Cairo Airport Taxi by Terminal: T1, T2 and T3 — Taxi, Uber or Transfer?

Short answer for Cairo International (CAI): Uber and Careem both work at all three terminals and show a fixed fare before you confirm — about EGP 150–300 to central Cairo, more at rush hour. A metered white taxi is about EGP 150–200 if the meter is running; unmetered cars quote EGP 300 and up. A pre-booked transfer is a fixed €23 for a sedan or €32 for a minivan with Welcome Pickups, and the driver meets you inside arrivals — the calmest option on a first visit or a late landing.

Which terminal: T3 for EgyptAir and Star Alliance

Terminal 3 is the newest and largest building at CAI and the main base for EgyptAir and its Star Alliance partners. Terminals 1 and 2 handle the other international carriers. Check the terminal on your ticket rather than assuming: a free shuttle bus links all three terminals, but in Cairo traffic the wrong terminal still costs time.

Terminal 3: getting a taxi or an Uber

After customs, walk straight out to the main curb. Ride-hailing pickups work from there — step a little to the left or right of the doors, away from the crowd, before you request the car. A pre-booked driver waits inside the arrivals hall with a name board. Ignore anyone who approaches you offering a taxi on the way out.

Terminal 2: meet the app driver near the car park

At Terminal 2, security restrictions on the curb mean Uber and Careem drivers often prefer to meet closer to the parking structure rather than directly outside arrivals. Message the driver once the car is assigned and agree the spot before you walk.

Terminal 1: the older building, the same rules

Terminal 1 is separate from the newer T2–T3 complex. The routine is the same: clear the baggage hall, move away from the main doors, then request the car. If you need to reach another terminal, take the free shuttle bus rather than a taxi.

Going to the airport: a car to Terminal 1, 2 or 3

Tell the driver the terminal number, not just “the airport” — in an app, pick the terminal as the destination. EgyptAir and Star Alliance flights leave from Terminal 3. Leave a wide margin: Cairo traffic is unpredictable, and rush hour can double the drive.

Taxi, Uber or pre-booked transfer

For most arrivals, Uber or Careem is the practical answer: the fare is fixed in the app, there is no meter to watch and nothing to negotiate. Two caveats from 2026: app cars rarely carry child seats, and three or more large suitcases may need two cars. A white taxi is fine if the meter runs; the trouble starts with unmetered cars and with anyone who approaches you inside the terminal.

A pre-booked transfer costs more than an app ride but removes the whole negotiation: Welcome Pickups is a fixed €23 for a sedan for four and €32 for a minivan, with the driver inside the arrivals hall. Kiwitaxi and GetTransfer also serve Cairo, and intui.travel covers shared options. On a first visit, with children, or landing after midnight, that certainty is worth the difference.