Cairo from Hurghada: bus or plane?

The bus is the cheaper way to see Cairo from Hurghada, and the plane is the easier one. Cairo is about 450 km away by road, so the bus trip leaves at about 1:00 and gets back around 2:00 the next night, from $57. The plane trip leaves at 4:00 and is back by 21:00 the same day, from $255. If you have two days, the 2-day bus trip from $185 adds a hotel night and Old Cairo.

How far is Cairo from Hurghada?

About 450 km by road, along the Red Sea coast road and then inland through the desert. Route planners give 5 to 6 hours of driving, but the tour bus collects people from several hotels, stops at police checkpoints and makes a coffee stop, so plan on about 8 to 9 hours from your hotel gate to the first sight in Cairo.

How long is the flight?

The direct flight from Hurghada to Cairo takes about 1 hour. There are over 100 direct flights a week on the route, run mainly by Air Cairo, Egyptair and Nile Air. On our plane trip a bus collects you from your hotel at about 4:00, you land in Cairo early and start at the museum at about 8:00.

Bus or plane: the trips compared

	1 day by bus	1 day by plane	2 days by bus
Price per person	From $57	From $255	From $185
Runs	Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri	Daily	Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri
Hotel pickup	About 1:00	About 4:00	About 1:00
First sight in Cairo	About 10:00	About 8:00	About 9:00
Back at hotel	About 2:00 the next night	About 21:00 the same day	Night of day 2
Museum	Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)	Grand Egyptian Museum	Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)
Also included	Giza pyramids plateau, Sphinx, papyrus bazaar, lunch	Giza pyramids plateau, Sphinx, papyrus bazaar, lunch	Giza, Sphinx, Citadel and Alabaster Mosque, Amr Ibn al-As Mosque, Khan el-Khalili

All three include an air-conditioned bus, a guide and the entrance tickets listed. Drinks, the optional Nile boat ride, tickets to go inside a pyramid and camel or carriage rides are extra. Pickup from El Gouna, Safaga, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi and Soma Bay costs extra on every trip.

Which museum will you see?

The plane trip visits the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) beside the pyramids, which opened in November 2025. The bus trips visit the older Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square. On the 1-day bus trip you can switch to the GEM for an extra fee; ask when you book.

Do you need a visa or passport?

The tourist visa you got on arrival in Hurghada is valid for the whole of Egypt, so you need nothing extra for Cairo. You do need to carry your passport, because the road has police checkpoints and we register the group for the trip.

Which trip suits you?

• Cairo 1 day by bus (from $57): the lowest price. Suits travellers who can sleep on a bus and do not mind a very long day.
• Cairo 1 day by plane (from $255): suits families with young children, older travellers and anyone who wants the Grand Egyptian Museum and their own bed the same night.
• Cairo 2 days by bus (from $185): suits people who want more than Giza: the Citadel, the mosques and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, with a night in a Cairo hotel.
• Cairo and Alexandria 2 days (from $185): adds Alexandria and Fort Qaitbay on the Mediterranean to the pyramids.

Tips for the Cairo trip

• Ask your hotel for a breakfast box the day before.
• Take a warm layer: the bus air conditioning is strong at night.
• Bring a bank card if you want to go inside a pyramid. Those tickets are cashless. See Pyramids of Giza entrance fee 2026.
• Bring cash for drinks, tips and the optional Nile boat ride.