How to Get from Hurghada to Cairo: 5 Best Ways

While it is relatively easy to get from Hurghada to Cairo, there are several different ways you can do it. In this blog post we will discuss 5 best options with their pros and cons, so you can decide which is the best way for you.

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📖 Read my Ultimate 7 Days in Egypt Itinerary: See the Best of Egypt blog post.

💡While I love renting cars and doing road trips this is the only way from Hurghada to Cairo that I do not recommend you to do! Logistically it would be a nightmare because there will be a few checkpoints on the road. Even though Egypt is a safe country to visit, it is still not a road trip-friendly destination.

By Flight

The easiest and the fastest way to get to Cairo from Hurghada is to take the plane. That’s how I’ve done it and how I would always do it myself.

The flight takes about 1h and is very scenic, especially the landing in Cairo, but the take off in Hurghada looks really beautiful too.

The only con is that you need to take into account the airport time and of course, it can be pricier than some other options, though you can find one way tickets from £20 ($27)!

✅ Check the flight prices here.

By Private Transfer

While we didn’t take the private transfer from Hurghada to Cairo, we did use it on other relations and it’s the best way in terms of commodity.

With private transfer, you’re driven from your hotel in Hurghada to your hotel in Cairo and the whole road trip is adjusted to your needs. We could say to the driver if we needed a coffee break or had to use the toilet and he would stop as soon as he could.

The road conditions in Egypt are great (we were actually surprised how good they were!), so the ride would be smooth and nice.

The drive will take about 5-6 hours with a few stops included.

The only con is that it is the most expensive option.

✅ Check this best rated private transfer.

📖 Read my Top 20 Egypt Bucket List Experiences You Can’t Miss blog post.

By Shared Taxi or Minivan

If the private transfer is too expensive for you, but you still think this may be your best travel option, then definitely check the taxi or minivan prices.

The experience would be very similar to the private transfer, but the only con might be that the stops would already be pre-planned, so you can’t ask for a break whenever you need it because you most likely won’t be alone in the vehicle.

Taxis are slightly more expensive than minivans because you may share it with 1-2 more people instead of 5+, so the comfort is better.

Still, both options will still be cheaper than taking a flight in most cases.

The ride will take about 5-6 hours.

✅ Check the taxi and minivan prices here.

📖 Read My Cairo Itinerary for 2 Days: The Best of Cairo blog post for more.

By Bus

In terms of public transport, you can take the bus from Hurghada to Cairo.

It’s the least expensive option, but also the longest one as the ride takes about 7-8 hours.

✅ Check the bus prices here.

On a Guided Tour

And lastly, you can book a guided day trip from Hurghada to Cairo.

The day trip will include a 6 hour van ride to and from Cairo, a visit to the Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum and it includes a lunch too.

It’s a good choice if you’re short on time, but would still love to visit the highlights of Cairo.

However, you will spend 12 hours in the van and you’ll have a day full of activities, which can end up being very exhausting.

I personally think it’s a lot in one day and Cairo definitely deserves more than a day trip, but again, if you’re limited with your vacation time, then this may be the most efficient option for you.

✅ Check this best rated guided tour from Hurghada to Cairo.

Comparison Table

Here’s the comparison table, so you can better visualise which way of getting from Hurghada to Cairo is best for you.

Practical Tips & Considerations

As I mentioned in my intro, I do not recommend renting a car and doing a road trip on your own at all.

In terms of other options, it really depends on your travel style. Personally, I would opt for the flights because they’re the fastest and often don’t cost much. To me they’re the best value for price.

In terms of getting to Cairo by land, the best is to either take a private transfer or shared taxi/minivan. The latter is great for the balance of comfort and price.

I would personally not take the bus because a shared ride costs only a little bit higher, but it’s more comfortable, unless you’re a budget traveller, then the bus is definitely the best choice for you.

As for the guided tour, again, I only think it’s worth doing it if you’re very limited with your vacation time, so you’d love to see as much as possible while Hurghada is your base.

In terms of all 5 options, the prices will be higher in the high season, in which case I recommend booking your transfer in advance.

📖 Read my 11 Best Resorts in Hurghada: Top Places to Stay blog post.

Where to Stay in Cairo

My personal recommendation is to stay in a hotel that has the view of the Pyramids of Giza!

I can’t even describe the feeling of watching the sunset over the pyramids (as you can see in the photo above) or having your breakfast on the terrace with the pyramid view. It is such a dream come true moment.

The best part? Most of these hotels are super affordable, it’s ridiculous!

Another good choice is to stay in a hotel on the Nile River.

📖 For a more extensive list of hotels with the pyramids view, check my 10 Best Hotels with Pyramids View in Cairo for All Budgets blog post.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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