Go next

Luxor

city in Egypt

163km

25.683332.65

Valley of the Kings

necropolis in ancient Egypt

169km

25.7402532.602358

Abu Simbel

Village in Egypt

228km

22.33694431.625556

Hurghada

city in Egypt

332km

27.2533.8167

Dahab

small town situated on the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt

473km

28.49305634.504722
Sights (15)

Elephantine

Nubian villages of Siou and Koti occupy this island. Also home to the famous Nilometers and the Temples of Sati, Khnum (ancient rams-head god) and Pepinakht-Heqaib. Movenpick resort is on the island. The Aswan Museum (adult: LE70, student LE35, Jan 2019) at the southern end of the island houses items found during excavations on Elephantine Island, and includes access to the neighbouring archaeological site. Also, be careful of unsolicited tours from locals, which will result in a request for baksheesh. There is regular boat taxi to Elephantine Island run by the locals for LE5 for one return crossing for tourists (you usually pay LE5 to go and don't pay to come back).

1.2km

24.088932.8889

Unfinished obelisk

The largest known ancient obelisk, carved directly out of bedrock. If finished it would have measured around 42 m (120 feet) and would have weighed nearly 1,200 tons. There is also a short video about obelisks shown by a man who demands tips. This site would be of interest to the most dedicated Egyptophiles, but maybe not to others.

1.3km

24.07688932.89545

El Nabatat Island

Lord Kitchener, who owned the 6.8-hectare island in the 1890s converted it to a botanical garden. Filled with birds and hundreds of plant species and palm trees. Accessible by motor boat (LE200 for two people, which can be haggled down to LE100), via a felucca tour, or via a rowboat from Elephantine island (ask a local near where boats are lying on the western shore).

1.5km

24.0936111132.88694444

Qubbet el-Hawa

Small shrine/tomb of a local sheikh and holy man. The climb is rewarded with amazing views of Aswan, the Nile river and the surrounding landscape, richly evoked in the translation from the Arabic of the place name, "the dome of the wind'.

1.8km

24.1017694432.88915833

Mausoleum of Aga Khan

Tomb of the 48th iman of the Islami sect and his wife. Visible from the outside, although closed to the public.

2.3km

24.08827532.878897

Sehel Island

Friendly Nubian villages. Well known for its excellent beaded jewelry. Also the location of the Famine Stela. Cliff with more than 200 inscriptions from the 18th dynasty.

4.4km

24.0591666732.87111111

Trajan's Kiosk

A hypaethral temple on Agilkia Island in Old Aswan dam reservoir. One of the largest Ancient Egyptian monuments standing today, it is conventionally attributed to the Roman emperor Trajan, who gave it its current decorations, though some experts think the structure may be older, possibly dating to the time of Augustus.

6.7km

24.025132.8846

Aswan Low Dam

When built between 1899 and 1902, nothing of its scale had ever been attempted; on completion, it was the largest masonry dam in the world. However, its capacity became insufficient later, which led to the construction of the Aswan High Dam 6 km upstream.

6.7km

24.0338888932.86583333

Philae

Built to honor Isis, this was the last ancient temple built in the classical Egyptian architectural style. Construction began in approx 690 BC. It was moved from Philae Island, to its new location on Agilkia Island, after the flooding of Lake Nasser. A multinational UNESCO team relocated Philae, and other temples that now dot the shores of Lake Nasser. You can see the submerged island a short distance away, punctuated by the steel columns used in the moving process. Don't miss the Sound and Light show at night, see picture to the right, the least cheesy of the Sound and Light "extravaganzas". Note also the re-use of the temple as a Christian church, with crosses carved into the older hieroglyph reliefs, and images of the Egyptian gods carefully defaced. There are graffiti dating from the 1800s. At the ticket office there is a sign stating that a daytime motorboat to the site costs LE150 roundtrip for 1-8 people including a one-hour wait, which is generally enough time (Nov 2018). Take a picture of this sign to use when haggling with the boatmen who will demand LE150 each way, although don't be surprised if you are still pressed for an additional baksheesh.

7.0km

24.0208333332.88944444

Aswan Dam

Despite being a very important piece of infrastructure, the Aswan High Dam is (to put it delicately) a bit of a letdown even for dam lovers.

12km

23.9705555632.87777778

Temple of Beit el-Wali

The rock-cut temple of Beit el-Wali was moved from its original location by a Polish archaeological team. It is dedicated to Ramesses II, and the gods of Amun and Anukis (among others). It was originally decorated in bright colors, but these were mostly removed by a "squeeze" taken in the 19th Century (the results of this squeeze are now on display in the British Museum).

13km

23.9618611132.86638889

Kiosk of Qertassi

A tiny Roman kiosk with four slender papyrus columns inside and two Hathor columns at the entrance. It is a small but elegant structure that "is unfinished and not inscribed with the name of the architect, but is probably contemporary with Trajan's Kiosk at Philae."

13km

23.9602777832.8675

Kom Ombo

city

38km

24.4666666732.95

Temple of Kalabsha

Like Philae, this temple and its surrounding ruins were moved by UNESCO to save them from the floodwaters of Lake Nasser. The main temple was built to the Nubian fertility and sun god Marul during the rule of Emperor Augustus.

50km

23.632.816667

Gerf Hussein

The temple of Gerf Hussein is dedicated to Ramesses II and was built by the Viceroy of Nubia Setau. Originally, it was partially free-standing and partially rock-cut. During the flooding of Lake Nasser, the free-standing section was dismantled and then rebuilt at New Kalabsha. Most of 23.2833333332.91 the original rock-cut Gerf Hussein temple was left in place and is now submerged beneath the waters.

82km

23.283332.9
Nature

we will see

Aswan

Egypt
Somewhere else
Search
Someday we will visit Aswan or begin to dream about going there! However, for now its not on our radar. Let us know in the comments if you think that should change!

Aswan

Aswan is a city in the south of Egypt, some 680 km south of Cairo, just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, with a population of 275,000. Aswan is far more relaxed and smaller than Cairo and Luxor.

Aswan is the ancient city of Swenett, later known as Syene, which in antiquity was the frontier town of Ancient Egypt facing the south. Swenett is supposed to have derived its name from an Egyptian goddess with the same name. This goddess later was identified as Eileithyia by the Greeks and Lucina by the Romans during their occupation of Ancient Egypt because of the similar association of their goddesses with childbirth, and of which the import is "the opener". The ancient name of the city also is said to be derived from the Egyptian symbol for "trade", or "market".

Your notes (private)

What's on your mind? (you can type here notes just for you and they will show on your dashboard)

Information for getting there

When someday comes you'll need to get in.

Information for getting around

When someday comes you'll need to be able to get around.

Your tips and questions

Let us know your best tips about Aswan.

Source: Wikimedia commons
Climate

Average temperatures

Jan

23°C9
Precipitation: 0 mm

Feb

25°C10
Precipitation: 0 mm

Mar

30°C14
Precipitation: 0 mm

Apr

35°C19
Precipitation: 0 mm

May

39°C23
Precipitation: 0.1 mm

Jun

41°C25
Precipitation: 0 mm

Jul

41°C26
Precipitation: 0 mm

Aug

41°C26
Precipitation: 0.7 mm

Sep

39°C24
Precipitation: 0 mm

Oct

36°C21
Precipitation: 0.6 mm

Nov

29°C15
Precipitation: 0 mm

Dec

24°C11
Precipitation: 0 mm
Useful links