🛬 Arrivals (Ground Floor)

• Bank kiosks for visa purchase
• Immigration desks
• Two baggage reclaim belts
• Left luggage desk
• Vodafone / Orange SIM kiosks

🛫 Departures

• Centralized check-in hall
• Multi-stage security process
• Passport control
• Airside duty-free (limited)
• Small cafeteria + VIP Lounge

✈️ Airside

• Compact waiting area
• Limited duty-free selection
• Small cafeteria
• Executive VIP Lounge (Gate 3)
• Gate-side manual baggage check

💵 Visa Sticker — $25 USD

For most Western and Gulf nationalities. Purchased at the bank kiosks immediately before the immigration desks.

📱 E-Visa

Applied via the official Egypt E-visa portal before travel? Proceed directly to the “E-visa” or “All Passports” queue with your printed authorization. No bank kiosk needed — you skip the sticker queue entirely.

🏥 Health Checks

COVID-19 restrictions have passed. However, health officials may conduct spot checks for Yellow Fever certificates if you are arriving from an endemic region (sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South America). Carry your card if applicable.

⭐ Private Pre-Booked Transfer — Highest Recommendation

Most Nile cruise operators and luxury hotels (including the historic Old Cataract Hotel) provide dedicated shuttles. Your driver will meet you in the arrivals hall with a name sign, eliminating the high-pressure taxi rank environment entirely.

🚖 Official Airport Taxis (White)

Look for white airport taxis at the designated rank. A posted price list exists, but negotiation is still standard practice. Always agree on the price before the driver pulls away from the rank. If heading to a Nile cruise boat, specify the exact boat name — there are multiple docking points along the Corniche.

🚐 Microbus (Budget)

Local microbuses wait near the outer parking lot. Price: 40–60 EGP. Not recommended for travelers with large suitcases — they are crowded and typically wait to fill up before departing. Suitable only for solo light travelers comfortable with Egyptian public transport.

While card payments are spreading in Cairo, Aswan remains a largely cash-driven economy. ATMs at ASW are notoriously unreliable. If you spot a working machine in the arrivals hall, withdraw at least 3,000 EGP immediately — enough for transport, tips, and basic supplies. Do not rely on finding cash elsewhere.

Aswan is one of the hottest inhabited places on Earth. From May to September, temperatures routinely exceed 45°C (113°F). The walk from the terminal to the taxi rank is short but immediately punishing. Have your sunglasses and a bottle of water ready before stepping outside. Never stand in direct sun for more than a few minutes.

Vodafone and Orange kiosks exist in the arrivals area but are not staffed 24/7. If you are connecting through Cairo (CAI), secure your Egyptian SIM there — it will be properly activated and you’ll have data for navigation the moment you land in Aswan.

ASW sits closer to Philae Temple than to Aswan city centre. On a day-layover of 4+ hours, a 700–900 EGP taxi and a short motorboat crossing delivers you to one of Egypt’s most extraordinary UNESCO sites. Return to the airport at least 3.5 hours before an international departure.

If you are heading to a Nile cruise, give your taxi driver the exact name of your boat, not just “the river.” There are numerous docking points along the Aswan Corniche and on Elephantine Island. Ambiguity here costs time and EGP. Your cruise operator should provide the exact pier details in advance.