Egypt’s southernmost (and perhaps prettiest) city is often overlooked as a destination in its own right. Most visitors pile off Luxor-Aswan Nile cruises for a day’s whistle-stop sightseeing, skimming its surface before returning to their air-conditioned boats. Yet, much like the Nile’s gushing waters, Aswan overflows with things to do. Marvel at the Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk, and High Dam; ride a white-sailed felucca boat on the lapping river; and explore Nubian villages, museums, and souks. UNESCO-listed Abu Simbel also beckons—its colossal Lake Nasser–side temples make an easy day trip.
Aswan’s peak season is from October to April, when pleasantly warm days make enjoying the city’s sights a breeze. November and March are the quietest months during this period. From May to September, the ferocious sun keeps tourists away. Aside from religious holidays, there aren’t many big events in Aswan. The exceptions are the sun festivals in Abu Simbel (in mid-October and mid-February) when the sun illuminate its inner sanctum of the main temple.
It’s possible to explore central Aswan on foot; aim to browse shops and souks mid-morning or in the evening, when the weather is cooler. If you’re not on an organized tour, your best bet for visiting the ancient ruins around the city is to negotiate a reasonable day-trip price with a cab driver. Alternatively, you can use Aswan’s microbus, which is a shared minivan service that ply the key routes in and around downtown. While you can also rent a car, driving here isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Most of Aswan’s tourist attractions are well-established; the most popular are the Unfinished Obelisk, the Philae Temple, and Abu Simbel. If your schedule allows it, head further afield to the Sculpture Symposium, sometimes called the Aswan Sculpture Park. Set on the rocky hills near the Philae Temple Dock, this open-air venue is studded with granite sculptures created by international artists. Wander among the surreal modernist works—including eggs, hippos, and other weird creations—and enjoy the stunning backdrop of Lake Nasser.
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Egypt’s southernmost city, Aswan is famed for its Nile scenery and ancient monuments. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed Philae Temple (on an island), the Unfinished Obelisk that’s abandoned in a pharaonic-era quarry, and Aswan High Dam. The gigantic, UNESCO-protected Abu Simbel temples beside Lake Nasser are also within a day-trip distance.
...MoreTwo days are probably enough, but three lets you appreciate Aswan’s setting. On day one, visit the Unfinished Obelisk, Philae, and High Dam. Stop by Abu Simbel the next day. On day three, explore a botanical garden and nearby Nubian villages and cruise the Nile by felucca, a Mediterranean sailboat.
...MoreAswan’s ancient relics are its crowd-pleasers. See the Unfinished Obelisk—a granite pillar half-carved by long-ago stonemasons—and explore Philae Temple, resplendent on a Nile island. Also unmissable is a day trip to Abu Simbel. Aswan’s unhurried pace also makes it a great battery recharger after a busy Nile cruise or sightseeing trip.
...MoreYes. Abu Simbel’s two 3,000-year-old UNESCO-listed temples (Ramses II and Hathor) that overlook Lake Nasser are some of Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sights, and both are fronted by notable statues. Equally impressive as their original construction is that both were dismantled and rebuilt here in 1968 to protect from flooding.
...MoreAswan is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the region of Syene, Seveneh, or Sinim on Egypt’s southern limits. Reference to what may be the Aswan area appears in Isaiah 49:12 in the prophecy that “peoples shall come from the north and west, and the land of Sinim.”
...MoreIndirect flights to Aswan—with stops—leave from cities worldwide, while direct flights depart from Cairo and Luxor. Many travelers visit Aswan while on Luxor-Aswan Nile cruises. Trains run to Aswan from Luxor and Cairo, while private Aswan road transfers from Luxor let you stop at antiquity sites like Edfu en route.
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