My cousin called me last week asking how to actually get from Cairo to Alexandria and which bus to take. I spent ten minutes on the phone explaining, then thought, okay, I should probably just write this down somewhere.

I’ve lived in Alexandria for years now, but been back and forth to Cairo as I still drag myself for any errand that the Egyptian government has decided can only happen in one specific office on one specific street in Nasr City. 

So this route is not a travel experience for me anymore. It’s just Tuesday. Or Friday. Or that one chaotic Thursday before a long weekend when half of Cairo is apparently also going to Alexandria, and nobody thought to mention this to me before I showed up at Ramses.

Anyway. Here’s what I know.

You want to go from Cairo to Alexandria? Honestly, Just Take the Train

I take the train probably 80% of the time. Ramses Station in Cairo, Misr Station in Alexandria, the ride is somewhere between two and a half to three hours, depending on the service, and it more or less just works. No traffic surprises. You sit, you stare out the window at the Delta (which is actually quite beautiful, flat green fields and water channels, the kind of scenery that makes you realize Egypt is not all desert), and then you’re in Alexandria.

The thing most people don’t know going in: not all trains are the same.

First class

This is the one I take. Reserved seat, working AC, noticeably less chaos. Prices shift depending on the train type, and honestly, they change more often than I can keep up with, so ask at the window or check the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) website before you go. What I can say is that first class is not really more expensive than second class. However, if you’re a foreign traveler, expect to pay a tourist rate that’s higher than what locals pay. In summer, it’s not even a question for me. I took second class one August years ago, and I genuinely think that experience is why I now overpack water everywhere I go.

Second class

A bit cheaper than first class, and perfectly fine in cooler months if you’re not carrying much and don’t mind a bit of crowd. I’m not going to pretend it’s terrible. It’s not. It’s just unpredictable in a way that first class usually isn’t. One time, the man next to me had a bag that was moving. I didn’t ask.

The Talgo (If You Want to Splash Out)

Worth a separate mention. The Talgo is a Spanish-made train that Egypt brought in as the premium option on this route, and it shows. Faster than standard first class, closer to 2 hours, cleaner, quieter, and the seats actually have legroom. It runs fewer times a day, so you need to plan around its schedule. Price-wise, it’s the most expensive option on the route. Check at the window or on the ENR website for current fares. Not necessary, but if you’ve had a long week in Cairo, sometimes it’s worth it.

Some things I want to flag before you go from Cairo to Alexandria

On normal weekdays, you can probably just show up and buy a ticket at the window. But on Fridays, before Eid, during summer school holidays, first class fills up, and not in a “oh, there are only a few seats left” way, but more of a “sorry, nothing until 6 pm” way. The Egyptian National Railways website and application technically let you book online. It worked for me the last time I tried. Before that, it did not work for three consecutive attempts. I’d say it’s worth trying, and if it fails, go early and do the window.

Get to Ramses 20 minutes ahead of time at least. The station is large, and the platform for your train isn’t always where you’d expect it to be.

The Bus, for When You’re Watching the Budget

Go Bus, SuperJet, Blue Bus, Go Bus, West Delta. They all run between Cairo and Alexandria. Prices vary by company and change fairly regularly, so check their apps or ask at the terminal before assuming a number you read somewhere is still accurate. What I can tell you is that West Delta tends to be the cheapest option, and Go Bus and SuperJet sit in a higher bracket. West Delta departs from Ramses (same general area as the trains, which is convenient), arriving at Moharam Bek bus stop in Alexandria, which is pretty central and has multiple transportation options to every part of the city.

The journey takes 3 to 4 hours. That’s the honest answer. Cairo traffic is not something you negotiate with. I’ve taken the bus and been in Alexandria before I expected. I’ve also sat on the ring road for an hour and a half watching a guy in the car next to us eat a full meal. You really don’t know.

If I have somewhere to be at a specific time in Alexandria, I don’t take the bus. If I’m just going home and the difference between 3 pm and 5 pm doesn’t matter, the bus is fine and cheaper.

HighACE vans: If you want something between a bus and a private car

Worth knowing about, especially if you travel this route regularly for work. Multiple companies like Swvl, Gobus, Uber Shuttle, and Webus run between Cairo and Alexandria, and the whole thing is app-based: you book a seat, pick your pickup point, and that’s it. No waiting in line at a station, no negotiating. 

The vans have 12 seats and are air-conditioned and more comfortable than the standard public transportation options. Pricing changes, so check the app before assuming anything. 

A few heads up: They arrive on time and usually wait like 5 minutes before they depart, so make sure you are at your station at least 5 minutes earlier to avoid any troubles. Moreover, you either pay upfront through the App or just give cash to the driver as you arrive at your destination, so if you are choosing the latter option, make sure you have enough cash on hand. Download the app and see what’s running on your date.

By Car (If You Have One, or Someone’s Willing to Uber)

The Desert Road between Cairo and Alexandria is about 220 kilometers. Clear exit from Cairo and you’re looking at 2 hours, maybe a bit more. The exit is the variable. Cairo leaving Cairo is its own specific experience.

Uber and Careem work on this route. I’ve used both. Just check the price before you confirm because long-distance rides get expensive quickly, and sometimes a taxi negotiated through your hotel at a fixed rate ends up being the better call. That depends on your mood for negotiating at 7 am.

Renting a car, I’d only say do it if you’re planning to move around a lot, like the North Coast in summer or bouncing between a few cities. Just for the Alexandria trip once, it’s more effort than it’s worth, and parking here is not relaxing.

The Microbus (For the Brave, the Broke, or the Curious)

I mentioned at the start that I once flagged down a microbus in a moment of optimism. Let me explain that.

Microbuses run between Cairo and Alexandria, and they are cheap. We’re talking cheaper than the bus, cheaper than second class, cheaper than most things you’ll spend money on that day. 

They also depart from the outside of Ramsis station. You wait until the van fills up, and then it goes. No schedule. No ticket. Just a collection of strangers who all decided this was fine.

The ride itself is about 2 to 3 hours if traffic cooperates, which it sometimes does. You’ll be sitting close to whoever ends up next to you. The driver will have opinions about speed. There may or may not be stops along the way that weren’t announced. I’m not saying this to put you off, I’m saying it because the experience is genuinely hard to describe until you’ve done it, and I don’t want you arriving at the terminal expecting something it isn’t.

It drops you again at Mohram Bek bus station in Alexandria, so you’ll need to figure out a taxi or another microbus from wherever you land, which varies. Side note: Microbuses in Alexandria are usually referred to as Mashroo’ (Project), just a dialect difference. If you are originally from Alexandria and say mashroo, Cairo people realize it on the spot that you are Alexandrian, one word, and your original place of birth is known to everyone around.

I’ve done it. I’d do it again under the right circumstances, meaning: no luggage, no fixed plans, not in summer, and ideally with someone who speaks Arabic or at least looks like they know what they’re doing. 

As a solo international traveler on your first trip to Alexandria, probably not your first move. As someone who’s been here a few times and wants to see how Egyptians actually travel between these two cities, kind of worth it once.

Side by Side

Arriving in Alexandria

Both Moharram Bek bus station and Misr station in Alexandria put you almost on the edge of Alexandria, yet closer to downtown. Raml Square (when people here say “Raml,” they mean the main downtown reference point, not to be confused with Raml Hostel, which is a different thing) is close. The Corniche is a short walk. From the station, you can get anywhere in the city in one taxi ride, usually 15 to 20 minutes.

First thing people notice when they get off the train: the air. It smells different here. Something about being next to the sea, I’ve lived here long enough that I stopped noticing it, but visitors always mention it, and I believe them. I kinda feel it myself when I spend 2 days, and Cairo, then get back.

If you do stay, Ithaka World runs two hostels here, Raml Hostel and Mansheya Hostel, both in good central spots. The team there actually knows the city, which is rarer than it sounds. Good people to ask when you’re trying to figure out where to eat or what to skip. Read more here.

How do you usually make this trip? I’m curious if people still take the bus regularly or if everyone’s switched to the train by now. Tell me in the comments.

Some Questions People Ask

How long does the trip from Cairo to Alexandria actually take? 

The train is the most consistent at 2.5 to 3 hours. Bus is 3 to 4 on a good day, longer if traffic doesn’t cooperate. Driving is quickest at around 2 hours if you have a clean run out of Cairo.

What’s the cheapest option to go from Cairo to Alexandria?

The cheapest is the microbus. But the West Delta bus is generally a good option. Check the price at the terminal or their app before you go, since fares shift. Second-class train is another budget option and a bit more time-predictable. If you’re a foreign traveler, worth knowing that train pricing for tourists is higher than the local rate, so the gap between train and bus is smaller than it might look.

Do I have to book the train from Cairo to Alexandria in advance? 

Not always. On a regular weekday, walk-up works. Weekend, summer, or any holiday, book ahead. I’ve watched people at Ramses realize too late that there’s no first class left until evening.

Is it safe to go from Cairo to Alexandria?

Yes. This is one of the busiest intercity routes in the country. During the day on the train, very straightforward. Keep your bag where you can see it, same as anywhere.

Is Alexandria just a day trip from Cairo, or is it worth staying?

I live here, so I’m not exactly neutral. But I’d say you need at least two nights to get any real feel for it. The city is slow in a good way. One day, you’ll just scratch the surface of the Corniche and leave thinking, “nice, sea views.” In two or three days, you start finding the fish places with no menus and the neighborhoods nobody puts in the travel content.