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City informations & sightseeing in Egypt

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Alexandria

The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria, known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean", has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern. Alexandria is actually only 225 km from Cairo and was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. Alexandria became the capital of Graeco-Roman Egypt, its status as a beacon of culture symbolized by Pharos, the legendary lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The setting for the stormy relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the center of learning in the ancient world. But ancient Alexandria declined, and when Napoleon landed, he found a sparsely populated fishing village. From the 19th century Alexandria took a new role, as a focus for Egypt's commercial and maritime expansion.
Highlights of Alexandria byside of the lighthouse Pharos are Abu El Abbas Mosque, Anfushi Tombs , the Catacombs of Kom Ash-Shuqqafa, the Bibliotheque of Alexandria, the Amphitheatre, Pompey's Pillar , the Caesareum and the Graeco-Roman Museum.

Aswan

Aswan, Egypt's sunniest southern city and ancient frontier town located about 81 miles south of Luxor, has a distinctively African atmosphere. Its ancient Egyptian name was Syene. Today Aswan is an small city at the first cataract of the river Nile with it's small green islands and river crossing feluccas.
Cross the Lake Nasser to the old undiscovered Nubia, to the Ruins of Kasr Ibrim, Temples and Tombs of Amada, Kalabshas Roman Temple und Wadi El Seboua - Valley of Lions. Aswan is the gate to the civilization.
The most obvious is Elephantine Island, which is timeless with artifacts dating from pre-Dynastic times onward. It is the largest island in the area. Just beyond Elephantine is Kitchener's Island (Geziret el-Nabatat). It was named for the British general Haratio Kitchener (185--1916). The island is known for its garden and the exotic plants. Upriver a bit is the tomb of Mohammed Shah Aga Khan who died in 1957. Known as the Tomb of the Aga Khan, it is beautiful in its simplicity. Just up river a bit, there is also the old Aswan dam, built by the British, which was enlarged, expanded, but unable to control the Nile for irrigation.

Cairo

Afrikas größte und beschäftigtste Stadt hat eine ganz eigenes Flair. Das Leben des zeitgenössischen Cairos vermischt sich mit der Geschichte in täuschender Art und Weise wie eine Muse ... Eselkarren streifen durch die mit hunderten, ja tausenden von Autos gesäumten Straßen, Menschenmengen verstopfen die duftenden Gassen und alten Basare, luxuriöse Hotels bieten jeglichen Komfort für internationale Besucher und überragen, die stolzen, nicht übersehbaren, imposanten Pyramiden von Giza.
Ebenso berühmt für die Großartigkeit der Maske von Tutanchmun und der Sphinx, ist es auch eine vibrierende moderne Stadt mit aufregenden Einkaufsmöglichkeiten und Restaurants. Probieren Sie Ihre Fähigkeiten zum Handeln im lebhaften Basar Khan El Kalili aus, bevor Sie die alte Zitadelle und die Sultan Hassan Moschee besichtigen. Verbinden Sie eine sachverständig geführte Exkursion durch Cairo auf jeden Fall mit dem Besuch des faszinierenden Agyptischen Museums.

Dahab

This pearl of the gulf actually consists of two villages, the Bedouin village of Assalah is the southern half, with the business and administrative center of Dahab to the north.
Assalah is the most developed part of Dahab, 2,5 miles up the coat from downtown. Historically, most visitors to Dahab have been backpackers traveling independently and staying in the hostels in this area. Dahab means "gold" in Arabic. In Sinai it means golden sands, turquoise sea and off-beat cafe life.

El Alamein

El Alamein is most notable as the place where the Allied forces of WW II gained a decisive victory of the Axis forces. Today, the village located about 66 miles east of Alexandria is mostly a port facility for shipping oil. However, it was once described by Churchill as having the best climate in the world. There is a war museum with collectibles from the Battle of El Alamein and other North African battles and Italian and German military cemeteries on Tell el-Eisa Hill just outside of town.

El Quseir

El Quseir, known in Ptolemaic times as the White Harbor, has a long history as one of the major ports of the Red Sea. From here, Queen Hatshepsut launched her expedition to the Land of Punt, as depicted in the reliefs in Deir el-Bahari temple at Luxor. Legend has it that the expedition returned with two live panthers and 21 incense trees. The 16th century fortress of Sultan Selim, still standing in the center of town, shows al-Quseir's former strategic importance. Today, it is a quiet resort with sandy beaches, clear waters and coral reefs.

Esna

Esna is located about 33 miles south of Luxor. The town's Greek name was Latopolis and here fish (lates) where thought to embody the goddess Neith, who was sacred to the area. Esna was increasingly important during the 18th dynasty due to Egypt's developing relationship with the Sudan. There was a route established between Isna and Derr. Later, the city slowly declined until it received renewed interest during the 26th Dynasty. Later, under the Greeks and Romans, it became the capital of the Third Nome of Upper Egypt. Today, Esna is a somewhat sleepy if busy merchant and farming town, with a weaving industry.
About 4 miles southwest of town is the Deir Manaos Wa al-Shuhada (Monastery of the Three Thousand Six Hundred Martyrs). Perhaps this monastery is a lasting commemorative to Emperor Decius (249-51 AD) who degreed that all Christians would suffer death if they did not sacrifice to the pagan gods. His cartouche was the last to be carved on the walls of the Temple of Khnum in Esna.
The main attraction is the Temple of Khnum. Most of the ruins of around the Temple and the old city are yet to be explored as they lay under these modern dwellings. This was not the first temple here, for during the reign of Thutmose III, a temple was built here that preceded it. Near the Temple of Khnum on the stone quay along the corniche are carved cartouches of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Fayoum

Only two hours from Cairo by road, Fayoum is renouned for its year-round warm climate, numerous water wheels (introduced by the Ptolemies in the 3rd century) and lush agricultural land. Fayoum has an old history. The prehistoric people who lived here were, at first, nomadic hunters and gatherers, but later began harvesting plants near the lake Qaroun ( 215 square km, Egypt's largest salt water lake). This developed into what is said to be the earliest agricultural area in the world, where fences were erected and guarded warehouses built. But agriculture is not the Fayoums only claim for being first. A paved road, which has been noted as a landmark of engineering by engineering societies along side the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty, is said to be possibly the first paved road in the world and dates to over 4,500 years. And finally, the worlds first dam was probably built here in order to control the Nile floods into the area.

Hurghada

Hurghada was founded in the early 20th century, and until a few years ago, remained a small fishing village. But today, it has gone on to become the foremost tourist resort of the Red Sea coast and an international center for aquatic sports.
Islands near Hurghada offer all kinds of fun and excitement. Take a day trip to Giftun Island, visit the Roman Mons Porphyrites (mountain of porphyry), the Gebel Abu Dukhan (Father of Smoke).

Ismailia

The Ismailia Governorate consists of an area of approximately 4.482,8 square km, along the west bank of the Suez Canal. Ismailia is located on Lake Timsah along the coast of the Canal, half-way between Port Said and Suez. The Ismailia Governorate is the capital of the Canal region where the Suez Canal Authority has its headquarters, and where the Suez Canal University is established.
The Governorate consists of five cities; Ismailia, Fayed, Al-Tal Al-Kabeer, Qantara west and east. In the early days, Ismailia was called Timsah Village, but it was subsequently named after Khedive Ismail of Egypt. Ismailia City is approximately 120 km from Cairo by the direct route "desert highway" or 135 km by the countryside road. The Ismailia Governorate has several ancient and antiquity areas:
Tal Al-Maskhota, Tal Al-Sahabe und Al-Azba 16, Tal Al-Naaima and Al-Gamaleen, Qantara Stadt, Tal Hassan Dawod, Tal Al-Quaa, Tal Abu-Nashabe and Al-Hatab.
The Ismailia Regional Museum was established in 1932. It contains Pharaonic, Islamic, Greek and Roman collections from different periods.
Free Post or Area no 6 is a marvelous peaceful spot overlooking the Suez Canal. It witnessed many battles during the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Mallaha Park is a truly magnificent park covering an area of 500 acres, planted with varieties of rare flowers, trees and palm that belong to many overseas environments.

Luxor

In the heart of the country of the Pharaos Luxor attracts its visitors with its treasure at incomparable monuments - temple, tombs, graves and monuments of the heroes of old dynasties. Luxor is well-known as the largest open air museum of the earth.

Go into air with a hot-air balloon for a panoramic overview or enjoy your travel on a traditional horse car. The West Banks of the Nile include a visit of the Valley of the Queens and Valley of the Kings as well the visit of the amazing tombs of the pharaos and the tomb of Tut Ankh Amun.
In the Valley of the Kings and the Queens were founded robbed tombs of numerous pharaos, queens and noble with beautifully painted walls. Under a high cliff, the majestic Temple of the queen Hatshepsut has still magnetic attraction for the visitors and between the high walls of the Karnak Temple you will find a gigantic sea of pillars. See also the two Colossi of Memnon and discover Luxor with its overwhelmed dimensions of old-Egyptian architecture.

Marsa Alam

Marsa Alam is a village with a small harbor and stone quay. It is the ideal base for a fishing holiday. Sharks, lobsters, turtles and muraena are among the catches. A nature reserve stretches from here to Gebel Elba in the south.
In recent years, Marsa Alam has seen a splurge of development. Marsa Alam has an international airport.

Marsa Matruh

Marsa Matrouh lies 290 km western of Alexandria and 222 km from Sallum. The distance from Cairo to Matrouh is 524 km. It lies on a bay on the Mediterranean and is distinguished by its 7 km long beach, which-as all visitors have testified-is one of the most beautiful in the world. This beach dates back to the days of Alexander, the Macedonian, when it was known as "Paraetonium" and also as "Amunia". It said that Alexander the Great stopped there during his historical expedition to pay tribute, and sacrifice, to the god Amun, at Siwa, so that he becomes Amun's son and his rule be a historical continuation of the pharaohs.
There are ruins of a temple from the time of Ramses II (1.200 B.C.) in Marsa Matrouh.

Port Said

The origins of Port Said is that of a working camp founded in 1859 by Said Pasha to house men working on the Suez Canal. By the late 19th century, it was an important port where all the major maritime powers had consulates. Much of the city was built on a section of Lake Manzala which was reclaimed by landfill. The City was damaged during the Suez Crisis, and again during the wars of 1967 and 1973, but the city has largely been rebuilt. It is also considered a summer resort by Egyptians and the beach is lined with vacation bungalows. The main street, with most commercial enterprises, is Sharia Palestine. This is where the huge ships wait to enter the Suez Canal, and it can be a sight to behold. But also often missed, but of interest is the colonial architecture of the 19th century in the town center.
So what does New York and Port Said, Egypt have in common ? Originally, American's very own statue of Liberty was to be placed not in New York but at Port Said. The Statue of Liberty was really inspired by the huge statues at Abu Simbel. Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the statue designed the American Lady of Liberty as 'Egypt carrying the light of Asia'. However, the Khedive Ismail decided that the project was too expensive, so the "Light of Asia" was sent to the US instead, where she became the Statue of Liberty.

Ras Mohamed

Ras Mohammed, the southernmost point of the Sinai is one of the most beautiful diving areas of the world. Due to the unusual situation between the Gulf of Aquaba and that the Gulf of Suez it is a completely special and the only protected diving area in the entire Red Sea.
Strong currents lead large quantities of plancton and other food for hard and soft corals and large amount of fishes like tuna and sharks. For the divers here are waiting interesting and exciting diving experiences.

Sharm el Sheikh

The simplicity of sun, sea and sand. The luxury of five-star hotels, water sports, shopping and entertainment. This is Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the Sinai peninsula. All around are Bedouins, colorful tents, mountains and sea. In fact, with diving and snorkeling, windsurfing and other water sports, horses and camel riding, desert safaris, and great nearby antiquities attractions, it is almost impossible for a visitor to ever suffer from boredom.

Sinai peninsula

The peninsula Sinai lies like a triangular wedge between the enormous continents Africa and Asia and cuts the desert strip and represents at the same time a land bridge between the continents. From where ever the traveler will enter the peninsula, the traveler is confronted with an impressing and high-contrast landscape. Onlyafetr a while you will recognize the contrasts which make the Sinai so unique.
Who experienced once a sunrise on the Mountain Moses or on one of the surrounding summits, will be fascinated of the sunlight on the peninsula.

Siwa

With a population of about 23.000, Siwa, the most inaccessible of all Egypt's oasis until very recently, is also one of the most fascinating, lying some 60 feed below sea level. On the edge of the Great Sand Sea, its rich history includes a visit from Alexander the Great to consult the Oracle of Amun in 331 BC. The King of Persia lead a 50.000 man army to the area to distroy the oracle, but the entire army was lost in the desert.
The area is famous for its dates and olives, and is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Egpt.

Suez

Suez is located on the Southern tip of the Suez Canal, and has been a commercial port since the 7th century. The spice trade and pilgrimages to Mecca made it prosperous throughout the Middle Ages. It became a naval base in the 15th century and, in 1869, the opening of the Suez Canal ensured its development as a modern city. Today, Suez is one of Egypt's largest ports. It is situated near the scenic Ataga Hills (Jebel Ataga), about 134 kilometers (83 miles) from Cairo and 88 kilometers (55 miles) from Ismailia, this city affords an excellent view of Sinai and the Red Sea. It is also interesting to watch ships passing through the Canal form Suez's vantage point.

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Thu 09 Sep 2010 08:35:05 AM CEST