Cairo at a Glance
Living in Cairo
Empty streets like this are a rare sight for expats living in Cairo.
Cairo is one of the busiest cities in Africa and the Arab world. As such, living in Cairo is as intriguing as it is potentially overwhelming. Before you explore the expansive metropolitan area, you should first familiarize yourself with the many ways you can get around town.
Living in Cairo: The Metro System
Living in Cairo, you will enjoy the benefits of Africa’s only full-fledged metro system. The system is vital to everyday life in Cairo and an indispensable means of transportation for the millions living in Cairo’s outskirts. Its opening in 1987 provided a much-needed relief for the chronically congested streets that add another layer of chaos to the hectic life in Cairo.
The two lines, serving over 2 million customers per day, are almost as much a natural part of life in Cairo as the heat. Every important part of town that you may have to reach while living in Cairo is serviced by these lines. Another two lines are currently being considered, including an airport connection. This measure will definitely make living in Cairo, particularly international travel to the city (see part 2 of this article), a lot more comfortable.
Please keep in mind that the middle cars of the metro are reserved for women, although they can, of course, also use the other cars. This is a testament to the religious influence on life in Cairo, and should be respected at all times, especially during the very busy rush hour.
Life in Cairo: Other Public Transport Options
Of course, the metro is only one part of the public transport system you can use when living in Cairo. The city also boasts a tram system, ferries across the Nile, and several bus options.
Most people living in Cairo use the standard bus system or one of the many minibuses. The latter are particularly useful as they service more, and narrower, streets. There are also the more expensive CTA buses, which feature air-con on board. If you have trouble adjusting to the heat, you might want to use those.
Living in Cairo: Taxis
Many people who are new to living in Cairo may prefer to use taxis for transportation, as it can take some time to get used to your new surroundings. Cairo offers two taxi services: the Cairo Cab and the Cairo Taxi.
The former is probably the better option if you have not been living in Cairo for long and do not know your way around. It features more modern cars and a meter, which the Cairo Taxi traditionally lacks. Once you have adjusted to living in Cairo and have some understanding of the city structure, you can venture on a trip with the Cairo Taxi, too.
Life in Cairo: Traffic Conditions
One of the most infamous aspects of living in Cairo is traffic. With almost 8 million people living in Cairo proper and the population rising steadily, traffic conditions have worsened. Although Cairo features a lengthy ring road around the city redirecting traffic out of the busy center, jams are a regular occurrence.
If a car is not absolutely vital to your life in Cairo, you should try to avoid participating in traffic. Not only are the streets congested nearly all the time, but some traffic rules are also ignored or interpreted rather freely. This takes some getting used to, not only for drivers, but also for pedestrians. Living in Cairo, you might have to reevaluate how important traffic lights are to you.
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