Quick answer
The Cairo Metro has three lines and is the fastest way across the city centre, beating the traffic to Coptic Cairo, Tahrir, Ramses Station and the edge of Islamic Cairo for a very small fare. Tickets are priced by the number of stations, two carriages in the middle of every train are set aside for women, and the network does not reach the pyramids, the GEM, Saqqara or the airport. Avoid the morning and afternoon rush hours.
How does the Cairo Metro work?
The Cairo Metro is a three-line underground and surface railway that carries millions of passengers a day for a fare of a few Egyptian pounds; for visitors it is fast, cheap and useful for a handful of central trips. It opened in 1987 as the first metro in Africa, and Line 3 has been extended in stages since 2012, with new, air-conditioned trains and stations.
Trains run frequently from early morning until around midnight, with timings that shift during Ramadan and on some holidays, so check locally. Station signs, maps and announcements are in Arabic and English on most of the network. At the entrance you pass through a bag scanner, buy a ticket, feed it through the gate and keep it, because you need it again to exit.
The metro is busiest from about 7am to 10am and 2pm to 6pm, when trains are packed shoulder to shoulder. Outside those hours it is often the quickest way to cross the centre, where a 15-minute train ride can replace a 45-minute crawl by car.
What are the three Cairo Metro lines?
Line 1 runs north–south along the east bank, Line 2 links Shubra in the north with Giza across the Nile, and Line 3 runs east–west from Heliopolis and the eastern suburbs to Imbaba and Zamalek. The three lines meet at four central interchanges.
| Line | Route (approximate) | Useful for visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Helwan in the south to New El Marg in the north | Coptic Cairo (Mar Girgis), Tahrir (Sadat), Ramses Station (Al-Shohadaa), Maadi |
| Line 2 | Shubra El Kheima to El Mounib (Giza) | Tahrir (Sadat), Opera House, Cairo University, Giza railway station |
| Line 3 | Adly Mansour in the east to Imbaba and Cairo University branches in the west | Heliopolis, Islamic Cairo (Bab El Shaaria), Zamalek (Safaa Hegazy), Attaba |
The interchanges are Sadat (Lines 1 and 2, under Tahrir Square), Al-Shohadaa (Lines 1 and 2, at Ramses Station), Nasser (Lines 1 and 3) and Attaba (Lines 2 and 3). Line 3's western branches and further extensions have opened in stages, so check a current map before relying on a particular station.
Which metro stops are useful for sightseeing?
The most useful stops for visitors are Mar Girgis for Coptic Cairo, Sadat for Tahrir and the Egyptian Museum, Bab El Shaaria for Khan el-Khalili, Safaa Hegazy for Zamalek, and Al-Shohadaa for Ramses railway station.
- Mar Girgis (Line 1): the station opens directly onto Coptic Cairo, steps from the Hanging Church and the Coptic Museum. This is the metro's best trick for visitors.
- Sadat (Lines 1 and 2): under Tahrir Square, a short walk from the Egyptian Museum. Some exits have been closed at times for security, so you may need to walk to another exit.
- Bab El Shaaria (Line 3): a 10 to 15-minute walk to Khan el-Khalili and the northern end of Al-Muizz Street.
- Safaa Hegazy (Line 3): in the heart of Zamalek, handy for its cafés and galleries.
- Opera (Line 2): for the Cairo Opera House grounds and Cairo Tower on Gezira Island.
- Al-Shohadaa (Lines 1 and 2): under Ramses Square, for trains to Alexandria and the Nile Valley.
- Heliopolis stations (Line 3): for the Baron Empain Palace and Heliopolis's early 20th-century architecture.
How do Cairo Metro tickets work?
You buy a single-journey ticket at the station window or a ticket machine, priced in bands by how many stations you travel; the fare is very low, but carry small notes. Fares were restructured into distance bands in 2017 and have been raised several times since, so check the price board at the window rather than relying on any figure online.
- Tell the cashier your destination station, or the number of stations, and pay in Egyptian pounds; staff rarely have change for large notes.
- Insert the magnetic ticket at the gate, take it back and keep it until you exit at the other end.
- Rechargeable smart cards and subscriptions exist for regular commuters; for a short visit, single tickets are simplest. Newer payment options, including contactless, have been introduced in stages at the time of writing.
- Children above a certain height pay full fare.
Large suitcases are awkward on crowded trains and may be refused at peak times, so take a car for airport and station transfers with luggage.
How do the women's carriages work?
Two carriages in the middle of every train are reserved for women, marked in pink or with signs on the platform and the doors; women can ride in any carriage, but men must not enter the women's cars. At the time of writing, one of the two is women-only all day and the other until the evening, after which men may use it; the signs on the carriage are the guide.
Women travelling alone or in pairs usually find the women's carriages far more comfortable, especially at rush hour, and they are a good place to watch everyday Cairo: vendors selling hairclips, tissues and snacks walk through them between stations. Couples and mixed groups ride in the general carriages together. Men who board a women's carriage by mistake are quickly, and loudly, told to leave. For more on travelling alone, see solo female travel in Egypt.
Does the metro go to the pyramids or the airport?
No: at the time of writing the Cairo Metro does not reach the Giza pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara or Cairo International Airport, so you'll need a car, Uber or a transfer for all of them. Line 2's southern end at El Mounib and the Giza railway station are still well over half an hour by road from the pyramids.
That will change over the coming years. Line 4, under construction at the time of writing, is planned to run from the eastern side of the city towards Giza and the pyramids area, and a metro link to the airport has also been planned. Elsewhere, an electric light rail line runs from Adly Mansour, the eastern terminus of Line 3, to the New Administrative Capital, and monorail lines to the new eastern and western cities have been built and are opening in stages. None of these yet helps a typical sightseeing itinerary, so check current status before planning around them. Our guide to Uber and taxis in Cairo covers the alternatives.
Is the Cairo Metro worth using as a visitor?
Yes, for specific trips: it is excellent for Coptic Cairo and crossing the centre, and an interesting slice of daily life, but it's no substitute for a car on a big sightseeing day.
- Use it for: Tahrir to Coptic Cairo (about 10 minutes), Zamalek to Downtown, reaching Ramses Station, and getting to Islamic Cairo when the roads are jammed.
- Skip it: at rush hour, with luggage, with small children in prams, or when you're heading to Giza, Saqqara or the airport.
- Stay alert: pickpocketing is not common but crowded carriages are the obvious place for it; carry your bag in front.
- Photography: taking photos inside stations has traditionally been discouraged by security staff; ask before raising a camera.
Combining a morning in Coptic Cairo by metro with an afternoon at the Citadel by car is a classic, efficient Cairo day; see Cairo in two days for a full plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cairo Metro safe for tourists?
Generally, yes. Stations have security checks and staff, and outside rush hour trains are calm. Keep your bag in front, avoid peak hours and, if you are a woman, use the women-only carriages if you prefer.
How much does the Cairo Metro cost?
Very little: fares are set in bands by the number of stations travelled and cost a small fraction of a taxi. Fares have risen several times, so check the board at the station window.
Which metro station is closest to Coptic Cairo?
Mar Girgis on Line 1, which opens directly onto the Coptic quarter. See our Coptic Cairo guide.
Can I take the metro to the pyramids?
Not at the time of writing. The nearest stations on Line 2 are still a long drive from the Giza plateau; use Uber, a taxi or a private driver. A future metro line is planned towards the pyramids area.
What hours does the Cairo Metro run?
From early morning until around midnight, with adjusted hours during Ramadan and some holidays. Check locally, as timings change.
