Getting Around
The most efficient and reliable public transport in
Cairo is the Metro, which has the added advantage of being very
cheap. The route connects Helwan in the south of the city to
Heliopolis in the north with various branches to Shubra, Ataba and
Abdin. There is also a subway line between Giza and Shubra. Trains
run from 5.30am to midnight, the first carriage of each reserved
for women only. The streets of Cairo are well supplied with taxis,
which may have a fare meter but it is not likely to be used. Fares
vary and should be negotiated up front and are usually shared.
Taxis from hotels tend to cost double that of hailed taxis. The bus
and minibus services operating in the city are considered risky for
tourists because of overcrowding and the potential for
pickpocketing. Buses also require at least a working knowledge of
Arabic to navigate. Walking is a fairly good option for taking in
the atmosphere of Cairo, but be warned, streets are not marked and
maps not much help, so it is easy to lose direction. Driving in
Cairo is not for the faint-hearted as few road rules are adhered
to, traffic is heavy at all times and streets are poorly
signposted. Car rental agencies in Egypt require that drivers be 25
years old minimum and an International Driving Permit is
needed.
