New train fares for foreigners: From 15 December 2022, non-Egyptians must pay special 'foreigner prices' for train tickets, a 350% increase. Cairo-Alexandria by VIP train $20 2nd class, $25 1st class. Cairo-Luxor by VIP train $35 2nd class, $45 1st class. The new foreigner fares are in US dollars, but can be paid in USD, Euros or Egyptian pounds. Feedback appreciated.
Train travel information
What are Egyptian trains like?
Useful country
information - visas, currency, etc
Recommended hotels in Cairo, Alex & Luxor
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
Route map: Click for larger map
Useful country information
Train operator: |
Egyptian National Railways, https://enr.gov.eg. Sleeper trains Cairo-Luxor-Aswan: www.wataniasleepingtrains.com. For buses between Cairo & Hurghada or Sharm el Sheik use 12go.asia. |
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Time zone: |
GMT+2 all year. There's no daylight saving time, this was cancelled in 2015. |
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Dialling code: |
+20 |
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Currency: |
Egyptian pounds: £1 = LE 35, €1 = LE 30, $1 = LE 28 Currency converter |
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Visas: |
UK, other EU, US, Canadian, Australian and most western nationalities need a visa to visit Egypt. As from 2017 there is an e-visa scheme, get your visa online at visa2egypt.gov.eg. |
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Hotels in Egypt: |
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Tourist information: |
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Page last updated: |
16 January 2023 |
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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You can check train times & fares for air-con express trains between major cities at the Egyptian National Railways website enr.gov.eg.
But be aware of its limitations: You can only look 2 weeks ahead, it only shows selected air-conditioned express trains and only between major stations. It doesn't show all trains, doesn't show slower ordinary trains, and won't show trains to or from smaller stations such as Kom Ombo or El Alamein.
AC1, AC2, AC3 = Air-Conditioned 1st, 2nd, 3rd class. GA2 = Good Air 2nd, meaning pressure-ventilated, non-air-con.
Important update 2023: After being offline for some weeks over Christmas 2022 and into 2023, the ENR website is back up again with a Beta version of a completely new website. It doesn't appear to show the new foreigner fares, at the time I write this it only shows a handful of 'selected' trains, adjusting their departure times to your own time zone, but it's early days, we'll have to see what the new site does when the dust settles...
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You can also download the ENR app on your phone, try this link for iPhone or this link for Android. The app has the same limitations as their website. However, unlike the website you can't use it to buy tickets as it requires a valid Egyptian National ID card number. It's currently not working on my phone as I can't get it to offer any stations to select, it might work for you...
Download a third-party app...
Train Trip |
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Egypt Trains |
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Given the limitations of the official ENR website, a better way to check Egyptian train times is to use a third-party app on your phone, for planning and when in Egypt. Unlike the ENR website, these show all stations and all trains, air-con & non-air-con. And when you get to Egypt, using an app on your phone is a lot easier than asking at the station. The apps show train times & types, but don't quote fares or sell tickets. There are a two good free apps to choose from, consider downloading both of them.
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Train Trip by Fust Solutions, use this link for Android, was also available for iPhone but is now 'Not available in your region'. This correctly shows the times of the trains, although I have found a couple of trains which it doesn't show, but which appear on both the ENR website and the competing Egypt Trains app. VIP special express trains are shown as VIP, Spanish express trains are shown as AC, ordinary non-air-con trains are shown (for some reason) as Distinct. It uses some unusual spellings, for example Albelina for Al Balyana and Alalamin for El Alamein.
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Egypt Trains by Ahmed Mokhtar, use this link for iPhone or this link for Android. This has a nicer interface than Train Trip, uses more usual spellings & shows the trains which for some reason the Train Trip app omits. On this app, VIP special express trains are shown as VIP, Spanish express trains are shown as Air-Conditioned, ordinary non-air-con trains are shown (confusingly) as Special, trains using the new Russian cars are shown as Russian. I still have no idea what Viva Egypt trains are!
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The Ernst / Watania Sleeping Trains reservation office on the western side of Cairo station. Courtesy of Naick & Kim. |
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Self-service ticket machines at Cairo station... |
Buying tickets at the station...
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It's easy to buy tickets at the station when you get to Egypt, although a degree of patience is called for as with a lot of things in Egypt.
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 fully-booked, there will almost always be seats available on another one.
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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Cairo Ramses station foreigners ticket office...
As foreigners need to pay special higher fares as of 15 December 2022, you will need to find the special booking office for foreigners.
Walk into the main hall at Cairo Ramses station and head up the escalators to the mezzanine floor. Head to the left-hand side of the mezzanine floor and enter a corridor. Walk down that corridor towards the platforms and at the very end is the foreigner VIP ticket office.
You are issued a hand-written receipt to show you have paid the foreigner price. You can pay in USD, Euros or Egyptian pounds. Feedback appreciated.
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Self-service ticket machines...
Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan stations have self-service ticket machines with a touch screen and an English language facility. If & when working, these are quicker & easier than going to the staffed ticket counters - but note the 'if'. The machines can sell train tickets complete with reservation for all main routes & trains and on a good day they accept overseas credit cards.
Many machines have fallen into disrepair, by all means look for one that works, some still do and if so, should accept overseas cards. However, it's not clear if these can cope with the new foreigner prices, they probably can't. If you use these machines, let me know!
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Tickets for the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan sleeper...
The Cairo-Luxor-Aswan deluxe sleeper must be booked at the separate Ernst Sleeping Trains Reservation Office at Cairo Ramses station, located on the outside of the western facade of the station building, an archway or two to the right of the impressive locked-shut main door, the office location is marked on this satellite view of Cairo station. The office is marked Ernst, Sleeping Trains Reservation Office. Tickets must be paid for foreign currency, either US dollars, euros or pounds sterling. Originally you had to pay in cash, but it's reported in 2022 that credit cards are now also accepted. There are also Ernst/Watania sleeper offices at Luxor & Aswan stations.
The sleeper usually has berths available if you book a day or two in advance, but at peak tourist times such as Easter it gets fully-booked by tour groups, so pre-booking is recommended.
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Buy daytime train tickets online at enr.gov.eg |
Buy tickets online at enr.gov.eg
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A new ENR website was soft-launched in January 2023: enr.gov.eg is the official Egyptian National Railways website. After being offline for some weeks over Christmas 2022, it's back up again with a Beta version of an all-new website. However, it doesn't appear to show the new higher foreigner fares, and at the time I write this it only shows a handful of 'selected' trains.
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Be warned, it's currently adjusting train departure times to your own time zone, which isn't terribly helpful. In other words, when you use the site on a laptop in the UK, it says train 980 leaves Cairo at 06:00, when the train actually leaves at 08:00 Egyptian time. If you used the website on a computer in New York, it'd say the train left at 01:00! We'll have to see how the new site shapes up when the dust settles. I will then re-write this section.
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What can it book? It can currently only book tickets for a handful of selected air-conditioned express trains between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan. At the current soft-launch stage, that's it.
It won't book the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan deluxe sleeper trains, see the next section for sleepers. It won't book 2nd & 3rd class non-air-con tickets for slower ordinary or Russian trains. It won't sell tickets to smaller stations such as Edfu, Kom Ombo or El Alamein.
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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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Can foreign tourists use this system? Sort of! It currently doesn't show the new higher foreigner fares, only the normal Egyptian fare. So go ahead and pay the normal rate, then either (a) see if anyone charges you extra on the train, or (b) go to the foreigners ticket office, show your online ticket and offer to pay the extra. But if you book online you know you're safely booked on the train! The old ENR website happily accepted most non-Egyptian credit cards, and I've had at least one person confirm that they successfully used the revamped post-January-2023 ENR website to buy tickets.
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4 people per booking, max: You can only book a maximum of 4 people at a time. If you want to buy more than this, 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 are sent an email with reservation details with date, time, train number, car & seat number. You print this out and can board the train with this printout and the credit card used to make the booking, as long as the main named traveller is the owner of the credit card. If you've used someone else's card, then you'll need a photocopy of the front of the credit card, passport, and reservation details.
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Feedback would be welcome if you use this system, successfully or unsuccessfully.
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The ENR ticket app (link for iPhone, link for Android) works like the website, but unfortunately you can't use it to buy tickets on your phone because (unlike the website) it only accepts valid Egyptian National ID card numbers, not passport numbers. You can still book on your phone, but you'll need to use their website, not their app.
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The deluxe sleeper from Cairo to Luxor, arrived at Luxor station on a bright sunny morning... Photo courtesy of Neil Bastock. |
Buy sleeper tickets online at wataniasleepingtrains.com.
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The deluxe sleeper train between Cairo & Luxor/Aswan is privately-run and has a separate booking system.
You can buy tickets online at wataniasleepingtrains.com.
Booking opens 30 days ahead.
You print your own ticket and can board the train with that printout. Feedback appreciated.
Important tip: If their website doesn't work for you, download the Ernst app for iPhone or Android, the app usually works even if the website doesn't! The app has an English button, this is labelled in Arabic so just hunt for it.
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If neither website nor app work for you, either use one of the Egyptian travel agencies suggested in the section below, or book direct with Ernst/Watania by phone, fax or email.
E-mail your booking request to info@wataniasleepingtrains.com or fax it to + 202 37 489 680 quoting your email address or simply 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 always 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 Watania reservation office, 48 Giza Street, Orman Building, first floor apartment No.14, at least 24 hours before departure between 09:00 & 15:00 any day except Fridays. It's in the same block as the Cairo Sheraton Hotel, next to the HSBC Bank.
If you cannot pick up tickets at least 24 hours in advance at these times, then book through a travel agency as recommended below, paying a booking fee.
Buy tickets through an Egyptian travel agency...
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You can also arrange tickets by e-mail through various Egyptian travel agencies. Again, feedback would be appreciated.
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Reputable agencies include www.egyptiants.net, www.safariegypt.com, www.paradisetravelegypt.com and (in Luxor) www.sunrisetours-eg.com.
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Feedback on agencies, good or bad, is always welcome. Osoris has been highly recommended by quite a few seat61 correspondents. They charge about $10 on top of the normal ticket price, plus a $5 fee to collect the tickets from their office in Cairo, a $25 fee for delivery to your hotel, $25 for delivery to the airport to meet your flight, or $20 to meet you with tickets at Cairo railway station. They also charge a 6% credit card fee, at least on days when they feel like accepting credit cards rather than Western Union transfers! E-mail them at egypt@osoris.com, or call +20 2 302 8561 or fax +20 2 3464146. Osoris have been recommended by several travellers, although one traveller reports poor service. Paradise Travel & SafariEgypt have had no reports as yet. I have removed Egyptlegend (www.egyptlegend.com/trainreservation.htm) after two bad reports. www.djedegypt.com has been recommended by one correspondent, they charge a $10-$15 fee per ticket.
What are Egyptian trains like?
Overview...
There are two broad categories of train in Egypt, express trains and ordinary trains.
Express trains are air-conditioned with 1st & 2nd class seats and refreshments, they are all-reserved and tickets come with a specific assigned seat.
Ordinary trains are generally slower, are unreserved (so can be crowded) 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.
The air-conditioned expresses further divide into two main groups, VIP with more modern carriages and Spanish with much older (but still comfortable) carriages.
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. A fleet of new Russian-designed carriages is slowly coming into service from 2020/2021 onwards, initially replacing older cars on slow trains, but in due course will also operate some air-con express services. If you travel on one of these, let me know!
Lastly we have the 'deluxe' sleeper train which provides time-effective travel between Cairo and Upper Egypt. This has been outsourced to a private company.
Talgo trains...
These are being introduced in 2023, initially on only a handful of Cairo-Alexandria services. They are modern air-conditioned articulated trains built by the Talgo company, each car is much shorter and smaller than a conventional carriage and there is just one axle under each articulation. These are Egypt's new front-rank expresses. If you get any photos of these new trains, please let me know!
VIP special express trains...
These are the best trains (or were, until the first Talgo trains entered service), running on both the Cairo-Alexandria and Cairo-Luxor-Aswan routes. They're shown as Special Service OD on the Egyptian Railways website enr.gov.eg, and as VIP trains on most other apps & websites. It will say Special on your ticket. They are fully 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 can be rotated to face either way - or 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.
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A VIP secial express from Cairo arrived at Alexandria. Note the stainless steel construction, and the venetian blinds between the panes of double-glazing. Photos courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
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Air-con 1st class on a VIP special express. Larger photo. |
Air-con 2nd class on a VIP special express. Larger photo. |
Express trains...
These mostly use older air-conditioned cars built in Spain, as shown in the photos below. They are shown as Speed AC Spanish on the Egyptian Railways website enr.gov.eg and as just AC or Air-Conditioned on most other apps & websites. They have comfortable 1st & 2nd class (AC1 & AC2) seating, all tickets come with a specific reserved seat. A refreshment trolley usually comes down the train selling tea, coffee & soft drinks. Seats can be rotated to face either way - or to create a bay of 4 for families - by pressing a foot pedal. These trains also operate on both the Cairo-Alexandria and Cairo-Luxor-Aswan routes.
Several Cairo-Alexandria expresses use stainless-steel cars built in France in the 1980s, remarkably similar in design to the Chinese/Egyptian VIP cars but much older, with an almost-identical window arrangement including the venetian blinds between panes of double-glazing. Such trains include Cairo-Alex train 911, 915, 919 & 923 and Alex-Cairo train 922. Notices posted at stations may (correctly) refer to these as French trains, but the Egyptian Railways website lists both Spanish and French trains as Speed AC Spanish, just to confuse you.
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Spanish express train (train 2011 at 08:40) from Luxor to Cairo... Photos courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
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Air-con 1st class on a Spanish Express. Larger photo. |
Air-con 2nd class on a Spanish Express. Larger photo. |
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 Nile Valley. 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, of the same sort as the 2nd class air-con cars on the Spanish express trains. 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.
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An ordinary non-air-con train at Luxor station... Courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
New 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. If you travel on one and get any better interior photos, please let me know.
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One of the new Russian trains at Luxor station, in their distinctive colour scheme. Courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
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Air-conditioned 3rd class on a Russian-built train. Photos courtesy of James Bedford. Larger photo. Larger photo. |
Deluxe sleeper train...
Two comfortable sleeper trains link Cairo & Giza with Luxor & Aswan in each direction. Trains 86 (southbound) & 87 (northbound) run every day all year, trains 82/83 run during peak periods. It's the most time-effective way to travel between Cairo & Luxor or Aswan and it's also a genuine Egyptian experience in its own right.
Branded Watania Sleeping Trains (Watania means Patriotism in Arabic), Egyptian National Railways has outsourced the operation of these trains to catering & hospitality company Ernst, who took over from previous operator Abela Egypt in 2010. Foreigners are charged higher tourist-orientated fares than Egyptian nationals.
These trains have comfortable air-conditioned sleeping-cars and a lounge car, see the photos below. The sleeping-cars have secure & lockable compartments each of which can be sold as a single with only the lower berth folded out, or as a double with both upper & lower berths in use. The berths fold away to reveal a sofa for evening and morning use, the middle of the three sofa 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. There's a 2-pin shaver socket near the sink which can be used to recharge cameras & mobiles with a suitable adaptor. Luggage goes in your compartment with you, there's a recess over the door for large bags so they don't have to go on the floor.
The fare includes a basic airline-style tray-meal in the evening and a simple breakfast, although tea & coffee are charged for. Room service can serve drinks in your compartment at extra cost. The sleeping-cars are non-smoking, but you can smoke if you need to in the vestibules at each end of the carriage. There is a connecting door between adjacent pairs of 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 drinks & snacks, see the photos below.
The sleeping-cars used on these trains were built in East Germany in the 1980s, a few cars retain their original classy German interiors (if your washbasin has a flat top, that's a give-away) but most have been refurbished with shiny fibreglass panels and a half-sphere washbasin cover as shown in the photos below. Similarly, the photos below show a lounge car which has been refurbished to look old-fashioned, I believe there is at least one lounge car which retains its original 1980s interior with free-standing tables & chairs which ironically looks more modern. Plans to build new sleeper trains were announced in 2020, but any new trains are still some years away.
For more information see www.wataniasleepingtrains.com. Watch the sleeper video. Sleeper train times & fares. How to book the sleeper.
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The sleeper to Luxor & Aswan about to leave Cairo... Courtesy of Richard Boyd. |
Boarding the sleeper at Cairo Ramses station. Photo courtesy of Paliparan.com |
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Corridor side of the compartment... Photos courtesy of Ross Thomas. |
Sleeper in day mode with beds folded away. Larger photo. |
...and in night mode with beds made up. Larger photo. |
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Sleeper train corridor... |
Washbasin... |
Canine security in evidence... Photo courtesy of Steve Hounslow |
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Lounge car, built in the 1980s and air-conditioned, but refurbished to look old-fashioned. I believe at least one car still retains its original more modern (if dated!) interior. See bar car video. Courtesy of Paliparan.com. Click the images for larger photos. |
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Dinner & breakfast are included in the fare... Some people find the food OK, others find it disappointing, but these photos show you what to expect. Tea & coffee are not included, but drinks don't cost much. Feel free to bring your own supplies for a picnic on the train! Photos courtesy of Neil Bastock. |
Cairo Ramses station Location map Station plan...
All mainline trains use Cairo's impressive main station, often called Ramses station. 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. The station is both a through station and a terminus, the main station building sits next to seven terminus platforms, with four through platforms running alongside, see Google Maps satellite view station plan.
Express trains to Alexandria normally leave from the terminus platforms, numbered 1-7 from right to left (1-4 are under the impressive trainshed, 5-7 alongside). The VIP express trains to Alex typically leave from platform 4.
Trains to Luxor & Aswan leave from the four through platforms, numbered 8, 9, 10 & 11. A passageway leads from the main concourse to platform 8. A subway leads under the tracks to platforms 9, 10 & 11. Sleeper train 86 and VIP train 980 to Luxor & Aswan both usually leave from platform 8, easily accessible from the main concourse.
There are more terminus platforms on the far side of the station, numbered 12 upwards, used by northbound ordinary trains. You are unlikely to need these. There is also a separate station, known as Cairo Pont Limon (and shown on apps as Cairo Allimon or El-Qahira El-Liamoon), just southeast of the main station. This handles local trains into the Delta, again you're unlikely to need this.
Security on entry: All bags are X-rayed as you enter the station, although anecdotally it seems they aren't interested in what you have on you when you walk through the metal detector, it's bags they really want to check. Once inside, the station has a ticket office, left luggage office, tourist office, ATMs, and a food court. The Watania sleeper office is at the front of the station next to the main entrance, before you go through security.
Access to the platforms: Automatic ticket gates were installed at the entrance to platforms in 2022. You now need a valid ticket to access the platforms.
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Cairo Ramses station in 2021, western side. The impressive central doorway is kept locked shut, but there are entrances either side, along with the Ernst sleeper reservation office which is an archway or two to the right of the locked-shut central doorway. As with all main stations in Egypt, your bags are X-rayed when you enter the station. Courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
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Cairo Ramses station, south side... |
Ticket office... Courtesy Zacharias Abubeker |
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The air-conditioned main concourse 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. |
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The main concourse 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. Courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
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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. |
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Platforms 1-4 are terminus platforms located under this impressive roof, with terminus platforms 5-7 out of shot to the left, alongside the trainshed. The platforms are numbered right to left. The main concourse is behind the camera. Here, a Spanish train to Alexandria waits to leave platform 2. The II next to the door indicates 2nd class air-con. Courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
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. The departure boards at stations often use Arabic numerals to show train numbers, departure times & platform numbers, only the principal departure boards show western 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, exactly like western numbers, even though Arabic words are written right-to-left. To print these Arabic numbers, right-click the image and click 'print picture'.
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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. An express between Cairo and Upper Egypt might leave on time or 20 minutes late and arrive on time or maybe an hour or two late. 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 early, there's a cafe upstairs in the food court on the mezzanine floor at Cairo Ramses station, a good place for an inexpensive coffee and bite to eat before your train. Go up the escalators from the main concourse. It overlooks platforms 1-4 through a large glass wall.
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Taxis in Cairo & Alexandria. Always use a white taxi as these are metered, and are a fairly cheap way to get from anywhere in central Cairo to the station, typically LE10-LE15 (£1-£2 or $2-$3) a trip. 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.
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The LED departure board on platform 4 at Cairo Ramses station, clearly showing VIP train 905 from Cairo to Alexandria leaving at 08:00. Courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
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, some 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 two types, the more modern VIP express trains shown on the ENR website as Special Service OD and on most other apps & websites as VIP, and the older Spanish or French express trains, shown on the ENR website as Speed AC Spanish and on most other apps & websites as just AC. Both are comfortable, both can be recommended, but the VIP trains are more modern and in better condition.
Timetable northbound...
Cairo ► Alexandria |
||||||||||||||||||
Train type: |
Ru |
Ru |
Ord+ |
Talgo |
Exp |
Ru |
VIP |
Ru |
Ru |
Exp |
Ord+ |
Exp |
Exp |
Ord |
Exp* |
Ord |
Exp |
|
Train number: |
1 |
163 |
119 |
2022 |
903 |
7 |
905 |
1009 |
1009 |
901 |
1109 |
909 |
911 |
11 |
89 |
15 |
913 |
|
Cairo depart |
depart |
0300 |
0340 |
0500 |
05:50 |
0600 |
0620 |
0800 |
0805 |
0810 |
0810 |
0835 |
0900 |
1000 |
1010 |
1100 |
1125 |
1230 |
Alexandria arrive |
arrive |
0645 |
0740 |
0950 |
??:?? |
0930 |
1010 |
1030 |
1125 |
1105 |
1115 |
1155 |
1150 |
1305 |
1425 |
1355 |
1510 |
1525 |
Cairo ► Alexandria (continued) |
|||||||||||||||||
Train type: |
Ord |
Ru |
VIP |
Exp |
VIP |
Ord |
Exp |
Exp |
Ord |
Ru |
Exp |
VIP |
Ru |
Exp |
Ru |
VIP |
|
Train number: |
133 |
1203 |
917 |
919 |
2001 |
21 |
915 |
921 |
27 |
23 |
923 |
927 |
157 |
931 |
29 |
935 |
|
Cairo |
depart |
1255 |
1325 |
1400 |
1425 |
1500 |
1510 |
1535 |
1610 |
1615 |
1720 |
1800 |
1900 |
1920 |
2015 |
2030 |
2205 |
Alexandria |
arrive |
1710 |
1710 |
1630 |
1805 |
1730 |
1915 |
1820 |
1845 |
1950 |
2115 |
2145 |
2130 |
2250 |
2335 |
0020 |
0105 |
Timetable southbound...
Alexandria ► Cairo |
|||||||||||||||
Train type: |
Ru |
Ru |
Exp |
VIP |
Ru |
Ord |
VIP |
Exp |
Ord |
Ord |
Exp |
Ru |
Exp |
Ru |
|
Train number: |
1108 |
8 |
902 |
906 |
158 |
14 |
904 |
900 |
12 |
132 |
912 |
164 |
914 |
18 |
|
Alexandria |
depart |
0305 |
0520 |
0600 |
0700 |
0715 |
0725 |
0800 |
0815 |
0915 |
1020 |
1130 |
1200 |
1300 |
1310 |
Cairo |
arrive |
0655 |
0915 |
0925 |
0935 |
1030 |
1200 |
1030 |
1120 |
1325 |
1410 |
1445 |
1530 |
1620 |
1715 |
Alexandria ► Cairo (continued) |
|||||||||||||||||
Train type: |
VIP |
Ru |
Ord |
Exp |
Ord |
Ru |
Exp |
Ord+ |
VIP |
Ord |
Ord |
VIP |
Ru |
Exp |
Ru |
VIP |
|
Train number: |
916 |
24 |
688 |
922 |
196 |
1130 |
88 |
118 |
928 |
32 |
2008 |
926 |
1008 |
930 |
28 |
934 |
|
Alexandria |
depart |
1400 |
1440 |
1510 |
1530 |
1540 |
1635 |
1700 |
1720 |
1800 |
1820 |
1900 |
1900 |
1935 |
2010 |
2020 |
2110 |
Cairo |
arrive |
1630 |
1840 |
2020 |
1850 |
1910 |
1925 |
2000 |
2220 |
2050 |
2215 |
2300 |
2130 |
2315 |
2325 |
0045 |
0110 |
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.
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.
How much does it cost?
Fares |
1st class air-conditioned |
2nd class air-conditioned |
2nd class non-a/c |
3rd class non-a/c |
Cairo - Alexandria by new Talgo train |
LE [not known] $30 for foreigners |
LE [not known] $25 for foreigners |
- |
- |
Cairo - Alexandria by VIP Special Express |
LE 130 (£6 or $8) $25 for foreigners |
LE 104 (£5 or $7) $20 for foreigners |
- |
- |
Cairo - Alexandria by Spanish Express train |
LE 93 (£4 or $6) $20 for foreigners |
LE 57 (£3 or $4) $15 for foreigners |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Not known |
Not known |
LE = Egyptian pounds. £1 = LE 35. €1 = LE 30. $1 = LE 28.
Children aged 0 to 3 travel free, children 4 to 9 travel at half fare, children 10 and over pay full fare.
The new higher prices for foreigners were introduced from 15 December 2022. You can pay in USD, Euros or Egyptian pounds.
How to buy tickets...
-
You can book the VIP special express & express trains at the ENR website, see the advice in the How to buy tickets section above.
-
Tickets for ordinary trains can't be booked online, see the advice for buying tickets at the station.
Alexandria station...
![]() |
Alexandria station in 2021, sometimes known as Alexandria Misr station. As with all main stations in Egypt, your bags are X-rayed when you enter the station. Courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
![]() |
Alexandria station, 2022: An air-conditioned French express has arrived from Cairo. Courtesy of Clint Seidel. |
![]() |
On the left is a brand-new Russian-built train, delivered in 2020-2021. On the right, a VIP special express train with Chinese/Egyptian-built stainless-steel carriages has arrived from Cairo. Courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
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.
Timetable southbound...
Cairo ► Luxor ► Aswan |
||||||||||||||||||
Train type: |
Ru |
Exp |
Ord |
Exp |
Ru |
VIP |
Ru |
Ru |
Exp |
Ru |
Exp |
Ru |
Exp |
Ru |
VIP |
Exp |
Ru |
|
Train number: |
1010 |
1902 |
832 |
934 |
974 |
980 |
80 |
1004 |
2010 |
158 |
982 |
160 |
986 |
164 |
2006 |
2012 |
188 |
|
Alexandria |
depart |
- |
- |
- |
2110 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0715 |
- |
- |
- |
1200 |
- |
- |
- |
Cairo |
depart |
0005 |
0020 |
0035 |
0110 |
0530 |
0800 |
0830 |
0930 |
1000 |
1020 |
1200 |
1215 |
1300 |
1515 |
1715 |
1730 |
1800 |
Giza |
depart |
0030 |
0050 |
0105 |
0140 |
0555 |
0830 |
0855 |
1000 |
1025 |
1100 |
1230 |
1240 |
1330 |
1600 |
1745 |
1755 |
1825 |
Asyut |
arr/dep |
0535 |
0515 |
0815 |
0630 |
1355 |
1325 |
1605 |
1450 |
1505 |
1700 |
1725 |
1905 |
1840 |
2115 |
2230 |
2245 |
0115 |
Al Balyana |
arr/dep |
0810 |
| |
1100 |
| |
|
1559 |
1855 |
1727 |
| |
| |
2005 |
2145 |
2109 |
0000 |
| |
| |
0352 |
Qena |
arr/dep |
0952 |
0920 |
1255 |
| |
1810 |
1740 |
2051 |
1850 |
1830 |
2130 |
2200 |
2340 |
2300 |
0215 |
0205 |
0225 |
0555 |
Luxor |
arr/dep |
1105 |
1020 |
1410 |
1055 |
1905 |
1855 |
2200 |
1950 |
1930 |
2225 |
2310 |
0040 |
0000 |
0345 |
0305 |
0325 |
0705 |
Isna |
arr/dep |
1157 |
1102 |
1458 |
- |
|
1945 |
2248 |
2042 |
2016 |
- |
2358 |
- |
- |
0434 |
| |
0408 |
0753 |
Edfu |
arr/dep |
1250 |
1148 |
1554 |
- |
|
2037 |
2350 |
2131 |
2103 |
- |
0042 |
- |
- |
0534 |
0430 |
0452 |
0851 |
Kom Ombo |
arr/dep |
1341 |
1236 |
1652 |
- |
|
2139 |
0058 |
2231 |
2205 |
- |
0139 |
- |
- |
0635 |
0521 |
0541 |
0947 |
Aswan |
arrive |
1420 |
1320 |
1740 |
- |
|
2225 |
0145 |
2310 |
2255 |
- |
0225 |
- |
- |
0725 |
0600 |
0620 |
2250 |
Cairo ► Luxor ► Aswan continued... |
||||||||||||||
Train type: |
Ru |
Exp |
Sleeper |
Exp |
Sleeper |
Ru |
VIP |
Sleeper |
VIP |
VIP |
Exp |
Ord |
Ru |
|
Train number: |
1014 |
988 |
84 |
88 |
86 |
1012 |
2014 |
82* |
976 |
2008 |
996 |
90 |
1008 |
|
Alexandria |
depart |
- |
- |
- |
1700 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1900 |
- |
- |
1935 |
Cairo |
depart |
1850 |
1900 |
1920 |
1935 |
1945 |
2020 |
2100 |
2110 |
2130 |
2145 |
2200 |
2215 |
2225 |
Giza |
depart |
1915 |
1925 |
1950 |
2030 |
2015 |
2045 |
2125 |
2140 |
2200 |
2330 |
2230 |
2240 |
2340 |
Asyut |
arr/dep |
0030 |
0015 |
0045 |
0150 |
0105 |
0240 |
0215 |
0230 |
0255 |
0355 |
0330 |
0420 |
0435 |
Al Balyana |
arr/dep |
| |
| |
| |
0409 |
| |
0504 |
| |
| |
0517 |
| |
| |
0729 |
| |
Qena |
arr/dep |
0429 |
0350 |
0410 |
0615 |
0455 |
0650 |
0545 |
0640 |
0700 |
0735 |
0715 |
1025 |
0820 |
Luxor |
arr/dep |
0535 |
0450 |
0515 |
0730 |
0610 |
0755 |
0640 |
0745 |
0750 |
0840 |
0815 |
1135 |
0920 |
Isna |
arr/dep |
0625 |
0532 |
| |
0818 |
0654 |
0849 |
0725 |
0831 |
- |
| |
0903 |
1224 |
1010 |
Edfu |
arr/dep |
0709 |
0616 |
0650 |
0909 |
0743 |
0935 |
0810 |
0925 |
- |
1007 |
| |
1324 |
1055 |
Kom Ombo |
arr/dep |
0810 |
0705 |
| |
1010 |
0840 |
1035 |
0900 |
1025 |
- |
1103 |
1050 |
1421 |
1151 |
Aswan |
arrive |
0850 |
0750 |
0815 |
1055 |
0925 |
1115 |
0940 |
1105 |
- |
1145 |
1130 |
1530 |
1230 |
Timetable northbound...
Aswan ► Luxor ► Cairo |
|||||||||||||||||||
Train type: |
Ru |
Exp |
Ru |
Ru |
Ru |
Ru |
Exp |
VIP |
Exp |
VIP |
Ru |
Ru |
Exp |
VIP |
VIP |
VIP |
Sleeper |
Exp |
|
Train number: |
833 |
987 |
159 |
157 |
975 |
81 |
2011 |
981 |
983 |
935 |
163 |
1013 |
2013 |
2007 |
2015 |
977 |
83* |
1903 |
|
Aswan |
depart |
0010 |
- |
- |
- |
|
0430 |
0515 |
0530 |
0730 |
- |
1230 |
1350 |
1430 |
1515 |
1600 |
- |
1620 |
1700 |
Kom Ombo |
arr/dep |
0101 |
- |
- |
- |
|
0517 |
0606 |
0617 |
0817 |
- |
1321 |
1432 |
1515 |
1558 |
1643 |
- |
1705 |
1747 |
Edfu |
arr/dep |
0200 |
- |
- |
- |
|
0619 |
0704 |
0717 |
0910 |
- |
1422 |
1527 |
1607 |
1648 |
1733 |
- |
1803 |
1836 |
Isna |
arr/dep |
0257 |
- |
- |
- |
|
0717 |
0749 |
0808 |
0953 |
- |
1522 |
1612 |
1654 |
1732 |
1817 |
- |
1853 |
1919 |
Luxor |
arr/dep |
0355 |
0450 |
0600 |
0730 |
0800 |
0815 |
0840 |
0910 |
1055 |
1240 |
1625 |
1710 |
1750 |
1830 |
1910 |
1925 |
1945 |
2010 |
Qena |
arr/dep |
0500 |
0600 |
0705 |
0835 |
0900 |
0945 |
0930 |
1015 |
1200 |
1335 |
1730 |
1805 |
1845 |
1925 |
2000 |
2020 |
2040 |
2105 |
Al Balyana |
arr/dep |
0640 |
0740 |
0845 |
| |
1105 |
1127 |
| |
1155 |
1340 |
| |
1910 |
1932 |
| |
| |
| |
2147 |
| |
| |
Asyut |
arr/dep |
0920 |
1005 |
1125 |
1300 |
1340 |
1410 |
1245 |
1425 |
1620 |
1705 |
2145 |
2220 |
2200 |
2300 |
2310 |
0000 |
0010 |
0050 |
Giza |
arrive |
1630 |
1515 |
1815 |
1900 |
2040 |
2205 |
1740 |
1915 |
2120 |
2145 |
0320 |
0335 |
0245 |
0345 |
0400 |
0440 |
0510 |
0530 |
Cairo |
arrive |
1650 |
1535 |
1835 |
1940 |
2100 |
2225 |
1800 |
1935 |
2140 |
2230 |
0400 |
0355 |
0305 |
0405 |
0420 |
0500 |
0530 |
0550 |
Alexandria |
arrive |
- |
- |
- |
2250 |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
0105 |
0740 |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Aswan ► Luxor ► Cairo continued... |
||||||||||||
Train type: |
Sleeper |
Ru |
VIP |
Ru |
Ru |
Sleeper |
Exp |
Exp |
Exp |
Ru |
Ord |
|
Train number: |
87 |
1015 |
2009 |
187 |
1009 |
85 |
997 |
89 |
989 |
1011 |
91 |
|
Aswan |
depart |
1715 |
1730 |
1810 |
1830 |
1920 |
2020 |
2045 |
2105 |
2300 |
2320 |
2330 |
Kom Ombo |
arr/dep |
1801 |
1810 |
1852 |
1916 |
2001 |
| |
2128 |
2151 |
2350 |
0003 |
0021 |
Edfu |
arr/dep |
1855 |
1910 |
1947 |
2013 |
2055 |
2148 |
2225 |
2249 |
0039 |
0053 |
0118 |
Isna |
arr/dep |
1941 |
1953 |
| |
2112 |
2139 |
| |
2309 |
2338 |
0124 |
0139 |
0219 |
Luxor |
arr/dep |
2035 |
2055 |
2120 |
2210 |
2230 |
2330 |
0005 |
0035 |
0215 |
0230 |
0315 |
Qena |
arr/dep |
2135 |
2148 |
2215 |
2330 |
2318 |
0030 |
0100 |
0140 |
0305 |
0320 |
0420 |
Al Balyana |
arr/dep |
| |
2322 |
| |
0115 |
| |
| |
| |
0320 |
| |
|
0557 |
Asyut |
arr/dep |
0105 |
0132 |
0145 |
0410 |
0245 |
0350 |
0420 |
0535 |
0620 |
0720 |
0830 |
Giza |
arrive |
0605 |
0720 |
0620 |
1025 |
0745 |
0910 |
0930 |
1040 |
1115 |
1255 |
1430 |
Cairo |
arrive |
0625 |
0740 |
0640 |
1045 |
0825 |
0930 |
0950 |
1115 |
1135 |
1315 |
1450 |
Alexandria |
arrive |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1125 |
- |
- |
1355 |
- |
- |
- |
Notes for timetable...
* = sleeper train 82/83 only runs at peak periods. 86/87 runs every day.
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 Ernst as Watania Sleeping Trains, wataniasleepingtrains.com.
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.
How much does it cost?
Fares |
Deluxe sleeper sharing 2-berth |
Deluxe sleeper sole occupancy |
1st class air-conditioned |
2nd class air-conditioned |
2nd class non-AC |
3rd class non-AC |
|
Cairo to Luxor |
by Sleeper |
$ 80 |
$ 120 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
LE 254 Foreigners $45 |
LE 171 Foreigners $35 |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
LE 150 Foreigners $35 |
LE 109 Foreigners $25 |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Not known |
Not known |
|
Cairo to Aswan |
by Sleeper |
$ 80 |
$ 120 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
LE 306 Foreigners $50 |
LE 197 Foreigners $50 |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
LE 182 Foreigners $40 |
LE 130 Foreigners $30 |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Not known |
Not known |
|
Luxor to Aswan |
on train 86/87 (in seats mode) |
$ 10 |
$ 10 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
LE 119 Foreigners $25 |
LE 88 Foreigners $20 |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
LE 72 Foreigners $20 |
LE 57 Foreigners $15 |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
Not known |
Not known |
Fares are one-way, a return is simply two one-ways. LE = Egyptian pounds. £1 = LE 35. €1 = LE 30. $1 = LE 28.
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.
The new higher prices for foreigners were introduced from 15 December 2022 (On the sleeper, foreigners have always had to pay higher prices than Egyptians, those sleeper fares are shown above and haven't changed). You can pay in USD, Euros or Egyptian pounds.
How to buy tickets...
-
Option 1, buy at the station, see the advice here. Tickets for ordinary trains have to be bought at the station, they cannot be bought online.
-
Option 2, you can book the VIP special express & express trains at the ENR website, see the advice in the How to buy tickets section above.
-
Option 3, you can book the deluxe sleeper at the Watania Sleeping Trains website, see the advice in the How to buy tickets section above.
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: A journey by 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 Watania 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, Watania 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: A journey by day train...
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."
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|
Luxor station. Above left, the 08:40 from Luxor to Cairo (train 2011) arrives into Luxor from Aswan. At this stage, it's on time... Photos courtesy of Paliparan.com. |
Cairo / Alex ► Mersa Matruh |
|
Mersa Matruh ► Alex / Cairo |
||||||||||||
|
Ord |
Note A |
Ord+ |
Ord |
Note B |
|
Ord+ |
Ord |
Ord |
Note A |
Note C |
|||
|
306 |
939 |
1205 |
654 |
773 |
|
1209 |
649 |
299 |
943 |
775 |
|||
Cairo |
depart |
- |
05:45 |
06:50 |
- |
22:35 |
Mersa Matruh |
depart |
0700 |
08:10 |
14:45 |
17:15 |
22:00 |
|
Alexandria |
depart |
06:40 |
| |
| |
13:40 |
| |
El Alamein |
depart |
09:36 |
11:55 |
17:51 |
19:54 |
| |
|
El Alamein |
arrive |
09:36 |
11:00 |
12:40 |
16:49 |
| |
Alexandria |
arrive |
| |
14:55 |
20:45 |
| |
| |
|
Mersa Matruh |
arrive |
12:30 |
13:30 |
15:25 |
20:20 |
06:20 |
Cairo |
arrive |
15:35 |
- |
- |
01:25 |
05:00 |
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, wataniasleepingtrains.com. Runs on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday from mid-June to mid-September.
Note C = Sleeper, wataniasleepingtrains.com. Runs on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday from mid-June to mid-September.
Fares: Cairo to Mersa Matruh is LE 130 in air-con 2nd class on train 1205/1209.
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
Cairo ► Port Said |
|||||||||
Train type: |
Ord+ |
Ord+ |
Ord+ |
Ord |
Ord+ |
Ord |
Ord+ |
Ord |
|
Train number: |
945 |
588 |
185 |
951 |
955 |
1971 |
572 |
961 |
|
Cairo |
depart |
06:10 |
- |
08:40 |
12:00 |
14:40 |
16:25 |
- |
17:40 |
Alexandria |
depart |
| |
04:30 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
15:55 |
| |
Port Said |
arrive |
10:30 |
11:10 |
12:40 |
16:40 |
19:05 |
20:30 |
22:30 |
21:55 |
Port Said ► Cairo |
|||||||||
Train type: |
Ord |
Ord+ |
Ord+ |
Ord+ |
Ord+ |
Ord |
Ord+ |
Ord |
|
Train number: |
1970 |
952 |
570 |
186 |
956 |
960 |
590 |
962 |
|
Port Said |
depart |
05:00 |
05:30 |
07:25 |
08:30 |
13:00 |
15:20 |
18:15 |
18:35 |
Alexandria |
arrive |
| |
| |
13:35 |
| |
| |
| |
00:50 |
| |
Cairo |
arrive |
08:55 |
09:55 |
- |
13:30 |
17:25 |
19:25 |
- |
23:10 |
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: LE 57 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.
Cairo ► Suez |
||||||
Train type: |
Ord |
Ord+ |
Ord |
Ord |
Ord |
|
Train number: |
305 |
593 |
307 |
309 |
311 |
|
Cairo main station |
depart |
- |
05:05 |
- |
- |
- |
Cairo Ain Shams station |
depart |
06:30 |
| |
10:00 |
14:30 |
18:00 |
Suez |
arrive |
09:50 |
10:35 |
13:20 |
17:50 |
21:20 |
Suez ► Cairo |
||||||
Train type: |
Ord |
Ord |
Ord |
Ord+ |
Ord |
|
Train number: |
304 |
306 |
308 |
594 |
310 |
|
Suez |
depart |
06:15 |
10:30 |
14:00 |
15:00 |
18:30 |
Cairo (Ain Shams station) |
arrive |
09:35 |
13:55 |
17:20 |
| |
22:00 |
Cairo (main station) |
arrive |
- |
- |
- |
20:15 |
- |
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.
Fare: LE 62 in 2nd 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.
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 (Sinai) - Cairo
There are no trains to Sharm el Sheik, but there are buses to and 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 ranges from LE 260 to LE 470 depending on the class of bus.
Buses can easily be booked online at reliable booking agency 12go.asia.
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.
Sharm el Sheik - 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 - 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 from LE 260 to LE 470 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 agency 12go.asia.
If you use this route, feedback & any photos would be appreciated.
Hurghada - Luxor
Luxor to Hurghada (255 km) takes 4 hours by bus, with 2 or 3 departures daily, around LE 175.
The buses can easily be booked online at reliable booking agency 12go.asia.
Siwa Oasis
There are no trains to Siwa. A daily bus links Siwa with Alexandria (590 km), departing Alex at 08:30, returning from Siwa at 08:00.
It's reported that there's now a daily overnight bus from the Turgoman garage in Cairo at 18:45 to Siwa, arriving around 05:45 next morning. The fare is around LE 60. It's run by the West Delta Bus co.
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
For obvious reasons, travel from Jordan through Syria to Turkey is currently not possible.
![]() |
The ferry from Nuweiba in Egypt to Aqaba in Jordan. Photo courtesy of Jack Garnett. |
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: www.cruisepeople.co.uk/cma.htm 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 Cairo, Luxor & Egypt
Recommended hotels...
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 & VPN...
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 myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
In
the UK, reliable insurers include
Columbus Direct.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see
www.JustTravelCover.com.
You
can use
Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many
different insurers.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee. 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 balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose. 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 - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.
Get a VPN for safe browsing. VPNs & why you need one explained...
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi. In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions. And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN. VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it 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, and I get a small commission to help support this site.
Carry an Anker powerbank...
With so much now held on your mobile phone (tickets, reservations, vaccination records, etc) I recommend carrying an Anker powerbank. This can recharge your phone several times over if you're on the move and can't get to a power outlet. I never travel without one.