North Sinai Governorate · Egypt
Arish travel guide
Arish is a city in North Sinai Governorate, Egypt, home to about 204,000 people.
- Best months
- November to May
- Nearest airport
- AAC9 km · El Arish International Airport
- Currency
- EGPEgyptian pound
- Time zone
- Africa/Cairo
- Language
- Arabic
About
About Arish
Arish or El-Arish is the capital and largest city of the North Sinai Governorate of Egypt, as well as the largest city on the Sinai Peninsula, lying on the Mediterranean coast 344 kilometres (214 mi) northeast of Cairo and 45 kilometres (28 mi) west of the Egypt–Gaza border. Its estimated population was 204,391 in 2023.
A seaside city with potential for tourism, Arish has been a focal point of terrorist activity with several attacks having taken place in and near the city.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Arish
See
- Arish castle
- Rifa'i Mosque
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Arish
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Arish are November to May. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; January is the wettest, with about 25 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Arish: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is El Arish International Airport (AAC), about 9.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV, 142 km) and Port Said International Airport (PSD, 149 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
As of 2021, it is not possible to fly into Arish as El Arish International Airport (AAC) remains closed due to a deteriorating security situation. It is possible to travel overland from Cairo and other cities in the Sinai Peninsula with both public transport and private vehicle. The border with Gaza is open as of early 2023, but there is always a risk of closure. The nearest border crossing with Israel open for tourists is in Taba, almost 200 km to the south.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
AAC · El Arish International Airport
TLV · Ben Gurion International Airport
PSD · Port Said International Airport
Questions
Arish: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Arish?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Arish are November to May. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; January is the wettest, with about 25 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Arish?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is El Arish International Airport (AAC), about 9.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV, 142 km) and Port Said International Airport (PSD, 149 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Arish?
Egyptian pound (EGP).
Nearby
Destinations near Arish
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.