By air
Aswan International (ASW), ~25 km
Africa · Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
Nubian villages on a granite Nile
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to March — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
Philae Temple
The Unfinished Obelisk
The High Dam
Kom Ombo
Things to do
Philae Temple
A felucca to Kitchener's Island
A Nile cruise to Luxor
Where to eat
What to pack
Sun protection
A quieter corner
A Nubian village on Elephantine Island
Questions travellers ask
Which season suits a trip to Aswan?
November to March, when it's warm but not scorching. Bring sun protection all the same.
What should I see in Aswan?
Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk, the High Dam and Kom Ombo. Take a felucca to Kitchener's Island too.
Where can I experience Nubian culture around Aswan?
Visit a Nubian village on Elephantine Island, then try Nubian dishes with hibiscus tea.
How do I get to Aswan?
Fly into Aswan International (ASW), about 25 km away. When you leave, a Nile cruise to Luxor is a lovely way to go.
About Aswan
- Riverside
- Desert
Where it is
Aswan is a city on the east bank of the Nile in the far south of Egypt, the capital of Aswan Governorate, where the river flows around granite islands and boulders at the First Cataract, just north of the Aswan High Dam and Lake Nasser.
History
Aswan was ancient Swenett, Egypt's southern frontier town and the source of the pink granite used for obelisks and statues across the country, and Elephantine Island was a trading post with Nubia. The British completed the Aswan Low Dam in 1902, and the High Dam, finished in 1970, created Lake Nasser and flooded much of Nubia; temples such as Philae were moved to higher ground in a UNESCO rescue campaign.
People
Aswan is the heart of Egyptian Nubia, and many residents are Nubians who speak Nobiin or Kenzi alongside Arabic, among them families resettled when Lake Nasser flooded their villages. Nubian houses are painted in bright colours, and the spice market sells dried hibiscus for karkadeh, a deep-red tea.
Known for
- Philae Temple
- Felucca sailing among the islands
- Nubian villages on Elephantine Island
- The Unfinished Obelisk
- The Aswan High Dam
Did you know?
The Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan, abandoned in its quarry when the granite cracked, would have stood about 42 m tall, far larger than any obelisk ancient Egypt ever raised.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.