If you're flying to Alexandria, Borg El Arab International Airport (airport code HBE) is where you'll land — and knowing a few practical details in advance makes the arrival much smoother.
The only airport for Alexandria now
This matters because some older guides and forum posts still reference Alexandria's in-city Nouzha Airport — that airport has been closed to commercial traffic since 2011, so Borg El Arab is the only realistic option for flying into Alexandria today. If you see an old reference to "Alexandria Airport" without further detail, it most likely means Nouzha, which is no longer operational for passenger flights.
Distance and drive time to Alexandria
Sources differ on the exact distance from Borg El Arab to central Alexandria — figures cited range from roughly 36 to 49 kilometers. In practical terms, this generally works out to a drive time of 40-60 minutes via the North Coast Road and the Al-Ta'ameir corridor into the city, depending on traffic and your exact destination within Alexandria.
A gateway to the North Coast too
Beyond Alexandria itself, Borg El Arab also serves travelers heading to Egypt's North Coast resort areas, which are a major domestic summer tourist destination. If your trip involves North Coast resorts rather than Alexandria city specifically, confirm your exact destination's distance separately, since North Coast resorts stretch along a long stretch of coastline with varying distances from the airport.
Transfer pricing: confirm before you book
Published, reliable taxi or transfer price figures specifically for Borg El Arab are harder to find than for busier airports like Cairo or Sharm El Sheikh — most figures available online are generic flight-pricing content rather than ground-transfer rates. The safest approach is to get a specific, confirmed quote for your exact route (airport to your hotel or North Coast resort) rather than relying on a general figure, since pricing can vary meaningfully by distance and vehicle type.
Booking a private pickup
Because Borg El Arab serves a wide catchment area — Alexandria city plus the North Coast — a pre-arranged private transfer with your exact destination confirmed in advance avoids any uncertainty about distance-based pricing on arrival. See our Airport Pickup service, which covers Borg El Arab alongside Cairo and Egypt's other major airports.
Related Guides
Cairo Airport Arrival Guide · Alexandria Day Trip From Cairo
