Long transit in Cairo (Egypt)
In a couple weeks, I will have a long layover in Cairo on a trip from Mumbai to Toronto. I get to Cairo on Sunday at noon and leave for Toronto on Monday at about 1 AM.
I am travelling on EgyptAir business class. While browsing for people who have experiences with a similar itinerary, some people seemed to have said they they were put up ina hotel by the airline. However, I did not see anything about this when I booked my ticket.
Visa information provided through the EgyptAir site allows me to enter my status (i.e. citizenship etc.) which results in a summary of what is needed to transit.
It doesn't appear like I need a transit visa- however it specifies that:
Leaving the airport is permitted for passengers with transit time between 6 and 12 hours
My transit time 13.5 hours.
Now for my questions:
- Is it an issue that my transit time is longer than 12 hours? Can I still leave the airport?
- What are my options with regards to airport hotels, etc.?
- Any other recommendations about how I could best utilize my time while in Cairo?
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Can I leave the airport during a layover in Egypt?
Eligible nationals are usually allowed to leave an Egyptian airport and visit the surrounding areas if the time between their flights is expected to be between 6 and 48 hours. However, if they have a lengthy layover, or wish to leave the Egyptian airport for more than 48 hours, then a transit visa is required.Can you leave the airport during a layover in Cairo?
Passengers with between 6 and 48 hours to wait between flights can leave the airport and explore the area without a visa. A valid onward flight ticket is required. Passengers with fewer than 6 hours until their departing flight must stay in the airport. Most travelers can, however, leave the transit area.Do you need a visa for a layover in Cairo?
Most travelers will not need a visa for a short layover in CAI. The maximum time allowed in transit without a visa is 48 hours. To spend longer than this time in transit in Cairo, passengers must either have an Egypt transit visa or a valid tourist visa, such as the eVisa.How much is Egypt transit visa?
For the eVisa and Visa On Arrival, which are issued for tourism purposes, the fees are as follows: Single-entry visa: 25$ Multiple-entry visa: 60$EPIC 20 HR LAYOVER IN EGYPT!!!!
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Images: Mouad Mabrouk, Murat Şahin, Mouad Mabrouk, Andreea Ch