Alexandria is the only major Egyptian destination where visitors regularly ask which airport they actually landed at. The city's main international gateway, Borg El Arab Airport, sits a considerable distance outside Alexandria itself, which surprises travelers who expect an airport carrying the city's name to sit close to its center.
Understanding why the airport is positioned where it is, and what the transfer into Alexandria or onward to the North Coast actually involves, makes the first hour of a trip to Egypt's Mediterranean coast considerably less confusing. It also helps to know this before you book your onward transport, rather than discovering the distance only after you land and are already weighing your options at the curb.
Why Does Alexandria Have Two Airports?
Alexandria's original airport, El Nouzha, sits inside the city itself and served the city for decades, but its location left no real room to expand as air traffic grew. Borg El Arab Airport, officially Alexandria International Airport, was developed further from the city center specifically to provide the runway and terminal capacity El Nouzha could not accommodate.
Over time, Borg El Arab took over as Alexandria's primary international gateway, while El Nouzha shifted toward domestic flights and military use rather than handling international arrivals. A traveler flying into Alexandria today should expect to land at Borg El Arab unless told otherwise.
This split is common enough across growing cities worldwide, but it catches first-time visitors off guard specifically because both airports share the Alexandria name in casual conversation. Double-checking your boarding pass or e-ticket for the airport code, HBE for Borg El Arab, removes any ambiguity before you even board your connecting flight.
How Far Is Borg El Arab From Central Alexandria?
The airport sits roughly 40 to 45 km southwest of central Alexandria, which usually means a 45-minute to one-hour drive under normal conditions. That is a longer transfer than the airport's name suggests, and travelers who assume a short hop into the city sometimes find themselves surprised by the actual drive time.
The route runs largely through desert highway before reaching Alexandria's built-up districts, so there is little to see along the way and no reason to expect quick stops. Planning for the full drive time, rather than a brief shuttle, avoids tight scheduling on arrival day.
If your itinerary includes a day trip beyond the city itself, factor the airport's distance into the whole plan rather than treating arrival day as separate from the rest of your schedule. Our Alexandria day trip guide covers how much a single day in the city can realistically include once you account for the drive in from Borg El Arab.
Is Borg El Arab a Convenient Entry Point for the North Coast?
For many travelers, yes. Borg El Arab sits roughly between Alexandria and the start of Egypt's North Coast resort corridor, which makes it a practical arrival airport for visitors heading straight to a coastal resort rather than into Alexandria itself. How convenient it is depends heavily on exactly which resort you are headed to, since the North Coast stretches a long way along the Mediterranean.
A resort near the start of the coastal corridor can be under an hour from the airport, while one further along can take well over two hours, so checking the specific distance to your resort, rather than assuming all North Coast destinations are similarly close, is worth doing before you book ground transport.
What Should You Expect Inside the Terminal?
Borg El Arab's terminal is considerably smaller and quieter than Cairo International's, which generally means shorter walks and faster passage through immigration and baggage claim, but also fewer shops, lounges, and dining options if you have a long layover or an early arrival before your transfer is due. Plan accordingly if you expect to wait inside the terminal rather than heading straight out to your driver.
Signage and staff are used to a steadier, more seasonal flow of travelers rather than the constant high volume of a major hub, particularly outside the busy summer months when North Coast traffic peaks. This generally makes for a calmer arrival experience, even if it means fewer services on hand.
What Transport Options Exist at Borg El Arab Airport?
Compared to Cairo International, Borg El Arab has noticeably fewer transport options waiting at the curb. Public transport coverage is limited, and the on-demand ride-hailing networks that cover central Cairo extensively have thinner coverage this far from a major city center, which leaves most travelers choosing between a pre-booked private transfer, a pre-arranged taxi, or a rental car.
This is one of the clearer cases in Egypt where booking ahead genuinely changes the experience rather than being a minor convenience, since arriving without a plan at a quieter airport can mean a longer wait than at a busier hub with more options on hand. See our broader comparison of private transfer versus taxi and ride-hailing for how this plays out across Egypt more generally.
How Should You Plan a Borg El Arab Transfer?
The most reliable approach is a private transfer booked before you land, with a driver tracking your flight so a delay does not leave you stranded at a quieter airport with fewer backup options. Confirm in advance whether your destination is central Alexandria, a specific North Coast resort, or somewhere else along the coast, since the drive times differ enough to matter for planning the rest of your arrival day.
If you are traveling with a group or heavier luggage, the same vehicle-size considerations that apply at any Egyptian airport apply here too; see our guide to choosing the right vehicle before booking. Whichever vehicle you need, having it arranged and waiting at arrivals removes the one part of a Borg El Arab arrival that otherwise catches travelers off guard: just how far the airport actually sits from the city whose name it carries.
It is also worth sharing your full itinerary with your transfer provider rather than just the airport and the hotel name, especially if your trip combines a stay in Alexandria with a few days on the North Coast afterward. A driver who knows the whole plan in advance can flag timing issues, such as checkout times that do not line up well with a later coastal transfer, before they become a problem on the day itself.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
Why does Alexandria have two airports?
Alexandria's original airport, El Nouzha, sits inside the city and had no practical room to expand as air traffic grew. Borg El Arab Airport was built further out, with the space for a larger terminal and runway capacity, and gradually took over as the city's main international gateway while El Nouzha shifted toward domestic and military use.
How far is Borg El Arab Airport from central Alexandria?
Roughly 40 to 45 km, which typically translates to a drive of 45 minutes to an hour under normal traffic conditions. It is noticeably farther from the city center than many travelers expect from an airport carrying the Alexandria name, so it is worth planning the transfer time into your schedule rather than assuming a short hop.
Can you fly into Borg El Arab for the North Coast rather than Alexandria itself?
Yes, and many travelers do exactly that, since Borg El Arab sits roughly between Alexandria and the start of the North Coast resort corridor. Drive times to specific resorts vary a great deal depending on how far along the coast they sit, so check the distance to your specific destination rather than assuming all North Coast resorts are equally close.
Is public transport available from Borg El Arab Airport?
Limited, compared to what travelers typically find at Cairo International. Most visitors rely on a pre-booked private transfer, an arranged taxi, or a rental car, rather than scheduled public buses or an on-demand ride-hailing network with the same coverage as it has in central Cairo.
What is the best way to arrange a transfer from Borg El Arab?
Booking a private transfer in advance, with a driver tracking your flight and waiting at arrivals, removes the uncertainty of arranging transport on the spot at a smaller, quieter airport. This matters more here than at a major hub, since fewer transport options are simply waiting at the curb if your flight lands late or your plans change.
Does the drive from Borg El Arab pass anything worth knowing about?
The route runs largely through desert highway before reaching Alexandria's built-up areas or turning toward the coast. There is little in the way of scenery or stops along the way, which is one more reason a reliable, pre-arranged driver matters more than the exact road itself.
