Le EgyptThings to do in Aswan
The 28 best places to visit in Aswan, Egypt: landmarks, hidden gems, food, parks and more, with tips, hours and tickets.
🔺 Famous Landmarks
Abu Simbel Temples
Ramses II's colossal rock-cut temples, moved block by block in the 1960s to save them from Lake Nasser.
Ramses II's colossal rock-cut temples, moved block by block in the 1960s to save them from Lake Nasser.
🏛️ Historical Sites
Philae Temple
The island temple of Isis, reached by a short boat ride, with graceful colonnades rising out of the water.
The island temple of Isis, reached by a short boat ride, with graceful colonnades rising out of the water.
Kom Ombo Temple
A rare double temple for the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, with a small crocodile museum.
A rare double temple for the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, with a small crocodile museum.
Unfinished Obelisk
A giant obelisk abandoned in its granite quarry after it cracked, revealing how the ancients worked stone.
A giant obelisk abandoned in its granite quarry after it cracked, revealing how the ancients worked stone.
Nubian Museum
The story of Nubia from prehistory to the villages flooded by Lake Nasser, in an award-winning building.
The story of Nubia from prehistory to the villages flooded by Lake Nasser, in an award-winning building.
Tombs of the Nobles (Qubbet el-Hawa)
Ancient governors' tombs cut into the West Bank hill, with the best view over Aswan from the top.
Ancient governors' tombs cut into the West Bank hill, with the best view over Aswan from the top.
Monastery of St Simeon
A ruined fortress-like monastery in the desert above Aswan, reached by camel or on foot.
A ruined fortress-like monastery in the desert above Aswan, reached by camel or on foot.
Kalabsha Temple
A Nubian temple rescued from Lake Nasser, set on an island near the High Dam with almost no visitors.
A Nubian temple rescued from Lake Nasser, set on an island near the High Dam with almost no visitors.
⛵ The Nile
Felucca Sail in Aswan
Glide past granite boulders, Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island on a traditional wooden sailboat.
Glide past granite boulders, Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island on a traditional wooden sailboat.
Elephantine Island
A Nile island with ancient ruins, a Nilometer and colourful Nubian villages.
A Nile island with ancient ruins, a Nilometer and colourful Nubian villages.
Aswan High Dam
The 1960s dam that tamed the Nile flood and created Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest man-made lakes.
The 1960s dam that tamed the Nile flood and created Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest man-made lakes.
Lake Nasser Cruise
Multi-day cruises between Aswan and Abu Simbel visiting remote Nubian temples few people see.
Multi-day cruises between Aswan and Abu Simbel visiting remote Nubian temples few people see.
Aswan Corniche
Arguably the prettiest stretch of the Nile, lined with riverside cafés looking out on feluccas and golden dunes.
Arguably the prettiest stretch of the Nile, lined with riverside cafés looking out on feluccas and golden dunes.
Sehel Island
A Nubian island south of Aswan with rocks covered in ancient inscriptions, including the Famine Stela.
A Nubian island south of Aswan with rocks covered in ancient inscriptions, including the Famine Stela.
📍 Popular Spots
Aswan Spice Market
A colourful souk of hibiscus, spices, Nubian baskets and dates, one street back from the Nile.
A colourful souk of hibiscus, spices, Nubian baskets and dates, one street back from the Nile.
🍽️ Food & Cafés
El Dokka, Aswan
Nubian food on an island in the Nile, reached by the restaurant's own boat.
Nubian food on an island in the Nile, reached by the restaurant's own boat.
💎 Hidden Gems
Daraw Camel Market
Egypt's biggest camel market, where traders from Sudan sell hundreds of camels.
Egypt's biggest camel market, where traders from Sudan sell hundreds of camels.
Heissa Island
A quiet Nubian island near Philae with colourful houses and simple guesthouses.
A quiet Nubian island near Philae with colourful houses and simple guesthouses.
Temples of Wadi es-Sebua
Ramses II's 'Valley of the Lions' temple with an avenue of sphinxes, rescued from Lake Nasser and reached by boat.
Ramses II's 'Valley of the Lions' temple with an avenue of sphinxes, rescued from Lake Nasser and reached by boat.
Temple of Amada
The oldest temple in Nubia, moved whole on rails to save it from the lake, with remarkably fresh painted reliefs.
The oldest temple in Nubia, moved whole on rails to save it from the lake, with remarkably fresh painted reliefs.
Qasr Ibrim
A former hilltop citadel that is now an island in Lake Nasser, seen from the water on Lake Nasser cruises.
A former hilltop citadel that is now an island in Lake Nasser, seen from the water on Lake Nasser cruises.
Gharb Soheil Nubian Village
Brightly painted Nubian houses on the Nile's West Bank, with home-cooked food and henna.
Brightly painted Nubian houses on the Nile's West Bank, with home-cooked food and henna.
🌴 Parks & Nature
Aswan Botanical Garden (Kitchener's Island)
An island garden of tropical plants collected from around the world, reached by felucca.
An island garden of tropical plants collected from around the world, reached by felucca.
🎭 Entertainment
Abu Simbel Sound & Light Show
The temples' facades lit with projections at night, a reason to sleep over in Abu Simbel instead of a rushed day trip.
The temples' facades lit with projections at night, a reason to sleep over in Abu Simbel instead of a rushed day trip.
🏨 Hotels
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract
Agatha Christie's famous Aswan hotel, perched above the Nile's granite rocks.
Agatha Christie's famous Aswan hotel, perched above the Nile's granite rocks.
Eskaleh Nubian Ecolodge, Abu Simbel
A family-run Nubian guesthouse with mud-brick rooms, a garden kitchen and lake views, for an overnight in Abu Simbel.
A family-run Nubian guesthouse with mud-brick rooms, a garden kitchen and lake views, for an overnight in Abu Simbel.
Mövenpick Resort Aswan
A resort covering much of Elephantine Island, reached by its own free ferry.
A resort covering much of Elephantine Island, reached by its own free ferry.
Hotels with Nile views, Aswan
Aswan's hilltop and riverside hotels look over the cataract rocks, feluccas and desert dunes.
Aswan's hilltop and riverside hotels look over the cataract rocks, feluccas and desert dunes.