Getting to Luxor and Aswan: airports, trains and transfers

The short version

• Luxor has a proper international airport about 6 km east of town, with flights from Cairo all year and seasonal direct flights from many European cities.
• Aswan has a smaller airport south-west of the city, mainly with flights from Cairo and on to Abu Simbel.
• From Cairo, the overnight sleeper train reaches Luxor early in the morning and Aswan by late morning.
• For the last kilometres, plan on a pre-agreed taxi or a hotel transfer. Uber does not list Luxor or Aswan, and in both cities some hotels are reached by boat.

Travelling between the two cities is covered in Luxor to Aswan.

Flying into Luxor (LXR)

Luxor International Airport sits about 6 km east of the city. As of October 2026, its published route list includes:

• Cairo, all year, with EgyptAir, Air Cairo and Nile Air, plus Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada.
• Europe, all year: Air Cairo to several Spanish and Italian cities (Madrid, Bilbao, Málaga, Valencia, Rome, Milan and others), and Pegasus to Istanbul.
• Europe, seasonal (mostly winter): easyJet (London Gatwick, Paris, Lyon, Milan, Nantes), TUI (London Gatwick, Manchester, Brussels, Düsseldorf), Transavia, Edelweiss, Aegean, Luxair, Vueling (Barcelona) and others.

That list comes from Wikipedia's airport page, which is updated by volunteers. Seasonal routes start and stop every year, so confirm with the airline before you plan around one.

From Luxor airport to your hotel

• Taxi. Taxis wait outside arrivals and are not metered: agree the price before you get in. As of May 2026, Pure Nile Tours put the usual fare to the East Bank centre at about EGP 150–300, for a drive of 10 to 20 minutes.
• Hotel or private transfer. The same source gives US$15–25 for a private transfer, while hotel shuttles range from free to about US$10 depending on the hotel (as of May 2026). Several hotels in this guide list a paid airport shuttle, including Abeer Guest House, Nile Castle and Steigenberger Resort Achti. Book it before you fly.
• Ride-hailing. See the section below: do not count on it at the airport.

Getting to the West Bank

If you stay across the river, the road route goes over the bridge south of town, about 7 km from the centre, and Pure Nile Tours estimates 25 to 35 minutes by car from the airport side (as of May 2026). A West Bank guest house, Mara House, reports (June 2026) that tourists are not allowed over the road bridge between 18:00 and 06:00, while the public ferry runs through the night. If you land late, ask your hotel how they will get you across; this is one more reason to book a transfer.

Flying into Aswan (ASW)

Aswan International Airport lies about 16 km south-west of the city, and the guest houses on Elephantine are about 15 km away in a straight line. As of October 2026, scheduled flights are essentially Cairo (EgyptAir, Air Cairo, Nile Air) and Abu Simbel (EgyptAir and Air Cairo), according to Wikipedia. From Europe, most travellers connect in Cairo or fly to Luxor and continue by road, train or boat.

Taxis at Aswan airport are known for high opening prices. A 2026 scam guide (Tabiji, April 2026) reports first quotes of around EGP 500 for the ride to town, against a fair fare of about EGP 100–150. Treat both numbers as rough guides and agree the price in Egyptian pounds before you load your bags. Many Aswan hotels in this guide list an airport shuttle, including Old Cataract, Kashta Nubian Guest House and Queen House: for an island guest house, the hotel's transfer usually includes meeting you at the right ferry landing, which is worth a lot after dark.

The sleeper train from Cairo

The overnight sleeper is the classic way south and saves a night's hotel. Since 2023 it has been run by Abela Trains, which took over from Watania/Ernst. As of October 2026, Seat61 lists:

These are one-way fares to either Luxor or Aswan, and include dinner and breakfast. Departures leave Cairo's Upper Egypt (Bashtil) station between about 19:20 and 22:40, calling at Giza half an hour later (not at Ramses). Arrivals are roughly 05:30 to 09:00 in Luxor and 08:30 to 12:00 in Aswan, depending on the train (timetable as of 2026). Tickets are paid in US dollars, euros or pounds sterling at station offices, where cards are also accepted, or online through agencies such as Trainsegypt, 12Go or Bookaway.

Daytime trains and the stations

Daytime express trains run Cairo–Luxor–Aswan, but as of September 2026 foreigners cannot buy tickets on the Egyptian National Railways website, which only sells at Egyptian citizen prices. Seat61 recommends booking through 12Go or Bookaway, or at the tourist ticket window in the station, paying in clean US dollar or euro notes (Seat61 Egypt).

• Luxor station is in the centre of the East Bank, with an X-ray check at the entrance and several ATMs in the main hall. Some central hotels are walkable: Abeer Guest House is about 0.8 km in a straight line. For the Corniche hotels a short taxi is easier with luggage.
• Aswan station is at the northern end of the centre, close to the Corniche. The Elephantine guest houses are about 2 km away in a straight line: take a taxi or walk along the Corniche to the ferry.

Ride-hailing: Uber, Careem and inDrive

Uber's own city list for Egypt (checked October 2026) covers Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada and several Delta and Canal cities, but not Luxor or Aswan (Uber). Other guides disagree about the rest: Bento (October 2026) points to inDrive, whose Egyptian listing includes both cities, while Pure Nile Tours says Careem is more used in Luxor. What they agree on: drivers can be few, especially at the airports, and an app may need an Egyptian SIM. Have a taxi price or a hotel transfer as plan A.

Boats: ferries to the West Bank and Elephantine

Boats are part of normal life in both cities, and some hotels in this guide are reached only by water.

Luxor

• The public ferry crosses between the East Bank Corniche and the West Bank village area at Al Bairat. As of May 2026, Pure Nile Tours gives EGP 10–15 per person. It is the quickest way from the town centre to Nile Castle, Luxor Oasis Guest House and Luxor Guest House, all a short walk or tuk-tuk ride from the landing.
• Private motorboats wait along the Corniche. Their price is bargained: confirm the amount, the currency and whether it includes the return.
• Jolie Ville Kings Island, south of town, is reached by road and runs a free scheduled shuttle to the centre.

Aswan

• Elephantine Island is linked to the Corniche by small public ferries that cost a few Egyptian pounds and leave when they fill up; one landing used by visitors is below the Corniche near the KFC (Paliparan). Expect short waits, sometimes 20 minutes. This is how you reach ABU Nubian Guest House, Fadl Kato, Kashta and Queen House. With heavy luggage, ask your guest house to meet you at the landing.
• Pyramisa Island is on its own island and runs its own boat to town.
• Old Cataract, Basma and Aswan Nile Palace are on the mainland and reached by road.

Abu Simbel

There are flights from Aswan (and Cairo) to Abu Simbel's small airport, and most visitors still go by road on a day trip from Aswan. If you sleep there, Kabara Nubian House is about 3 km from the airport in a straight line and lists a paid airport shuttle. More in Abu Simbel from Aswan.

Before you arrive

1. Send your flight or train number to the hotel and confirm who meets you, and where.
2. Carry small Egyptian pound notes for the taxi or ferry; airport ATMs are covered in money, tipping and haggling.
3. Agree every taxi fare in Egyptian pounds before you get in. Writing it on your phone and showing the driver avoids "it was dollars" surprises.
4. If you are choosing a base, our pages on where to stay in Luxor and where to stay in Aswan show how each area connects to stations, ferries and sights.