The Greater Cairo Metro serves as the absolute vital artery of Egypt's transport ecosystem, smoothly linking the sprawling urban centers across the Cairo, Giza, and Qalyubia governorates. As the first fully developed rapid transit network in Africa and the Arab world, this highly efficient system carries millions of commuters daily, bypassing heavy street traffic and establishing a sustainable path for city transit. For independent travelers, daily professionals, and visitors, navigating this underground network offers an exceptionally safe, timely, and budget-friendly method to crisscross the capital. This professional guide provides an exhaustive breakdown of all active lines, complete station lists, current ticket pricing models, and upcoming mega-expansion layouts designed for seamless navigation.
1. The Current Operational Metro Lines and All Active Stations
Cairo’s rapid transit footprint currently comprises three major operating lines that intersect via strategic hub stations, allowing passengers to smoothly change routes on a single itinerary layout.
Line 1 The Red Line: El-Marg El-Jedida – Helwan
Operating as the historic backbone of the network, Line 1 slices directly through the city from the northern farmlands to the southern industrial districts. It consists of the following 35 stations in precise sequential order:
- 1. El-Marg El-Jedida
- 2. El-Marg
- 3. Ezbet El-Nutkhl
- 4. Ain Shams
- 5. El-Matareya
- 6. Helmeyat El-Zaytoun
- 7. Hadayeq El-Zaytoun
- 8. Saray El-Qobba
- 9. Hammamat El-Qobba
- 10. Kobri El-Qobba
- 11. Manshiet El-Sadr
- 12. El-Demerdash
- 13. Ghamra
- 14. El-Shohadaa (Interchange Hub with Line 2 & Main Railway Station)
- 15. Ahmed Orabi
- 16. Gamal Abdel Nasser (Interchange Hub with Line 3)
- 17. Anwar El-Sadat (Interchange Hub with Line 2 & Tahrir Square)
- 18. Saad Zaghloul
- 19. Sayeda Zeinab
- 20. El-Malek El-Saleh
- 21. Mar Girgis (Coptic Cairo Area)
- 22. El-Zahraa
- 23. Dar El-Salam
- 24. Hadayeq El-Maadi
- 25. Maadi
- 26. Thakanat El-Maadi
- 27. Tora El-Balad
- 28. Kozzika
- 29. Tora El-Asmant
- 30. El-Maasara
- 31. Hadayeq Helwan
- 32. Wadi Hof
- 33. Helwan University
- 34. Ain Helwan
- 35. Helwan
Line 2 The Blue Line: Shubra El-Kheima – El-Moneib
Connecting the Qalyubia agricultural gateway with the Giza urban sectors, Line 2 travels beneath the Nile River to bridge eastern and western districts. It features the following 20 stations in precise sequential order:
- 1. Shubra El-Kheima
- 2. Kolleyat El-Ziraa
- 3. El-Mazallat
- 4. El-Khalafawy
- 5. St. Teresa
- 6. Rod El-Farag (Station)
- 7. Massarra
- 8. El-Shohadaa (Interchange Hub with Line 1 & Main Railway Station)
- 9. El-Attaba (Interchange Hub with Line 3)
- 10. Mohamed Naguib
- 11. Anwar El-Sadat (Interchange Hub with Line 1 & Tahrir Square)
- 12. Opera
- 13. Dokki
- 14. El-Bohouth
- 15. Cairo University (Interchange Hub with Line 3)
- 16. Faisal
- 17. Giza (Railway Interchange Connection)
- 18. Oula El-Giza
- 19. Sakiat Mekky
- 20. El-Moneib
Line 3 The Green Line: Adly Mansour – Rod El-Farag / Cairo University
This state-of-the-art transit line utilizes automated infrastructure to securely bridge the East and West banks of Cairo. The main central trunk line proceeds sequentially through the following stations:
- 1. Adly Mansour (Mass Multi-Modal Transportation Hub)
- 2. El-Haykestep
- 3. Omar Ibn El-Khattab
- 4. Qobaa
- 5. Hesham Barakat
- 6. El-Nozha
- 7. El-Shams Club
- 8. Alf Maskan
- 9. Heliopolis Square
- 10. Haroun
- 11. El-Ahram
- 12. Koleyet El-Banat
- 13. Stadium (Monorail Interchange Hub)
- 14. Fair Zone
- 15. Abbassia
- 16. Abdou Pasha
- 17. El-Geish
- 18. Bab El-Shaariya
- 19. El-Attaba (Interchange Hub with Line 2)
- 20. Gamal Abdel Nasser (Interchange Hub with Line 1)
- 21. Maspero
- 22. Safaa Hegazy (Zamalek District)
- 23. Kit Kat (The Operational Branch Junction)
*Important Navigation Notice on Western Branch Routes: Immediately after exiting Kit Kat station, the train route systematically splits into two independent operational directions:
The Northern Route Branch (Toward Axis of Rod El-Farag):
- 24-A. Sudan
- 25-A. Imbaba
- 26-A. El-Bohi
- 27-A. El-Qawmeya El-Arabiya
- 28-A. Ring Road (Intersection Hub)
- 29-A. Axis of Rod El-Farag (Terminal Station)
The Southern Route Branch (Toward Giza / Cairo University):
- 24-B. El-Tawfikiya
- 25-B. Wadi El-Nil
- 26-B. Gamet El-Dowal (Mohandessin)
- 27-B. Boulaq El-Dakrour
- 28-B. Cairo University (Terminal Interchange Hub with Line 2)
2. Current Metro Ticket Pricing and Zone Metrics
The Ministry of Transport relies on a highly organized zonal tier structure for ticket pricing, scaling fares strictly by the exact number of stations travelled during a single, one-way passenger journey.
| Passenger Distance Zone | Station Count Range | Official Ticket Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Zone Tier 1 | Traveling between 1 to 9 Stations | 10 EGP |
| Zone Tier 2 | Traveling between 10 to 16 Stations | 12 EGP |
| Zone Tier 3 | Traveling between 17 to 23 Stations | 15 EGP |
| Zone Tier 4 | Traveling across 24 Stations or more | 20 EGP |
Note: Highly discounted subscription models, smart cards, and long-term passes are routinely available for students, senior citizens over 60, and individuals with determination at dedicated subscription counters across major interchange hubs.
3. Forward-Looking Infrastructure: Upcoming Expansion Lines
To support massive urban developments and ease congestion across Cairo's outskirts, a comprehensive infrastructure blueprint is being actively constructed to introduce specialized new lines and expand multi-modal connections.
- Line 4 (The Pyramids Metro Line): Currently under intense structural deployment, this critical route will connect Sixth of October City with the New Cairo suburbs. The initial Western phase travels through the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Giza Station, and moves beneath the Nile to intersect Line 1 at El-Malek El-Saleh before anchoring at El-Fustat, bringing immediate rapid transit to historical tourist clusters.
- Line 5 (The Cross-Town Connector): Designed as a strategic orbital underground loop, this planned line will run horizontally to link Lines 1, 2, and 3 without requiring passengers to route through downtown. It is charted to pass through Nasr City, Heliopolis, and end at Shubra El-Kheima.
- Line 6 (The North-South relief Axis): Planned to run directly parallel to the heavily populated segments of Line 1, this line aims to cut transit strain by moving from Al-Khusus in the far north down through Ghamra and Sayeda Zeinab, ending near New Maadi.
- Multi-Modal Transit Integration: The system is rapidly connecting with the Light Rail Transit (LRT) at Adly Mansour hub to reach the New Administrative Capital, as well as the Monorail corridors at Stadium and Nile-side stations to offer a highly streamlined, world-class transport ecosystem.
4. Summary for Commuters
The Greater Cairo Metro stands as a brilliant model of clean, affordable, and punctual engineering. By mastering the station intersection loops at Sadat, Shohadaa, or Attaba, choosing the correct zonal card at the automated cashless gates, and utilizing the smart western branch loops of Line 3, passengers can experience completely flawless, efficient travel across Egypt's magnificent capital city.