Landing in Cairo at 2am — the arrival guide

If your passport is served, the visa-on-arrival kiosk is before passport control, cash only — UK guidance quotes 30 US dollars. Check first whether your nationality is even on it: not every passport can use the kiosk.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK) (2026-07-28)

Governments quote different numbers for the same kiosk: the UK and Spain say 30 US dollars, Canada says 60–100 depending on your trip. Carry at least 100 US dollars in cash and expect to bring some home.

Government of Canada — travel.gc.ca (2026-07-27)

Bring small bills. Spain's foreign ministry warns the visa desk does not always give change — a single 50-dollar note can cost you 50 dollars. Carry a 20 and a 10 instead.

Gobierno de España — Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación (2026-07-27)

Egyptian pounds are available before you even reach immigration — Cairo Airport's own directory lists exchange counters and ATMs (HSBC, CIB, Banque Misr and others) in the arrival halls of all three terminals, both before and after the passport gate.

Cairo Airport Company (Cairo International Airport) (2026-07-27)

Egyptian ATMs cap local-currency withdrawals at 30,000 EGP a day, per the Central Bank — a big cash need may take more than one machine or one trip.

Central Bank of Egypt (2026-07-27)

Egypt runs on cash more than most visitors expect — Canadian travel advice notes many merchants take cash only, or add a fee for cards. Keep cash on you and treat card acceptance as a bonus.

Government of Canada — travel.gc.ca (2026-07-26)

Buying a SIM needs your original passport, not a photo — the regulator caps a foreign visitor at 5 voice and 5 data lines per operator, registered to that passport.

National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt (2026-07-26)

Etisalat (e&) is the operator that publishes its tourist price on its own site: Traveler bundles from 200 EGP for 7GB up to 600 EGP for 40GB, tourist-only.

e& Egypt (Etisalat Misr) (2026-07-26)

Cairo Airport's own guide: limousines wait curbside outside arrivals at a fixed price by destination and car category (A luxury, B minibus, C midsize, D 'London taxi'). White taxis run a meter; the old black-and-white ones usually don't — agree the price before you set off.

Cairo Airport Company (Cairo International Airport) (2026-07-26)

The general fair band

Taxi, when the meter starts — 25 EGP–50 EGP

Taxi, per km after that — 10 EGP–25 EGP

6 readings across 6 cities · 2026-07-31

The meter is "broken", or the fare changes when you arrive.

Use Uber or Careem — the app shows the price before you confirm, which ends the argument before it starts.

Someone appears to "help" — opening a door, pointing at something you already found, handing you paper in a bathroom — then asks for money.

Small change for a real service is normal and kind. For an unasked-for one, a friendly "la shokran" and keep moving is completely acceptable.

A free lift or a detour to a "government" papyrus, perfume or cotton shop on the way to where you asked to go.

There is no government gift shop. Say you are not stopping; if the driver insists, get out and take another car.