Popular Airport | Entebbe Intl. Airport |
|---|---|
Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 4 hour 40 min |
Approximate Travel Distance | 3738 Km |
Transportation to Airport from Sharjah City Center
Al Maktoum Intl. Airport
Al Maktoum International Airport is located 40 km from the city center, in Jebel Ali. The majority of the airport is still under construction however it is currently operating passenger services out of one terminal.
Bus
To get to Al Maktoum Airport from the city center, for flights departing no later than midnight, you can take the red line of the Dubai Metro all the way to the Ibn Battuta Metro Station. From there you can take bus F55 to the airport. The F55 buses depart every hour, on the hour and the total trip to the airport takes about 40 minutes. If you’re flight is after midnight, the F55A buses depart from the Satwa Bus Station from 12:30 am – 6 am and go directly to Al Maktoum Airport. This bus line runs along the coast, passing by many hotels and beaches. You can get on this bus from stops in front of Hilton Beach Club, Jumeirah Beach Park, Royal Mirage Hotel, Oasis Beach Hotel, and Hilton Jumeirah Hotel.
The bus ride from the Satwa Bus Station to the airport takes about 1.5 hours. At the moment parking at the airport is free! If you’re going to drive your personal car you don’t have to worry about parking fees. You can also access the airport by taxi or rental car.
Airport Information
The construction of Al Maktoum International Airport is still ongoing, however it has been serving passengers out of one terminal for the past couple of years. There are a number of international flights to Dubai that land at Al Maktoum International Airport. However when compared to Dubai International Airport it hosts fewer flights. This number is expected to increase exponentially in the future.
Located 40 km from the city, Al Maktoum International Airport is situated in the middle of the dessert. Right now there aren’t many transportation alternatives to get to and from the city center. Moreover, there isn’t much located around the airport. However, in the future the area surrounding Al Maktoum International Airport will be completely different, with hotels, golf courses, and various facilities nearby. Since it is relatively new, Al Maktoum International Airport doesn’t have a rich variety of eating and drinking or shopping venues in the airport. If you want to grab a quick bite to eat there are chain cafes and restaurants located in the departing passenger terminal, including Hot & Roll, Papa Johns Pizza, Tandori, Thai Express, Starbucks and Vanellis Italian Foods. For shopping the only venue available is “Bin Sina Pharmacy”. The airport is currently providing passenger services out of one terminal. The “Marhaba Lounge” is located on the first floor of this terminal. This lounge is open 24 hours a day to all passengers for a certain fee, regardless of ticket class. In addition to an open buffet and refreshments there is free internet and laptop services. There are cabins where you can take a shower located between gates 1 and 6.
Sharjah Intl. Airport
Sharjah International Airport, located close to the popular points in the United Arab Emirates such as Sharjah and Dubai, is located almost equidistant from both centers. To get to the airport, which is about 15 kilometers outside of Dubai, you can choose from a number of comfortable vehicles, especially taxi and rental cars in Dubai and Sharjah. Passengers traveling from the city center to the airport usually prefer the easily accessible taxis. If you rented a car when you came to the city, you can also use your rental car to get to the airport. If you choose this method, you can easily deliver your rental car at the offices that serve the passengers at the airport. There are also buses from Sharjah and Dubai as a more affordable alternative to airport transfers. If you prefer a much more comfortable and quick journey except these means, you can take advantage of private shuttles or luxury limousines.
Car Rental
In the city center you can rent out your car without hassle by finding offices of rental companies like Hertz, AVIS or Budget and Dollar. Thanks to the wide and regular roads of Dubai, driving in the city is extremely comfortable. If it is not a busy hour, it usually takes no more than 20 minutes to get to the airport with the car you rent. When the traffic is heavy, this can take up to 30-40 minutes. Make sure that you have your documents, such as the internationally valid driver's license, which you may need to rent a car with you. If you are traveling to the city for the first time, be sure to have a navigation device on hand to find your way more easily and minimize the risk of getting lost.
Bus
You can also travel to Sharjah International Airport from Dubai or Sharjah by bus. Travelling to Sharjah Airport by bus can take a bit longer compared to taxi. For this reason, if you are not comfortable with time, you should use taxis instead of the buses to save time. There are more bus services for the passengers coming to the airport from Sharjah direction. If you are not traveling late at night and you are not in a hurry to catch your plane, you can consider the bus option.
Taxi
The passengers travelling to Sharjah International Airport from both Dubai and Sharjah usually prefer taxis. The close proximity of the airport to both centers allows the taxi fare to be kept low and makes it an economical option. If you arrive at the airport from the city center by taxi, you will have to pay the fare, an average of 30-40 US Dollars, in local currency at the end of your journey. This fare may change depending on the status of the traffic and the point you are traveling to. You can get information about the average taxi fare from your hotel or taxi drivers before the trip.
Private Airport Shuttle
Many private airport shuttle service providers are located near Dubai and Sharjah. With these services, which have different passenger capacities, you can reach the airport without any difficulty with your crowded group. Fares for private airport shuttles may vary depending on distance, number of passengers or time of day travelling. For this reason, if you want to get information about the fares of the services, you can contact the companies directly by doing a short research on the internet. If your hotel has a shuttle service to the airport, it is also possible to use the airport shuttle service by getting information from the hotel staff a few days or hours before your travel.
Luxury Transfer Vehicles
Dubai and its environs have been recognized in recent years as one of the world's most important business, trade and finance centers. With this effect, the interest and demand for luxurious vehicles for airport transfer in the city is increasing day by day. The luxury limousine service is one of the services offered to customers by many hotels in the city. With these vehicles, you can complete your journey in a much more privileged and enjoyable way compared to buses and taxis. Booking your luxury car a few hours before your flight will usually suffice.
Airport Information
at Sharjah International Airport, which connects the world with the fast-developing centers Dubai and Sharjah, you can find everything you might need from small shops you can shop, restaurants serving both Arabic and European and international cuisine, and car rental office. Located at the airport, the VIP passenger lounge offers a privileged setting where you can read daily newspapers while you wait for your plane, or enjoy fresh juices and sandwiches. ATMs and bank branches where you can easily transfer money and make many other banking transactions are some of the services offered to the passengers at the airport. During your stay at Sharjah International Airport, which is known as one of the family friendly airports, you can benefit from services such as children's play areas or a babysitting room.
For dining at the airport, also known for its extensive shopping and dining areas, you can choose from different venues such as McDonald's, Costa Coffee, London Dairy Cafe, Dunkin Donuts, Grab and Go, Subway, CHOCOLIX, Mumbai Spices, Krispy Kreme and World News Cafe. You can also visit duty-free shops in Dubai Sharjah International Airport, where you can find a wide range of perfumes, chocolates and gift items. In addition to all these services, a room specially designed for those who wish to pray in a quiet environment at the airport and services such as a lost-goods bureau are also offered to passengers traveling here.
Transportation to Entebbe City Center from Airport
Entebbe Intl. Airport
In Entebbe, there is a heavy traffic in general. Although traffic flow is comfortable late at night and early in the morning, traffic during the day is rather heavy. Besides, the drivers in the city don't follow traffic rules. For this reason, renting a car may sometimes be troublesome for those who are not so familiar with Entebbe traffic. However, it is possible to find the offices of many car rental companies in the city center. Considering the heavy traffic, you can prefer motorbike to the car if you are experienced at riding a motorbike. However, you should bear in mind that the most injury cases in Uganda are caused by motorbike accidents. If you are going to ride a motorcycle, at least you should wear your helmet. If possible, it would be a good idea to wear special protective clothing (such as jackets, knee pads).
Public transportation in Entebbe may sometimes be very challenging. Especially the careless and dangerous driving of the drivers as well as the old and neglected cars may be frightening for tourists. Means of public transport in the city are the minibuses, which are especially preferred at short distances, and the buses. These vehicles, which are extremely low in price, cover even the shortest distances at a longer time than they should due to the extremely crowded and heavy traffic. Motorcycle taxis called Boda Boda are the most preferred means of transportation in Entebbe.
The fact that motorbikes are smaller and have more agility compared to cars come with great advantages in heavy and complicated traffic. However, you should always remember to take the necessary precautions for your safety. Besides Boda Boda, the motorcycle taxis, you can also find normal taxis easily in the city center.
Taxis in Entebbe generally don't have fixed stands and a legal status. So anyone may serve his/her car as a taxi if you ask, or they may sometimes offer to pick you up. Taxi service in the city is not very reliable because there are not any regulations for taxis here. None of the taxis has a taximeter; even when they have, the taximeters are mostly broken. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary to negotiate and agree with the driver in advance about the destination and taxi fare. Generally speaking, you shouldn't hesitate to bargain because the taxi fares are very high, especially if you are a tourist.
If you want to take a taxi, always try to prefer a taxi that your hotel or, if possible, someone you know recommends you take. Entebbe International Airport serves not only Entebbe city but also many other surrounding cities. Transportation from these cities to Entebbe International Airport is mostly provided through Kampala. It is very easy to reach Entebbe International Airport from Kampala by small minibuses. These minibuses depart every 30 minutes or hourly depending on the density. Ticket only costs 3000 UGX, it means 1 dollar. However, the tourists may sometimes be charged twice a ticket price. The journey takes about one hour. If the traffic is not heavy, the journey time is much shorter.
You can also get to the city center from Entebbe International Airport in a very short time. Taxi is the most preferred transportation option from the airport to Entebbe city center, which is very close to the airport. You can also reach the city center by renting a car at the airport. Another alternative is the shuttle-like transfer vehicles run by Uganda Airport Transfers Company.
Taxi
You can easily find a taxi in front of the airport exit. If possible, try to take a taxi you are recommended or ask your hotel to arrange a taxi for you. As there is no taximeter in the taxis in Entebbe, remember to bargain with the driver about the taxi fare in advance. Don't pay the taxi fare in advance.
Rent a car
You can find the car rental offices of Hertz and Europcar at the airport. You also save time by renting your car online in advance. Please remember that you must have an international driver's license to rent a car. If you want to take advantage of this option, you should bear in mind that Entebbe traffic is generally quite dense and complicated. In addition renting a car, you can also rent a motorbike, which is a very common option in Entebbe.
If you want, you can also rent a car with a driver as well. Unlike the standard airport shuttle services, Uganda Airport Transfers, which is a private company, provides transfer services with various vehicles. Transfer vehicles vary from standard 3-person cars to 25-person buses. Each vehicle takes a luggage per seat. Another different service provided by this company is that it offers "door-to-door" service rather than traveling on a specific route. In addition, you can also benefit from the taxi services provided by this company.
Hotel Shuttle Services
A limited number of hotels offer airport shuttle services since Entebbe International Airport and the city center are very close to each other. However, even if your hotel doesn't provide shuttle service, they can arrange an option to pick you up at the airport upon your request.
