Is there a train from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh?

No. There is no passenger railway in South Sinai, and trains from Cairo stop at Suez. You can take a train to Suez and a bus onward, but it is slower than the direct coach.

Can I take a ferry to Sharm El Sheikh?

Not from Cairo. When it is running, a fast ferry links Hurghada with Sharm El Sheikh across the Red Sea in about two hours, which is useful if you are combining the two resorts.

How many checkpoints are on the road to Sharm?

Several, depending on the route and the security situation. Each one usually takes a few minutes if your passport and papers are in order.

Is it better to fly or take the bus to Sharm?

Fly if time matters most. Take the bus if you are on a tight budget, or a private car if you are a family or a group with luggage.

How to Travel From Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh By Car & Flight

Getting From Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh By Flight, Bus & Time

9 min read | Published: Oct 25, 2026 | Updated: Oct 25, 2026 | TRIPS IN EGYPT

Sharm El Sheikh is a divine city of peace and tropical allure that sits at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez meet in the Red Sea. It is about 500 km from Cairo by road, and the journey crosses from Africa into Asia under the Suez Canal.

Between the capital and the coral reefs lies a land of bare red mountains, where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments. This guide explains how to travel from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh by plane, bus or car, how long each option takes, what the road across Sinai is like, and the one visa detail that catches many travelers out. Here are all things you need to know about how to travel from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh:

Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh in Numbers

There is no railway to Sharm El Sheikh, as our guide to trains in Egypt explains, so the choice is between flying, the bus and the road. The main options compare like this:

Option	Travel time	Typical cost	Door to door
Flight	about 1 hour in the air	$70 to $170 one way	about 3.5 hours
Go Bus or East Delta coach	7 to 9 hours	$8 to $23	8 to 10 hours
Private car with driver	5.5 to 6.5 hours	from about $120 per car	5.5 to 6.5 hours
Self-drive	5.5 to 6.5 hours	rental, fuel and the tunnel toll	5.5 to 6.5 hours

Sharm lies in the far south of Sinai, so it is farther from Cairo than its position on the map suggests. The drive takes longer than the trip to Hurghada, even though the distance is similar, because of the checkpoints on the Sinai road.

Flying From Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh

Flying is the fastest and most popular way to travel from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh. EgyptAir, Air Cairo and Nile Air connect Cairo International Airport with Sharm El Sheikh International Airport several times a day. The flight takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, and the view of the Gulf of Suez and the Sinai mountains from the window is worth the fare.

One-way tickets usually cost $70 to $170, depending on the season and how far ahead you book. Fares rise sharply over Christmas, New Year, Easter and the Egyptian holidays, when Sharm fills with families from Cairo.

Sharm's airport is about 15 km north of Naama Bay, and a taxi or hotel transfer reaches most resorts in Nabq, Naama Bay and Sharks Bay in 10 to 25 minutes. In Cairo, allow up to 90 minutes to reach the airport and arrive at least 90 minutes before a domestic flight. Our guide to airports in Egypt covers both airports.

A visa warning. Many European visitors land in Sharm on a free Sinai-only entry stamp, which covers the resorts of South Sinai for short stays but does not allow travel to Cairo or the rest of Egypt. If you plan to visit Cairo, buy a full Egyptian visa on arrival or an e-Visa before you travel. Our guide to the Egypt entry visa explains the options.

Taking the Bus Across Sinai

The bus is the cheapest way to travel from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh, and it is perfectly comfortable on the modern coaches.

Go Bus runs the most departures, many of them at night, from stops in Downtown Cairo, near Tahrir and in the eastern districts. Its main classes are:

Go Bus class	Typical fare	What you get
Deluxe Plus	about $8 to $9	Reclining seats, air conditioning
Elite Plus and Elite Double Decker	about $13 to $17	More legroom, wider seats, Wi-Fi
Aero	about $23	Business-style seats, fewer passengers

The state-run East Delta Travel company also runs daily buses from Cairo to Sharm, some of them via the new Suez Canal tunnels at Ismailia, at slightly lower fares and with a more basic ride.

The trip takes 7 to 9 hours. Expect one rest stop and several police checkpoints, where officers board the bus and check passports. Most coaches arrive at the bus stations in Old Sharm or near Naama Bay, and a taxi to your hotel costs a few dollars.

A few tips for the bus:

Keep your original passport handy. A photocopy is not accepted at the Sinai checkpoints.
Book ahead for holidays. Weekend and holiday departures sell out.
Pack a warm layer. Night buses and their air conditioning are cold, even in summer.
Sit on the right going south for views of the Gulf of Suez once the sun is up.

Driving to Sharm: Through the Tunnel and Down the Gulf of Suez

A car is the most flexible way to travel from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh. The drive takes 5.5 to 6.5 hours, and quotes for a private car with driver usually start at about $120 per vehicle one way, more for a minivan. For a family or a group, it often costs about the same per person as flying.

The route crosses the Suez Canal through the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, opened in 1981 about 17 km north of the city of Suez, then follows the west coast of Sinai all the way south. These distances are approximate:

Stage	Distance	Drive time
Cairo to the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel	about 130 km	1.5 to 2 hours
The tunnel to Ras Sudr	about 60 km	45 minutes
Ras Sudr to Abu Zenima	about 120 km	1.5 hours
Abu Zenima to El Tor	about 110 km	1.25 hours
El Tor to Sharm El Sheikh	about 90 km	1 hour

The road is a good, mostly divided highway, with the sea on your right and the mountains of southern Sinai on your left. Ras Sudr is known for kitesurfing, and the hot springs of Hammam Pharaon steam on the shore farther south. El Tor, the capital of South Sinai, is the last town of any size before Sharm.

Sinai has more checkpoints than any other road in Egypt, and they set the pace of the trip. If you drive yourself:

Carry your passport and car papers. You will be stopped several times and asked where you are going.
Drive in daylight. Checkpoints are slower at night, and the road is unlit between the towns.
Fill up in Ras Sudr or El Tor. Fuel stations are spread out on the empty stretches.
Keep small notes for the tunnel toll.

Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh in One Trip

The pyramids and the reefs of Sinai make a natural pairing, and a package with the transfers included is the simplest way to see both. Our 6 Days Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh Luxury Holiday starts at $1,350 per person, and the 9 Days Cairo, Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh Holiday at $1,070.

If you are staying in Sharm and want to see Cairo, the trip works the other way too. Our Cairo tour from Sharm El Sheikh by plane starts at $320 and visits the Giza Pyramids in a single day. The day trip to Cairo by bus starts at $145 but means a very long night on the road, and the 2 Days Cairo Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Flight, from $470, gives you time for the museums and the bazaar as well.

Sinai itself deserves a few days, and our guide to Sinai tourist attractions shows why. Climb Mount Sinai for sunrise and visit the 6th-century Monastery of Saint Catherine, or take our overnight trip to Mount Sinai from Cairo on the way. From Sharm, the Ras Mohammed tour and the Colored Canyon and Blue Hole trip show off the best of the reefs and the desert, a snorkeling trip from Sharm El Sheikh starts at $35, and laid-back Dahab is about an hour up the coast.

For ideas once you arrive, read our Sharm El Sheikh travel guide, our list of things to do in Sharm El Sheikh, and the best places to visit from Sharm El Sheikh. All our Sharm El Sheikh tours and excursions are listed in one place, alongside our Egypt Red Sea tours.

Tips for the Journey to Sharm

Choose the season. Sharm is warm all year, with winter highs of about 22 to 25°C and summer highs above 35°C. October to May is the most comfortable time to travel by road.

Leave early. If you are driving, set off from Cairo by 6 or 7 am to clear the city before the traffic and reach Sharm in daylight.

Travel light on short flights. Domestic tickets on some fares include only hand luggage, so check the allowance if you carry dive gear.

Check the safety picture. South Sinai's resorts and the main road are heavily policed. Our guide on whether it is safe to travel to Sharm El Sheikh has the details.

Travel From Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh With Trips In Egypt

From the crowded streets of the capital to the calm turquoise water of the Red Sea, the journey to Sharm El Sheikh crosses deserts, a great canal and the mountains of Moses. Trips In Egypt can book your flight, send a private car to your Cairo hotel or build a holiday with Cairo and Sinai in one smooth plan. Browse all our Egypt tour packages or plan a tailor-made tour around your dates. Book us as soon as possible by contacting our operation department today.