| Popular Airport | Marsa Alam International Airport |
|---|---|
| Popular Airlines | |
| Approximate Flight Duration | 2 hour 10 min |
| Approximate Travel Distance | 1830 Km |
Information compiled by AI. For the most up-to-date information, contact the airline.
The airport, which is approximately 6 kilometers of the city center, is located on Bole Road. In the city where public transportation is not very developed, you can use minibuses to reach the airport. Taxi is another transportation alternative that is frequently preferred by visitors. In addition to these, you can get to the airport from the city center by renting a car or by benefitting from the airport shuttle service in case your hotel offers this service.
You can reach the airport by getting on a minibus from the minibus stops located in the city center. Minibuses generally carry passengers to the airport from 5:30 am to 09:00 pm. Although it is relatively cheaper compared to taxi, you should remember that drivers may demand higher amounts from tourists. The fare is about 5 Birr. They may also charge extra amount for each baggage.
Hotel shuttle service is the most comfortable alternative for your travel to the airport. In Addis Ababa city center, there are both small hotels and accommodation centers of chain hotels such as Hilton, Radisson and Sheraton. Some of these hotels offer airport shuttle service. If your hotel offers this service and you want to benefit from this service for your travel to the airport, you should definitely make a reservation in advance.
There are two types of taxis that you can get on to reach the airport. Mercedes taxis of the National Tour Operator (NTO) operate under a company and offer service with more comfortable vehicles. With their predetermined tariffs, they create a more reliable image in terms of the fares. You can ask your hotel to call a NTO taxi for you.
There is no taximeter in the taxis operating in Addis Ababa, so it is advised to agree on the fare before getting on. These yellow taxis are approximately 10 times more expensive than blue-white taxis. You can also reach the airport in a short time with a blue-white taxi which you can find in the city center or waiting in front of hotels. The average fare is between 80 and 100 Birr. The owners of these taxis aren’t companies but individuals. Since there is also no taximeter in blue-white taxis and fares are not standardized by a company, they are more flexible in terms of fares and you should definitely bargain.
You can rent a car from one of the car rental companies that you can find in the city center or from the offices of tour operators. You can also get help from your hotel about renting a car.
Since some roads in Addis Ababa have no name, there isn’t sufficient number of traffic signs throughout the city and there is no traffic light on many roundabouts, traffic flow isn’t in order. For this reason, renting a car during your visit may not be a good option. If you want to rent a car only for travelling to the airport from the city center, you should prefer a company which has an office at the airport.
In order to get to the airport with the car you have rented, connect to Bole Road in the city center, drive southeastward and follow the airport signs.
There are 2 terminals at the airport. Terminal 1, which offers service for domestic flights, is located in the old building. Terminal 2 offers service for international passenger transportation in the new building.
At Bole International Airport, there are many restaurants and cafes in addition to stores and a duty-free shop where you can do some shopping before your flight.
At the airport, there is also a lounge for passengers looking for a comfortable environment and a much larger lounge is now being constructed. Although there is no left luggage service at the airport, you can find other standard airport services such as pharmacy, currency exchange office and ATM.
From Marsa Alam Airport to the city center and resort towns nearby, people generally prefer private shuttle services for their transportation. It is more difficult to find other alternatives at the airport such as taxis and car rental services, compared to the shuttles. Apart from private shuttle companies, for a comfortable and cheaper option, you can contact your hotel and get information on whether they provide shuttles from the airport to the hotel. The cost of transformation from Marsa Alam Airport is generally not very pricey.
Those who want to reduce their transportation expenses can use said shuttles or share taxi fares with others. Before your flight, you can choose a vehicle and pre-book online and when you land at Marsa Alam Airport you can directly transfer to the city center.
You can also contact your hotel to get more information and make a reservation vehicle of your choice through your hotel beforehand, so you can directly go from the airport to the region with its magnificent beaches.
Taxi
At Marsa Alam Airport there is no designated permanent cab stand, but you can always make a reservation in advance for taxis which cost approximately 40 US Dollars for a ride. All of the locals do not know English so before your ride you can ask for an English-speaking driver or you can take a map and mark the place you want to go beforehand and show it to the taxi driver.
Shuttle
At Marsa Alam Airport one of the most preferred transportation methods are private shuttles. You can call in advance and make a reservation from the private shuttle companies and the pricing varies depending on the number of passengers and baggage. The average price range of shuttle services from Marsa Alam Airport is generally 45-60 US Dollars but you may have the chance of cheaper transportation by pre-booking or negotiating with the shuttle company personnel. Larger shuttles with the capacity of up to 15 passengers cost on average 90-100 US Dollars. If you need transportation from Marsa Alam Airport to the Luxor Airport, the shuttles cost approximately 120 US Dollars.
Hotel Shuttles
If your hotel provides shuttle services from Marsa Alam Airport to the city center, it would be more affordable or free of charge compared to taxis and other transportation options. If your hotel does not provide such services, you can contact the related personnel in your hotel and get information for other transfer alternatives.
