Cairo Airport luggage storage

About the airport 

The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most recognizable and iconic images humanity has to offer. Show a picture of these weather-worn monoliths to anyone, and they’ll tell you about Egypt. With these surreal pyramids (and a sphinx) looming in the distance, Cairo is understandably one of the true travel destinations in the world. And there’s so much more to the Cairo experience than a visit to the pyramids. There are, unsurprisingly, unbelievable museums and monuments in Cairo’s city center that round out the experience. 

Outside of its unbeatable historical heritage, Cairo’s dining scene and cultural offerings aren’t to be slept on. You’ll find a wide array of restaurants ranging from traditional Egyptian food (don’t miss the koshary) to contemporary international cuisine (serving millions of tourists every year) that are worth checking out. 

The vast majority of travelers arrive via Cairo International Airport (CAI), which is the country's primary transportation hub and one of the busiest airports on the African continent. It should be noted that there’s another airport; Sphinx International Airport is located on the west side of the city and almost exclusively handles air traffic from the Middle East. Cairo International Airport’s three terminals handle traffic from most of the major international airlines, so it’s fairly easy to get to Cairo from Europe and North America. 

With highly modern facilities and amenities designed to handle the massive tourist traffic, you’ll find Cairo Airport to be a comfortable place to travel through. Cairo Airport is reasonably well connected with the city center through some public transportation and car services. Most travelers who have visited will recommend not renting a car, but taxis are very inexpensive and a quick way to get to and from the airport. 

Is there luggage storage at Cairo Airport?

Cairo Airport is one of Egypt’s primary transportation hubs but surprisingly doesn't have any luggage storage facilities. Even for layovers, you’ll need to bring your bags with you. The best options for luggage storage Cairo Airport has are third-party services in the city. 

Where can I find luggage storage in Cairo?

Certain shopping centers and transportation hubs might have lockers onsite, but these might not have the security features you’ll want for storing valuables. If you need to store luggage safely, even for just a few hours, you’ll want to rely on a service like Bounce, which has convenient locations across the city. 

What are the best Cairo luggage storage options for visiting the pyramids? 

The sprawling desert complex where the pyramids and sphinx are located won’t have much in the way of facilities or amenities. So it’s best not to bring any items you can’t comfortably carry or bring inside the pyramids. Bounce’s store locations are throughout the city and can help if you’re trying to catch a tour bus from the city center (this is the most common way to get out there). 

How to get to the city from Cairo Airport 

It should be noted that the vast majority of international travelers don’t take public transportation when visiting Cairo, and that includes trips into the city from the airport. Here’s a rundown of the different ways to get to the city: 

Buses from Cairo Airport

The bus is certainly an option, as the #356 line runs out to the airport, but this is not an efficient way to get to your hotel as the bus stops frequently and the trip ends up taking over an hour. This is a highly affordable way to get around, as it costs less than $1 to use the bus.  

Trains to Cairo Airport

There are plans to extend the Metro Line 3 out to the airport, which will connect Cairo Airport with the downtown area of Cairo, but that extension hasn’t been opened as of yet. If you’re going to take public transportation, Ramses Station is the largest ground transportation hub serving Egypt, with national, regional, and local metro systems all being routed through its many platforms. You’ll have access to the Cairo Metro Lines 1 and 2, the Cairo Tram, the bus network, and the new Microbus service. It’s not directly connected with the airport, however. 

Taxi and rideshare from Cairo Airport

This is by far the most common way to get around Cairo, including trips from the airport. You should be able to get to your hotel (or various points around Cairo’s city center if you want to go sightseeing immediately) in 30-40 minutes. A taxi will cost between $8 and $12, and be sure to tip. Tipping is a major part of Egyptian culture, and the tip for a cab ride should be about 150 Egyptian Pounds or $5. 

Private transfer from Cairo Airport

This method may seem posh, but it’s fairly common for even tourists with (relatively) modest budgets to use a private transfer to get to and from the hotel. This is also an incredibly common way to get to downtown Cairo as you can arrange the ride before flying out and have less to worry about once you land. A private transfer between the airport and the city center should cost between $18 and $25. Expect to tip between $5 and $6 for a private transfer. 

Things to do near Cairo Airport 

Pyramids of Giza 

This one should seem obvious, seeing how these 4,000-year-old monoliths are the primary driver for tourism in Egypt. While Cairo’s other attractions are all well and good, you simply did not fly to Egypt to NOT see the pyramids.

The Great Pyramid has the honor of being the only wonder of the ancient world still in existence, and it's one of the most famous images in the world. Fortunately for travelers, these pyramids are situated just outside of Cairo, which would surprise some given how timeless and mysterious these structures are.

Within the same complex, you can see the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the iconic Sphinx overlooks the bunch. Because of the complicated process of entering and touring the interiors of the Great Pyramid, taking a guided tour from Cairo is the best bet. You’ll be provided with a guide that speaks English and Arabic, and the cost will be justified by how easy and stress-free the adventure will feel. 

Pyramids of Giza bag policy 

It is highly recommended that you don’t bring luggage or larger personal items when touring the Pyramids of Giza. Not only is security air-tight in these places (there are treasure thieves plotting their next attempted heists as you read this) but there aren't cloakrooms or luggage lockers in these places. Even if bags were allowed, lugging them through the sand and stone that surrounds the pyramids in the sun wouldn’t be very comfortable.

The Egyptian Museum

Easily the most popular attraction in central Cairo, this museum is the gold standard (pun intended, you’ll be seeing a ton of gold here) for Egyptian antiquities. The Egyptian Museum is a massive institution filled with more than 100,000 objects that can be traced back thousands of years to the time of the pharaohs.

While the British and other Europeans plundered the cultural relics of the Egyptians for centuries, Egyptian ruler Mohammed Ali banned the export of its artifacts in the 19th century, which makes the Egyptian Museum Cairo’s collection the most comprehensive and valuable in the world. Almost all of the archaeological finds of the past 150 years will end up here.

You’ll find items held by legendary figures like Tutankhamun along with dozens of mummies, jewelry, and all manner of relics from this fascinating corner of history. The museum is centrally located near El-Tahrir Square and is very easy to get to from anywhere in Cairo.

The Egyptian Museum bag policy 

All large items and bags are prohibited from the museum, and there aren’t any storage lockers or a cloakroom onsite. Fortunately, the central location of the museum makes it easy to find luggage storage locations before heading inside.

Haggle and barter at the Khan Al Khalili Bazaar 

One of the Arab world’s charms comes from its market culture. While some countries simply erect a few tents and set up stands for selling overpriced jars of jam or relatively worthless antiques, countries like Egypt have constructed beautifully decorated permanent bazaars in their city centers.

Haggling and bartering for spices or handcrafted items is central to the Egyptian way of life, so it makes sense that a market like Khan Al Khalili would be so revered. This market was built in the 14th century and has been used almost every day since. You’ll find everything from artisanal goods to knick-knacks that make wonderful souvenirs and gifts. Not into haggling? Simply tour the winding alleys and take in the scene. It’s slightly out of the way from downtown but makes for a perfect stop if you’re heading to the Al-Azhar Mosque or the sprawling Al-Azhar Park. 

Luggage storage near Cairo Airport 

If you’re planning on taking the trip of a lifetime to Cairo, you’ll be on the go quite a bit. If you haven’t done your research yet, the weather can be quite tricky, so you’ll need to pack quite a bit to prepare for the extreme heat and cold. That requires luggage, and you won’t want your bags to get in the way of your perfect Egyptian adventure. So look into Bounce’s many luggage storage facilities in Cairo (and beyond) to see how you can store your bags stress-free, so you can focus on enjoying the pyramids! And for all your luggage storage needs for your travels across the globe, you’ll almost always be able to find a trusty Bounce location.