Aswan Governorate · Egypt
Aswan travel guide
Aswan is a city in Aswan Governorate, Egypt, home to about 402,000 people.
- Best months
- December to February
- Nearest airport
- ASW16 km · Aswan International Airport
- Currency
- EGPEgyptian pound
- Time zone
- Africa/Cairo
- Language
- Arabic
About
About Aswan
Aswan is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of the Aswan Governorate. The city of Aswan is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities, with its recorded history spanning over 2,600 years.
In the Neolithic era the tribes along the Nile began to combine, so that around 3500 BC there was a Kingdom of Upper Egypt from Aswan almost down to what is now Cairo, and a Kingdom of Lower Egypt which was the Delta. In 3100 BC King Narmer of Upper Egypt conquered the Delta and unified the kingdoms. Upstream of Aswan was inhabited but less important because the Nile was not navigable above the "First Cataract," first of a series of six rapids and shallows across the Nubian Plateau. Egypt has always needed to harvest as much water as possible from the river, while controlling floods.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Aswan
See
- Nubian Museum
- Unfinished Obelisk
- Archangel Michael’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral
- Fatimid Cemetery
- Ferial Gardens
- Elephantine Island: Nubian Villages & Aswan Museum
- Aswan Botanical Gardens
- Seheyl Island
- Tombs of the Nobles
- Kubbet el-Hawa
- Mausoleum of Mohammed Shah Aga Khan
- Monastery of St Simeon
Do
- Rent a bike
- Camel rides
- Tea with the local shopkeepers
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Aswan
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Aswan are December to February. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 43 °C; January is the wettest, with about 0 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 Aswan: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Aswan International Airport (ASW), about 16 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Aswan is compact enough to negotiate primarily on foot. For the sights on the river islands or on the West Bank, you must cross the river by motor boat or felluca. Be sure to pay attention to the price as operators try to overcharge tourists. The public ferry to Elephantine Island is LE5 for foreigners (LE1 for Egyptians, Nov 2018). The ferry to the West Bank is also LE5 for foreigners and LE1 for locals. Felluca trips will cost LE50-80 depending on your haggling (Nov 2018). For Philae, the High Dam, and the unfinished obelisks, you can take a taxi, tuk-tuk or a horse-drawn carriage.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ASW · Aswan International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Aswan
Drink
Aswan is much less strict on drinking alcohol than Cairo or Luxor, and many of the restaurants sell Stella (Egyptian brand not the Belgian brand) and Saqqara, both of which are lagers and comparable to European beers. Locals take pride in their fresh sugar cane juice.
Stay safe
Aswan is generally a very safe city. However, do watch out for quite blatant attempts at pickpocketing in the souq. These thieves will approach you carrying scarves, shirts or even papyrus in one hand to sell to you, while attempting to go into your pockets with the other hand. The locals know this goes on, but do not count on them to intervene. Also, women should avoid travelling alone if they are not comfortable with leering men, although they are all bluster. Most horse carriage drivers will not commit on the price when you arrive at your destination and you are expected to give more.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Aswan: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Aswan?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Aswan are December to February. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 43 °C; January is the wettest, with about 0 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Aswan?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Aswan International Airport (ASW), about 16 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Aswan?
Egyptian pound (EGP).
Nearby
Destinations near Aswan
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.