how to get to Egypt

How to Get to Egypt: By Land, Sea, and Air

Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and there are various ways to enter the country for those visiting from other parts of the world. This page offers detailed information on how to get to Egypt, including by land, sea, and air. If you need assistance with practical matters like planning your trip, Egipto Exclusivo can help you out.

Table of contents

How to Get to Egypt by Plane

Egypt has around twenty airports, with the most important ones having air routes from practically all continents. The country’s national airline, EgyptAir, operates flights to around 70 different destinations. If you are considering how to get to Egypt by plane, take note of the following options:

 

  • Cairo (IATA code: CAI): the most important airport in the country and the main gateway for foreign tourists. Its annual traffic is around 20 million passengers, who choose this destination for its proximity to powerful tourist attractions such as the Pyramids of Giza or the capital itself.
  • Luxor (IATA code: LXR): an interesting airport to travel to Upper Egypt, although the direct connection with other foreign cities is not very varied. Therefore, since most flights are domestic, it is a comfortable solution for internal travel within the same trip. It is also an option to consider if you are going on a Nile cruise and are considering how to get to Egypt with a stopover in Cairo.
  • Alexandria (Burj El Arab, IATA code: HBE): the main airport in this city located in the Nile Delta and is interesting for those who are going to spend their vacations on the Mediterranean coast. These are some of the direct routes that arrive from other countries, whether seasonal or not: Athens (Egypt), Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), Amman (Jordan), Bergamo and Milan (Italy), Riyadh, Medina, Yanbu and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Beirut (Lebanon), Muscat (Oman) and Istanbul (Turkey). For all these reasons, it is a reference airport for traveling to or from neighboring countries in the Middle East.
  • Hurghada (IATA code: HRG): This is the second airport with the highest number of passengers per year, thanks to its service to the popular tourist destination of sun and beach on the Red Sea coast. Numerous flights arrive here mainly from Europe, in many cases with charter or seasonal airlines during the high season periods.
  • Marsa Alam (IATA code: RMF): This airport serves another of the main tourist destinations on the Red Sea, and like Hurghada, offers connections mainly with European countries.
  • Sharm el-Sheikh (IATA code: SSH): This airport is located in the main tourist destination on the Sinai Peninsula, at its southern end, bathed by the waters of the Red Sea. It receives direct flights from some European and Asian countries, making it a valid option for those looking for how to get to Egypt from other continents to this increasingly demanded tourist city.
  • Assiut (IATA code: ATZ): This airport receives flights from neighboring countries, mainly Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan, with companies such as Air Arabia and Jazeera Airways, as well as some considered ‘low cost’ such as FlyEgypt or AirCairo.
  • El Alamein (IATA code: DBB): This is a small airport located on the Mediterranean coast and only receives seasonal flights from Europe. Its only connections are to Italian cities, such as Milan, Bologna, and Verona, though this range of options may be modified according to the season.
  • Marsa Matruh (IATA code: MUH): Like El Alamein, this airport only has seasonal flights from other European countries, mainly Italy (usually from the aforementioned Milan, Bologna, and Verona, with Rome).
  • Sohag (IATA code: HMB): International flights that arrive at this airport come entirely from other countries in the Middle East.
  • Taba (IATA code: TCP): This airport is located on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, in the south of the Sinai Peninsula, very close to the border with Israel. It’s only served by seasonal and charter flights from central Europe.
How to get to Egypt by plane

How to Get to Egypt by Plane from Spain

If you’re planning a trip to Egypt from Spain, it’s important to note that direct flight options are limited. However, there is one available option: the Madrid-Cairo connection, which connects the capitals in just over 4 and a half hours.

Madrid offers many connections with the rest of Spain, making it possible to plan a route to Egypt with just one stopover. Other foreign airports like London, Frankfurt, Paris, or Rome can also be used for flight changes, providing a solution to travel to Cairo without extending your journey too much.

It’s important to note that airlines open and close routes based on various circumstances, so it’s recommended to inquire about how to get to Egypt before planning your trip. For instance, years ago, Luxor was a destination with a direct connection from Madrid and Barcelona, and Barcelona also had non-stop flights to Cairo. Thus, it’s always a good idea to explore travel options and consider contacting us for more information.

How to Get to Egypt by Boat

If you’re considering how to get to Egypt by boat, be aware that options from Europe are very limited or even nonexistent, and this service is subject to continuous changes. There are usually no passenger sea routes, and the only viable option is roll-on/roll-off cargo from Cyprus. So traveling by car or motorhome to Egypt crossing the Mediterranean from other European countries can be quite an ordeal, as it will require you to take a plane from this island.

However, options are more varied from neighboring countries, with fast and slow ferries making crossings through the Red Sea. There are usually no routes available for tourists along the Mediterranean coast. The main options that exist are:

  • Jordan: Aqaba-Nuweibaa connection
  • Saudi Arabia: Duba-Hurgada, usually used for pilgrimage trips to Mecca and not so much for tourist journeys
  • Sudan: in this case, it’s a river journey through Lake Nasser by a small ferry that connects the cities of Wadi Halfa (Sudan) with Aswan.

The Cruise, Another Way to Explore Egypt

If you are considering reaching Egypt by boat, a cruise is another option you should consider. Many major cruise routes with luxurious onboard hotels make stops in this country, departing from various points of origin in Europe and other continents. Some of the noteworthy options are:

  • Cruises through the Mediterranean, which usually stop at the ports of Alexandria and/or Port Said
  • Cruises through the Red Sea, which usually dock in Safaga

 

How to Reach Egypt by Land

Although traveling by land from Europe or America is not usually the most practical option for reaching Egypt due to operational issues, we’ll explain the options here in case you want to include Egypt in a combined trip with other neighboring destinations. Here are the land border crossings that Egypt has:

  • With Israel: There are two border crossings on the Sinai Peninsula border, which also require a special visa for access:
  • Taba crossing: Located to the south, giving access to the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) and, therefore, the most important. There are numerous tourist destinations near this border crossing and along the entire coast.
  • Rafah crossing: Located to the north, to access from the Gaza Strip. It is not usually open for tourist transit.
  • With Sudan: There are two border crossings that reopened in 2014. They allow the transit of buses and cars between the two countries, making it possible to reach Egypt from the south:
  • Argeen
  • Qustul: This is the most eastern and also the most used, especially to visit Abu Simbel arriving from the neighboring country. However, you should keep in mind that you will have to change transportation by taking a ferry on Lake Nasser.
  • With Libya: It only has the Emsaed (or Amsaad) border crossing on the Mediterranean coast, but it is not recommended to use it for security reasons. In fact, it could be closed due to political disagreements between the two countries, so sometimes there is no way to reach Egypt through this crossing.
travel with an agency to Egypt

Traveling with an Agency, the Best Option

Finding how to get to Egypt can be a challenging task, especially if you’re looking to travel by sea or land. Therefore, the best option for tourism in this country is to rely on an accredited travel agency. You can choose to join a pre-packaged tour or plan a tailor-made itinerary to suit your preferences and needs.

At Egipto Exclusivo, we specialize in organizing travel packages for Egypt. We can take care of everything from the moment you depart until you return home. Our team works with the best providers in Egypt and has extensive knowledge of all the bureaucratic procedures required for travel.

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