*I’ve been taking the train fro Cairo to Alexandria for 12 years and I love it!*

During your Egypt adventure, do you want to take the train from Cairo to Alexandria?

In this post, I will share everything you need to get from Cairo to Alexandria by train, including:

1. The Cairo to Alexandria train schedule

2. How to buy Cairo Alexandria train tickets

3. Is taking the train from Cairo to Alexandria worth it?

4. What types of trains there are from Cairo to Alexandria

5. What to expect on the train rider from Cairo to Alexandria

If you don't know me already, my name is Gus, and I started Egypt Adventures Travel after spending more than 12 years in Egypt. I now lead group tours, privately charter Nile Cruise yachts, and set up customized Egypt tours for travelers from around the world. Want to work together on your trip to Egypt? Fill out my interest form and I'll get in touch with how I can help!

I have taken the train from Cairo to Alexandria dozens of times over the past 12 years, and even though it might not be the most cost-effective and efficient way to travel between Egypt's two largest cities (more on that later), it's still my favorite way to travel from Egypt's Capital up to its Mediterranean Jewel.

The way that foreign tourists book tickets and even the trains themselves have changed over the years, so let's jump into the current way to book tickets, check train timetables, and what to expect with the different types of trains available.

Are you looking for information on taking the Cairo to Luxor train, or the train from Cairo to Aswan? Check out my guide on the Cairo to Luxor sleeper train, and my city guide on Aswan, which includes information about the Cairo - Aswan train.

Cairo to Alexandria Train Schedule

The most up-to-date train timetable will always be on Egypt's National Railways website, linked here.

Note that this is the ticket booking website, which at the moment is only available for Egyptians to book. The reason why I recommend looking at the ticket booking site is not to book the tickets (since foreign tourists can't actually book tickets online yet - I'll share later on how to book tickets), but to see all the information about the train timetable, including which type of train is for each time slot on the timetable. If you just use the timetable/schedule feature on ENR's website, it will not show you what the type of train is, just the train numbers. You'll notice later on that there's a huge difference between booking a Talgo Train (one of the brand new trains - they're gorgeous!) vs. booking a "special" or “VIP” train (an older train, very outdated, and nowhere near as nice as a Talgo).

*This is what you see when you use the ticket booking website - it shows you the FULL schedule, including the type of train, which is super important to know!*

*This is what you see on the Cairo Alexandria Train Timetable website - it doesn’t give you enough information, like what type of train you are booking*

You can input any date within the next two weeks, and choose "Cairo" for your departure station and "Alexandria" for your arrival station.

The website will then pull up the timetable, showing the train number, type of train, date, departure time from Cairo (Ramses Train Station), arrival time in Alexandria (Alexandria Railway Station, called "muh-hah-tet-MAHSR" in Arabic), the different seat types available (in general, I only pay attention to AC1 [air-conditioned first-class] or AC2 [air-conditoned second-class] seats), and the duration of the train ride.

The fastest train from Cairo to Alexandria are the new Talgo trains, which take only two and a half hours. You'll notice on the timetable that there are some significantly longer train rides, some taking over an hour longer - these are the trains that stop in different cities along the route, which gives an interesting experience as vendors will board the trains at different stops selling wares, but it also slows down your journey (more on that later).

*Egypt’s new Talgo Trains are gorgeous!*

Even though you cannot see the train schedule for further out than two weeks, the times and availability stay fairly consistent.

How to buy Cairo Alexandria Train Tickets

Now that we checked out the website to see the train availability, the next thing to address is how to buy tickets. Unfortunately, sometime during the pandemic, Egypt changed the ticket system for foreigners to an in-person only booking, and also changed the cost of the tickets. Foreigners used to buy the same tickets as locals, paying the same price (and we could even book the tickets online back in the day), but now foreigners pay a much higher price, set in USD, and must book tickets in-person at a railway station.

This makes it tricky for a tourist who is in their home country (not in Egypt) who wants to guarantee a seat on a train from Cairo to Alexandria for their holiday. The best trains on the Cairo - Alex train route will usually sell out 1-2 days in advance, and most travelers do not have time to go to the train station a couple days before in order to book their tickets. That being said, this is when I recommend working with a travel company in order to book the tickets on your behalf, so that you don't need to worry about a thing, and you can just enjoy your time in Egypt, and when the time comes to take the train to Alexandria, your tickets are already taken care of. I handle booking train tickets for guests who are working with me on their whole trip - if you'd like to hear about options for how I can help set up everything for your time in Egypt, including booking train tickets, fill out the interest form and I'll be in touch.

Otherwise there is a third-party booking website called Bookaway that will book train tickets on your behalf, and I have heard from one guest that this website worked for them. However, this website adds fees onto the tickets, and they also need to hand-deliver the tickets to you while in Egypt, which can be tricky to arrange.

*The foreigner ticket reservation office, the only place to officially buy tickets for the Cairo Alexandria Train*

For travelers who have the gumption and the time and want to book the tickets themselves in Egypt, you can do this in-person at any train station, but normally Ramses Station in Cairo (Cairo's main station) will be the place to do this. You can follow the directions in the YouTube video to find the foreign ticket office and book the train in person. Staff will speak a little bit of English, and they accept Visa and Mastercard (although I always recommend having cash on hand as a backup).

*Cairo Alexandria Train ticket prices have increased for foreign tourists*

Ticket prices are around $20-25 USD for a second-class ticket and $30-35 USD for a first-class ticket, although they also add on a small processing fee.

Is Taking the Train from Cairo to Alexandria Worth It?

Most tourists don't realize that taking the train from Cairo to Alexandria often won't save them any time or money, so it's important to know what the difference is between taking the train from Cairo to Alexandria or taking a taxi or hiring a private transfer.

Taking Uber from Cairo to Alexandria

Uber works between Cairo and Alexandria, and taking an Uber has lots of benefits. First, taking Uber means you won't have to taxi over to the train station, and then taxi from the train station in Alexandria - you can request Uber from door-to-door, getting picked up from wherever you are in Cairo, and then going wherever you need to go in Alexandria, without needing to go to/from the train station in each city.

Taking Uber is actually the same price or cheaper than taking the train - in the example photo, taking an Uber from Cairo to Alexandria was only 1,883 Egyptian Pounds, around $38 USD at the time of writing this, which means that taking a private Uber is around the same price as a first-class train ticket (when you add the processing fees), and you could fit two people comfortably in an Uber, reducing the cost even more! There are also now Uber XL vehicles available in Egypt, so if you have a larger group, you can really cut down on costs vs. taking the train (now that the train has the newer, significantly more expensive foreigner priced tickets).

And taking Uber will often take the same amount of time or will be faster than taking the train. Uber and other vehicles take the Cairo-Alex Desert Highway to get between the cities, which usually has limited traffic and is an expressway, with no need to stop or slow down at any point, except a couple of checkpoint stations (which take almost no time at all). Plus, like I shared above, taking Uber means you can get picked up exactly where you need to be in Cairo, and dropped off exactly where you need to be in Alexandria, saving you the time and taxi rides going to/from the train stations in each city.

The drawbacks to taking Uber are that travelers don't get the experience of taking the train (it's definitely a unique experience!), traffic can sometimes be heavy leaving Cairo and arriving in Alexandria, making an Uber slower than the train, an Uber driver may not speak English, making communication tricky (although there is little need to communicate since the fare is already set and the driver will use GPS to navigate), and an Uber is less comfortable than the train, which has nice seats, lots of room, the ability to get up and walk around, and bathrooms.

Taking a private transfer from Cairo to Alexandria

Travel companies can easily arrange private transfers from Cairo to Alexandria, and if you have a group of two or more, these can often be the same cost (or even cheaper) than the train, and with three or more travelers, these are definitely the more affordable route.

Private transfers have the same benefits as taking Uber, with the addition that you can choose the exact vehicle type you have, and the driver will be a professionally licensed tourism driver (more experienced than an Uber driver when working with foreign tourists), and the company can provide any help with translation or any needs you have during the ride. Plus, private transfers allow you to stop any time you need, in order to use the bathroom, get a coffee, get a bite to eat, etc.

The drawbacks of taking a private transfer are the same as Uber - there may be traffic, the experience is not as interesting, and private transfers can be more expensive than taking Uber, and possibly more expensive than taking the train.

Why take the Cairo to Alexandria Train?

So now that you know that taking the train from Cairo to Alexandria usually isn't the cheapest or fastest way to get between the two cities, why bother with it at all? The train is perfect for travelers who want to have a more comfortable ride, and it's unparalleled in terms of the experience - imagine watching local Egypt whizz by you on the train, small cities, towns, farms, people, animals, and train stations.

For travelers who don't mind an older train and a longer trip, opting for one of the slower trains that stop in different cities adds to the experience - in each stop different vendors will board the train (check out the video above!), selling wares like toys, snacks, and even local sweets - this experience alone makes the train ride part of the charm of Egypt and makes it worthwhile to those who want unique stories from their trip.

And from a sustainability standpoint, taking the train in Egypt has a lesser carbon footprint than taking a private vehicle, so it's also a help to the environment to take the train.

Types of Trains from Cairo to Alexandria

There are two main types of trains from Cairo to Alexandria - the new, Talgo Trains, and the older trains (sometimes referred to as "special" trains).

Cairo to Alexandria Talgo Trains

*Cairo Alexandria Talgo Trains are modern, clean, and comfortable*

The Talgo Trains are just a few years old, and feel like modern trains in Europe. Seats are comfortable, first class has seatback screens (that may or may not work - see the YouTube video for more), the train car is spacious, clean, and modern, and there are bathrooms and a food and beverage service (at an additional cost) is offered.

Older Cairo to Alexandria Trains

*The older Cairo Alexandria Trains (called “VIP” or “Special” trains) get the job done, but are not modern or nice like the new Talgo Trains*

The older trains from Cairo to Alexandria (sometimes called "special" trains or “VIP” trains) are the ones I have been taking for over 12 years, so they're definitely nostalgic for me, but they're nowhere near as nice or comfortable as the Talgo Trains. These older trains still have spacious and comfortable seats, but they don't look nice and new, there are no amenities like seatback screens or work tables, and everything is covered in a pretty thick layer of dust (although they do their best to keep the trains clean).

The reason for taking one of these older trains is either if the schedule aligns better with your trip (the Talgo Trains are only available at certain times), or if you want the experience of taking a slower train that will stop in different places.

What to Expect on the Cairo to Alexandria Train Ride

This YouTube video shows this better than I can write about it, so I recommend giving it a watch!

Ramses Train Station in Cairo and Boarding the Train

Taking the train from Cairo to Alexandria means boarding the train at Ramses Train Station, in downtown Cairo. You can reach Ramses Station by Cairo Metro (served by Lines 1 and 2), or by taxi/Uber. Once in Ramses Station, you'll need to go through a baggage scanner, show an officer your ticket, and then you'll be let into the main hall of the station. I love Ramses Station's design, and the main hall is gorgeous, so I like to arrive early in order to take photos and videos and admire the design.

*Ramses Train Station has a large display in English and Arabic with the train timetable and platforms*

There is a giant screen that displays all the train schedules and also the platforms they are departing from. The screen will switch between Arabic and English, so if you don't see English on the screen, wait a few moments and it will switch to English briefly.

Staff at the train station are used to helping foreign tourists and they can easily look at your ticket and direct you where you need to go. I recommend arriving at the station 30 minutes before your train's scheduled departure in order to find where you need to go and get settled.

Once you are on the platform, the train will usually be there a few minutes before departure, so you can board and relax. Your ticket will have your specific train car and seat assignment, and you can ask any staff member for help (numbers for the train cars are sometimes in Arabic only, but seat numbers inside the car should be in Arabic and English).

On the Cairo to Alexandria Train

Once you depart Cairo, depending on which train you take, the journey will take between 2.5 - 4 hours, and you will travel a distance of more than 200 kilometers. If you are on a fast, Talgo Train, the journey should take just two and a half hours, and if you're on one of the slower trains, between two hours and 45 minutes to four hours, depending on if the train will stop at different stations along the way or will travel nonstop to Alexandria.

*All Cairo to Alexandria trains have a bathroom - it’s not much, but it works!*

During the train ride, feel free to get up and walk around, use the bathroom, order food and drinks, check out the (non-alcoholic) bar (if your train has one), and enjoy the view! If vendors board the train selling wares, feel free to buy something during the journey!

*Here’s my meal from my train ride from Cairo to Alexandria - the meal wasn’t great, but it got the job done!*

Arriving in Alexandria - Sidi Gaber and Alexandria Main Train Stations

When the train arrives in Alexandria, there will be a ton of commotion, as all the Egyptians on the train stand up and begin moving around, getting baggage, and preparing to disembark. However, in Alexandria there are two train stations, and the first one, called Sidi Gaber, is probably not the one you want to get off at!

Sidi Gaber Train Station is a more modern station, built as Alexandria grew in size and more and more people began traveling by railway. It's located a little northeast of the city center, and it's often more convenient for folks who are locals in Alexandria, since it's more central for Egyptians who live in Alexandria.

Most tourists, however, are in Alexandria to sightsee, and are staying in hotels in the historic city center, so most tourists will want to get off the train at the last stop, Alexandria's main train station (called "muh-hah-tet-MASR" in Arabic).

*Alexandria’s main train station, (muh-hah-tet-MAHSR in Arabic) is the oldest train station in the Middle East and Africa!*

Want suggestions for what to do, where to stay, and what to eat in Alexandria? Check out my Alexandria travel guide!

This first stop can be confusing, because when the train arrives in Sidi Gaber, almost all of the riders will leave, which might make you feel like you should leave, too! But don't get off yet - wait until the train heads to Mahatet Masr, it's final stop, and then get off there.

Once you disembark the train in Alexandria, you've made it! If you are at Mahatet Masr, you are officially in the oldest train station in the entirety of the Middle East and Africa!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Cairo Alexandria Train

How long is the train ride from Cairo to Alexandria?

The train from Cairo to Alexandria is as fast as 2.5 hours (the Talgo Trains), or as long as 4 hours (the older trains that stop at multiple stations along the way).

How do I get to Cairo from Alexandria?

Once you are in Alexandria and ready to go back to Cairo, you can take the train in reverse! Or you can take Uber, or arrange a private transfer, just like you would do if you were going from Cairo to Alexandria

Can I fly from Cairo to Alexandria?

I don't recommend this - Cairo's airport is a 30-45 minute Uber ride from the city center, and Alexandria's Borg el Arab Airport (HBE) is over one hour away from the city center! This makes it not cost or time-effective to fly at all.

What is the Cairo to Alexandria distance?

The distance from Cairo to Alexandria is just over 200 kilometers, and it takes about two and a half hours in a car or the fast, Talgo Train.

Can I take a bus from Cairo to Alexandria?

Yes - there are numerous options for a Cairo to Alexandria bus, but I recommend taking Go Bus, since they allow you to reserve tickets online ahead of time. The bus is a good option for folks who are very budget-conscious, as it's the cheapest route from Cairo to Alexandria, although the bus station in Alex is pretty out of the way from the city, so you'll need to arrange a taxi upon arrival.

Can I go from Cairo to Alexandria by car?

Yes - travel from Cairo to Alexandria by car is easy and often cheaper and faster than the train!

What is the Cairo to Alexandria train cost?

The cost of the train from Cairo to Alexandria is around $25 USD for a second-class ticket and around $30 USD for a first-class ticket. Local Egyptians pay a much cheaper rate than foreign tourists, so the Cairo to Alexandria train price you will see on the official Egyptian National Railways website will be much cheaper (since it's for local Egyptians only).

Where can I book Cairo to Alexandria train tickets?

Cairo to Alexandria train tickets must be booked in-person (for foreign tourists) at any train station. There are some third-party online booking platforms available, but these add on extra fees, and they still need to deliver the tickets to you in person.

What questions do you have about taking the train from Cairo to Alexandria? Would you take the train, or would you rather Uber or drive? Have you taken the train, and what was your experience like? Leave a comment and let me know!

Cairo to Alexandria Train - timetable, tickets, and what to expect!