Airport White Taxis line up outside Terminals 1, 2, and 3
White Taxi is Cairo Airport’s official metered taxi option, with cars waiting outside the arrivals halls at Terminals 1, 2, 3, and the Seasonal terminal. You pay in Egyptian pounds (EGP), and the meter starts from a fixed base fare, then climbs by distance and time in traffic. Rides from CAI to central Cairo often land in the 150–300 EGP range, depending on traffic and exact district.
Cars operate 24/7, which matters because CAI sees late-night arrivals after 23:00 and red-eyes that land before 06:00. There’s no app booking; you just walk out of arrivals, follow the “Taxi / White Taxi” signs, and join the official line. Look for white sedans with the checkered stripe, not the older black taxis that still try to solicit fares at Terminal 1.
This is a metered system, but some drivers still push for a flat price, especially on runs to Downtown, Zamalek, or Giza (all roughly 20–35 km from CAI). Insist on using the meter before you get in; say “meter, please” and check it’s on before the car moves. At the end, you pay the total shown plus a small tip (5–20 EGP is standard on a 200 EGP ride).
Door-to-door time from CAI Terminal 3 to central Cairo in light traffic can be 30–40 minutes, but at 18:00 on a weekday it can swell to 60–75 minutes. Build that into your plan if you’re catching a train from Ramses Station or meeting a tour at a set time. For Giza Plateau hotels, add another 20–30 minutes on top of central Cairo timing.
If you land in Terminal 2 or 3, use the official taxi stand directly at the arrivals curb; staff there often help funnel passengers into White Taxis in order. At Terminal 1 and the Seasonal terminal, ignore anyone walking up inside the building offering rides and step outside to the marked taxi area where white cars queue in a single lane.
Quick tip: withdraw or exchange at least 300–400 EGP in the arrivals hall ATMs before heading to the curb, so you have enough cash for a typical White Taxi ride into town plus tip without hunting for change at the end of the trip.