Nile Rail Pass

Egyptian train stations are functional, occasionally overwhelming, and very rarely explained to visitors in any useful way. The signage varies from bilingual and modern (Ramses after the 2019 renovation) to Arabic-only and sparse (some Upper Egypt stops). Finding the right platform, the right window, and the right information desk is genuinely easier if you know what to expect before you arrive.

This guide covers the six stations that appear most often in visitors' rail plans: Ramses in Cairo (the main hub for all directions), Giza station (a useful alternative to Ramses for Upper Egypt trains), Alexandria Misr and Sidi Gaber (the two city stations for the north coast), and Luxor and Aswan (the primary gateway stations for the ancient sites corridor). For each we cover the practical layout, where ticket sales are, what facilities exist, and how to get to and from the station without being overcharged for a taxi.

Cairo

Ramses Station — Cairo's main rail hub

Mahattit Ramsis (Ramses Station, sometimes called Cairo Central) is the largest railway station in Egypt and the departure point for almost every long-distance express train. Rebuilt and substantially modernised between 2018 and 2022, it now has clear bilingual signage throughout the main concourse, functional escalators, and a reasonably organised platform layout. The historic 19th-century facade was retained; the interior is considerably cleaner than its reputation suggested a decade ago.

Layout: The station has two main levels. Ground floor holds ticket offices, the foreigners' booking window, the arrivals hall, and the metro connection. Upper level connects to the main departure platforms (numbered 1–12). Platforms are reached through turnstile gates that require your ticket to open, so have it ready. The sleeper train — operated by Watania, not ENR — departs from a dedicated platform area on the far right side of the concourse as you face the tracks; look for the Watania Sleeping Trains sign.

Foreigners' booking window: Located on the ground floor, left side of the main entrance hall. It is marked in English and typically has a shorter queue than the main windows. Hours are approximately 08:00 to 20:00. If the window is closed on arrival, the supervisor's office is adjacent and can direct you to an alternative sales point. Bring your passport.

Getting there: The station sits directly above Mubarak metro station (Line 1, also accessible from Line 2 at Shubra el-Kheima direction). This is by far the fastest connection from central Cairo — Sadat/Tahrir is one stop on Line 2. Taxis from downtown take 15–40 minutes depending on traffic; agree the fare before departure or insist on the meter. From Cairo International Airport: the metro is not yet connected to the airport; take an authorised airport taxi or a rideshare app to the station (roughly 45–75 minutes).

Facilities: ATMs (National Bank of Egypt and CIB machines near the main entrance), a food hall with fast food chains and a café, left luggage lockers on the ground floor, a pharmacy, and public toilets (small fee). Wi-Fi is available in the main hall. The tourist police booth is near the main entrance and is useful if you encounter a problem.

Key tip: The electronic departure boards in the main concourse are in Arabic numerals, which follow the same 0–9 pattern you already know. Platform numbers on the board match the numbers above the platform gates. Train departure times are shown in 24-hour format.

DetailInfo
Full nameMahattit Ramsis
DistrictRamses Square, Cairo
Metro lineLine 1 (Mubarak), Line 2 (Shubra el-Kheima)
Platforms12
Foreigners' windowGround floor, left of main entrance
Left luggageGround floor, open 07:00–22:00
ATMYes (NBE, CIB)
Tourist policeYes, near entrance

Departure board in Arabic?

The digits on Egyptian departure boards (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩) correspond directly to 0–9. Platform 5 appears as ٥, train at 14:30 appears as ١٤:٣٠. Takes two minutes to read fluently.

Giza

Giza Station — the underrated alternative

Giza Station (Mahattit el-Giza) is the first major stop south of Ramses on all Upper Egypt mainline trains. For anyone staying in Giza, Dokki, Agouza, Mohandiseen or near the Giza Plateau, boarding at Giza instead of fighting across Cairo to Ramses can save a significant amount of time — easily 40 to 60 minutes of city transit depending on traffic.

The station is smaller than Ramses and less polished but functional. The foreigners' booking window is less consistently staffed than at Ramses; for most visitors it's easier to buy tickets online or at Ramses the day before and simply board at Giza. Your ticket specifies the boarding station, so if you bought a ticket from Cairo (Ramses) you can legitimately board at Giza — the train is the same service, and inspectors understand this if you board at the next stop.

Facilities are basic: a small waiting area, a kiosk, and taxi access outside. There is no metro station at Giza station itself; the nearest metro stop is El-Mounib (Line 1), roughly 3 km away. Rideshare apps and white cabs are the standard approach. The Giza Pyramids are about 15 km southwest — do not walk.

If you're planning to connect to the Luxor or Aswan train from the Giza area, this station is genuinely worth considering. See our intercity routes for which express services stop here.

Alexandria

Alexandria Misr and Sidi Gaber

City centre · Main terminus

Alexandria Misr Station

The central station for Alexandria, located in the heart of the city and the terminus for most trains from Cairo. The building is a handsome early-20th-century structure and has been partially renovated. Ticket windows are in the main hall; foreigners typically use the general windows here rather than a dedicated one. The tram network's main hub is directly outside, and taxis line the front plaza. From Misr station you are roughly 2 km from the seafront Corniche and 3 km from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

The station handles both mainline arrivals from Cairo and regional services west toward Marsa Matrouh. Platform assignment is shown on the departure board; the bilingual signage here is reasonably good. Facilities include a café, a pharmacy, ATMs (Banque Misr), and left luggage on the ground floor.

Eastern Alexandria · Second stop

Sidi Gaber Station

Alexandria's second city station, approximately 5 km east of Misr, in the Sidi Gaber district. A number of trains from Cairo stop here before continuing to Misr — if your accommodation is in Shatby, Laurent, Gleem or Montazah, Sidi Gaber may put you closer to your destination than the city-centre terminus. Check your ticket and confirm the train stops here before boarding with this plan.

The station is smaller, with fewer facilities than Misr, but adequate: a waiting hall, kiosks, taxis outside. The area around Sidi Gaber is a busy commercial district with supermarkets and restaurants within walking distance. If you're continuing to destinations east of Alexandria, buses and microbuses toward Montazah depart from the street in front.

Upper Egypt

Luxor and Aswan stations

Luxor · Temple access

Luxor Station

Luxor station is small, manageable, and conveniently placed — roughly 400 metres from Luxor Temple and the Nile Corniche. Almost every visitor to Upper Egypt passes through here. The station building is functional rather than grand; the main concourse has a ticket window, a small left luggage room, a kiosk, and a taxi rank outside the main exit. Expect taxi drivers to approach immediately on exit; negotiate the fare or use a rideshare app for the short distance to your hotel.

Foreigners' booking for onward journeys (to Aswan, or back to Cairo) can be done at the window here with passport. The left luggage room allows you to drop bags and spend the day visiting the West Bank without hauling everything. The karnak Temple is 3 km north; official taxis and calèches (horse carriages) are the standard transport. Train services from Luxor run roughly every two hours toward Aswan; the Aswan leg is short enough that booking is usually possible the same day.

The Watania sleeper departs Luxor late evening northbound toward Cairo; the same train stops briefly here heading south. Your Watania booking will specify the Luxor embarkation time. For more on that service, see our sleeper trains guide.

Aswan · Southern terminus

Aswan Station

Aswan is the southern terminus of Egypt's main rail line — the track ends here, and the journey to Abu Simbel, Sudan border or the High Dam continues by road. The station is compact and easy to navigate. The main exit faces a wide pedestrian area leading toward the Nile Corniche, which is genuinely pleasant — Aswan is a smaller, quieter city than Luxor, and the area around the station is manageable on foot.

Facilities at the station: ticket window (foreigners can book return legs here), a small waiting hall, a kiosk, and a luggage storage area. Outside: official taxis, felucca touts, and a microbus stop. From the station to the main bazaar (Sharia al-Souk) is a 10-minute walk. The ferry to Elephantine Island departs from the Corniche, about 15 minutes on foot. There is no ATM inside the station — draw cash before departure from Luxor or at an Aswan city branch.

If your plan ends at Aswan and you're continuing to Abu Simbel, the standard approach is a pre-dawn convoy of tourist minibuses departing around 04:00, returning by early afternoon. There is no rail service from Aswan to Abu Simbel. For onward options from Aswan, consult our pass types guide which covers the rail-plus-road combinations that make sense on an Upper Egypt circuit.

At a glance

Station comparison

Station City Foreigners' Window Metro/Tram Left Luggage ATM Bilingual Signage
Ramses Cairo Yes — dedicated Metro Line 1 & 2 Yes Yes (NBE, CIB) Good
Giza Giza (Cairo area) Intermittent No (taxi) Limited No Partial
Alexandria Misr Alexandria General windows Tram hub outside Yes Yes (Banque Misr) Moderate
Sidi Gaber Alexandria (east) General windows No direct metro No No (nearby bank) Partial
Luxor Luxor Yes No Yes No (city ATMs close) Moderate
Aswan Aswan Yes No Yes (small) No (city only) Limited
Station FAQ

Questions we hear at the desk

The foreigners' booking office at Ramses is on the ground floor near the main entrance, clearly separate from the standard domestic queues. It is signposted in English and Arabic. Counter hours are approximately 08:00–20:00 daily. If it's staffed by a single clerk at a slow period, expect it to take 10–15 minutes for the passport check and ticket print.

Yes, Luxor station has an attended left luggage facility near the main entrance on the ground floor. It charges a small daily fee per bag and is open roughly in line with the first and last trains of the day. Larger rucksacks are accepted. Confirm the closing time when you drop off — if your collection is late evening, check it's open when you need it.

Most long-distance trains from Cairo terminate at Alexandria Misr, which is in the city centre with easy tram and taxi access. Sidi Gaber is 5 km east and better placed if your accommodation is in Shatby, Laurent, Gleem or Montazah. Check your ticket — some trains stop at both (Sidi Gaber first, then Misr), others terminate at Misr directly.

Aswan station has a waiting hall that stays open for overnight arrivals. The area outside is busy with taxi and felucca touts who will approach immediately — this is normal and not threatening; simply decline what you don't need. The station itself is safe. Exercise standard vigilance with your bags in the concourse, as you would at any transport hub.

Yes. Mubarak metro station is directly beneath Ramses, on Line 1. Line 2 also connects nearby at Shubra el-Kheima direction. From Mubarak/Ramses you can reach Sadat (Tahrir Square area) in one stop on Line 2, and continue south on Line 1 toward the Citadel area and Helwan. The metro is the fastest cross-city option and avoids Cairo surface traffic entirely. See our Cairo metro guide for the full line and ticket breakdown.

Yes, for travellers staying in Giza or western Cairo. Giza station is the first mainline stop south of Ramses on all Upper Egypt express trains. If you've already bought a Cairo–Luxor or Cairo–Aswan ticket, you can legally board at Giza — the ticket inspector simply sees it as the next station on the route. Saves substantial transit time if your hotel is near the Giza Plateau.

Before you arrive at the station

Knowing the station layout is one thing; having the right ticket in hand before you walk in is another. Our booking guide covers the three channels foreigners use to buy train tickets in Egypt — the ENR website, the station counter, and the Watania sleeper site — with the specific payment methods each accepts and how far ahead to buy for each route. If you're deciding between a single-leg purchase and a multi-leg bundle for your full Upper Egypt circuit, the pass types guide works through the numbers for typical itineraries.

For the full shape of the network and which trains run which lines, see the rail network overview. And if you'd rather send us your itinerary and let us figure out the booking logistics, use the contact page.

Need help with your specific departure?

Tell us which station you're departing from, your destination and your dates, and we'll confirm the right platform approach, window location and the best way to get there.

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