The city of Aswan along the Nile River in Egypt hosts a great amount of archaeological and historical treasures, as well as bazaars for shopping and one of the biggest dams in the world. It is Egypt’s gateway to Africa, and also an excellent place for boat cruises along the mighty Nile. You can also take a camel tour into the vast Saharan Desert, with plenty of sunshine guaranteed. In fact, Aswan is one of the driest places in Egypt and the world.
The city of Aswan is located in Southern Egypt, along the Nile River and on the north side of the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser reservoir. Once named Swenet, Aswan is an ancient city that was founded already at the times of the ancient Egyptians. One of the oldest cities in Egypt, it used to be the frontier town between ancient Egypt and the Africa beyond it. Aswan was, and still is a busy market town, but today it is also a center for tourism, attracting visitors wanting to see the many historical sites within Aswan as well as the ancient temples of Abu Simbel south of Aswan. While smaller than the more popular touristic cities along the Nile, Cairo and Luxor, Aswan has a more relaxed atmosphere and a more African feel to it. In addition to both Christian and Muslim Arabs, the city also hosts a large population of Nubian people.
More historical attractions in Aswan include the Monastery of St Simeon, Tombs of the Nobles and Mausoleum of the Aga Khan on the West Bank of the Nile. There you will also find the shrine of Kubbet el-Hawa that offers great views over Aswan and the Nile River. Shopping in Aswan is also great on the souqs of the city.
Nile islands & cruises. Aswan includes several small islands on the Nile River that are interesting places to visit. Elephantine Island is the home of the famous Well of Eratosthenes, dating back to 240 BC, as well as several ancient temples, modern Nubian villages and the Aswan Museum. Kitchener’s Island is a beautiful botanical garden, and Sehel Island has an ancient stela and a jewelry market. For those interested in the city’s African roots, there is also a Nubian Museum and a Nubian Cultural Center in Aswan. Popular sailboat cruises in Aswan are available with local sailboats called felucca. This is an excellent way to see the Nile River. Short and long trips are available, and you can sail all the way to Luxor. Tours from Aswan to Abu Simbel are also very popular, and camel safaris from Aswan to the Monastery of St. Simeon can be tried as well.
The city of Aswan is located in Southern Egypt, along the Nile River and on the north side of the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser reservoir. Once named Swenet, Aswan is an ancient city that was founded already at the times of the ancient Egyptians. One of the oldest cities in Egypt, it used to be the frontier town between ancient Egypt and the Africa beyond it. Aswan was, and still is a busy market town, but today it is also a center for tourism, attracting visitors wanting to see the many historical sites within Aswan as well as the ancient temples of Abu Simbel south of Aswan. While smaller than the more popular touristic cities along the Nile, Cairo and Luxor, Aswan has a more relaxed atmosphere and a more African feel to it. In addition to both Christian and Muslim Arabs, the city also hosts a large population of Nubian people.
Tourism attractions of Aswan: ancient temples, historic sites, river cruises & shopping
Aswan and its surroundings are filled with interesting ancient historic sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage –listed temple of Philae, Kalabsha Temple, the unfinished obelisk on the East Bank of Nile in Aswan, as well as the famous massive temples of Abu Simbel along the western shore of Lake Nasser, further southwest from Aswan. Philae, Kalabsha, and Abu Simbel were all relocated from the flooding of the Lake Nasser Reservoir when yet another interesting sight, the massive Aswan High Dam was built. The dam is a modern engineering marvel and also a popular place to visit. The older Aswan Dam can also be visited.More historical attractions in Aswan include the Monastery of St Simeon, Tombs of the Nobles and Mausoleum of the Aga Khan on the West Bank of the Nile. There you will also find the shrine of Kubbet el-Hawa that offers great views over Aswan and the Nile River. Shopping in Aswan is also great on the souqs of the city.
Nile islands & cruises. Aswan includes several small islands on the Nile River that are interesting places to visit. Elephantine Island is the home of the famous Well of Eratosthenes, dating back to 240 BC, as well as several ancient temples, modern Nubian villages and the Aswan Museum. Kitchener’s Island is a beautiful botanical garden, and Sehel Island has an ancient stela and a jewelry market. For those interested in the city’s African roots, there is also a Nubian Museum and a Nubian Cultural Center in Aswan. Popular sailboat cruises in Aswan are available with local sailboats called felucca. This is an excellent way to see the Nile River. Short and long trips are available, and you can sail all the way to Luxor. Tours from Aswan to Abu Simbel are also very popular, and camel safaris from Aswan to the Monastery of St. Simeon can be tried as well.
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Aswan travel information and practical tips
Surrounded by the Saharan Desert, Aswan has a very dry desert climate with mild and pleasant winters and very hot summers. Differences in temperature between day and night can be strikingly big. As Aswan is one of the driest inhabited places in the world, you do not have to worry about rainy weather: rain only falls here once in a couple of years!Traveling to Aswan can be done by air, boat, train or bus. The city has a domestic airport with flights to Aswan from Cairo and Luxor, and there are good train connections to Aswan from Cairo and along the Nile River. There are also buses to Aswan from Hurghada along the Red Sea coast. Many cruise ships to Aswan are available in Luxor, making travel to Aswan by the Nile River a great and comfortable experience.
Local transport. Aswan is a compact city where you can move around by foot. Motor boats and sailboats are available for short cruises as well as for transportation to the several interesting islands within Aswan. Taxis and horse-drawn carriages are both available and many hotels in Aswan arrange transportation to the popular nearby historic attractions. As tourist travel in Southern Egypt requires traveling by convoy, car rental in Aswan is not the most convenient way of getting around.
Hotels & services. There is a good number of hotels in Aswan, ranging from cheap to luxurious, and the many restaurants in Aswan offer decent Egyptian and some international cuisine. As a city with a large population of non-Muslims, Aswan has less strict rules on alcohol than Cairo or Luxor and the city hosts bars as well as restaurants that sell alcohol. English is spoken in Aswan mainly by people working in tourism industry and shops.
Safety. In general, Aswan is a safe city with little crime. However, scamming of tourists and harassing of lone women do occur, so it is advisable to take a few precautions. As elsewhere in Egypt, you should be aware of the risk of possible terrorist attacks against foreigners in Aswan.
