Egypt’s sunniest southern city is the perfect destination to stroll and relax in a magical cultural setting: wander down the broad walkway, locally known as the corniche, to watch feluccas slowly sailing the Nile then stop at one of the floating restaurants to enjoy Nubian culture and shop for spices, henna tattoos, souvenirs and African handmade goods at the Aswan souk and also enjoy Nubian music and freshly caught fish.
Aswan offers a splendid view of the Nile and is a great starting point for a Nile cruise. Moreover, you’ll be surprised to see how many monuments and sites this small city has to offer.
Khazan Aswan
Aswan Dam wasn't until the British occupation of Egypt, over eight centuries later, that the first dam across the Nile was successfully built (1898-1902). It was the largest masonry dam in the world. After Egypt obtained independence from the United Kingdom, the new High Dam was constructed. It took ten years for it to be built and was completed in 1970.
paradisiacal spot
Probably the most beautiful place to visit in Aswan! The Elephantine island is a truly paradisiacal spot with wonderful gardens and some truly significant artifacts. It is a great place to spend some leisure time, wandering among the colorful houses of the Nubian villages Siou and Koti, fishing in the Nile, or having a picnic on the river banks.
heaviest monolith in Egypt
The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan is the heaviest monolith found in Egypt. It would have been the largest piece of Egyptian masonry had it been completed. The obelisk was probably left unfinished after it cracked at the middle. It is still attached to the parent rock in the Northern Quarries, where the Ancient Egyptian quarried granite.
The Temple of Kalabsha
Note the hieroglyphs and the reliefs of Greek pharaohs paying homage to Ancient Egyptian deities. Look for Mandulis, the god clad in the vulture feathered cloak. Built during the late Ptolemaic period and completed during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, the Temple of Kalabsha was dedicated to the Nubian god called Mandulis.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Dedicated to the goddess Isis, the Temple of Philae is located in a beautiful setting, landscaped to match the original site of the temple when it was relocated by UNESCO after the building of the Aswan Dam threatened the site. The temple has several shrines and sanctuaries such as Trajan’s Kiosk. Visit the temple at night to attend the Sound and Light show.
magical view
The illuminated view of the northern hills of the west bank of the Nile is a truly magical one, not to be missed. From Aswan, you'll have front row seats to witness this particularly beautiful and inspiring panorama.
Nubia Commemorated
The beautiful architecture of the Aswan Nubian Museum alone is worth seeing. But don't forget to take a walk inside this partly open-air museum where you'll find yourself wandering between a prehistoric cave with painted rock-art, ancient Egyptian statues, obelisks and columns and even a complete Nubian house. Due to the quantities of material recovered from tombs, temples and settlements.The Nubia museum contains artifacts masterpieces that were found on sites now submerged, during the UNESCO salvage campaign. The museum contains a variety of monumental objects from different parts in Egypt, collected in Nubia during the first half of the twentieth century.
Seeing Doubles
Dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder, the Temple of Kom Ombo has two identical entrances, hypostyle halls and sanctuaries. The symmetry of the temple layout is a tribute to the mythical link the two gods shared. Built on an outcrop at a bend in the Nile where crocodiles used to gather in ancient times, the temple is a testament to the importance Ancient Egyptian priests placed in the natural cycles and crocodiles of the Nile. Visit the temple to see mummified crocodiles, clay coffins and spectacular reliefs on the walls.The temple can be reached on your way from Luxor to Aswan on a Felucca ride or a Nile Cruise, or on a day trip from Aswan.
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