Going to Siwa from Cairo is easy, safe and cheap. The downside is that it is quite long (it could take up between 10 -12 hours). The distance between Cairo to Siwa is about 750 – 800 KM (depending where you start in Cairo).
Leaving from Turgomen Station using West Delta Bus
The bus leaves nightly to Siwa from Cairo and costs 450LE and departs at 9.30 PM although as commonly in Egypt, this can be cancelled at any day for any reason (it is not as bad as it sounds but it does happen from time to time).
The bus station to buy the ticket and board the bus is called Turgoman station or also Cairo Gateway Bus Station. The local use the Turgomen name. Use this name when you call a taxi and direct them.
Turgoman bus station is a large and modern bus station. It looks more like a mall than a normal bus station. You can find shops and other amenities (including clean bathrooms) in the station. The terminal is located at the ground level of the bus station (it is well marked in English and Arabic).
The place to buy ticket is located at the main entrance of the bus station. When you enter the station, you have to go through security checkpoint like the one in airports. Then you will be presented with multiple windows (on the left and right side of the entrance hall) with various bus station companies that go to different destinations in Egypt. The bus company that goes to Siwa is on the left hand side called West Delta.
Turgoman is a modern and convenient bus station (Image Source)
Here you can see more pictures of Turgoman bus station.
How to get to Turgomen Bus Station/Cairo Gateway Bus Station
- From Zamalek: Call up a taxi and tell him that you are going to Turgomen.If the traffic jam is not so bad, you will reach the station in 15 minutes.
- From Dokki: Call up a taxi and tell him you are going to Turgomen. If the traffic jam is not so bad, you will reach the station in 20 minutes.
- From Downtown: You can walk. It will take you 20 minutes.
Map of Turgomen Station (Cairo Gateway)
View Turgomen station in a larger map
Leaving from Abdelmonem Ryad using West Delta Bus
This is an area in downtown Cairo where a lot of buses come and go. The location is here.
There is a big Go Bus building in the area but do not go inside there.
The West Delta Bus kiosk on the side of the street where you can buy your ticket. The bus leaves on the side of the street at 10 PM every night and the ticket costs 320LE.
The bus route to Siwa
- The bus will leave the station and do one or two more pickup stop. Then the bus will take to Alexandria Desert Road (this is the road that connects Cairo to Alexandria).
- Half way in Alexandria Desert Road, the bus will take turn to the north to get to El Alamein road. There may be a pit stop here.
- Once the bus reach El Alamein city on the north coast of Egypt, it will continue on the coastline to reach the city of Mars Matrouah. The bus will do the a pit stop on this leg of the journey.
- The bus will stop at Mars Matrouah for a pit stop and to pick up/drop off some passengers. Warning: the bathroom in this stop isn’t clean.
- From Mars Matrouah the bus will take the desert road to reach Siwa (approx 3.5 hours). There is a single pit stop here.
Leaving from Abdelmonem Ryad using Minibus
There is a company called Siwa Bus. You can order their ticket online at Otobeas.com. This minibus seats 14 people and you can choose your seats online.
They also leave from Abdelmonem Ryad in this location here.
You do need to call +20 109 537 1097 when you arrive here or contact their FB account so that they can direct you the minibus. There is no obvious sign on this location about "Siwa Bus".
Taking minibus is a bit faster than taking a bus. Siwa Bus takes 8 hours from Cairo to Siwa in total.