Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and lies, like Luxor and Cairo, on the shores of the Nile River. It is located in the south of Egypt about 81 miles from Luxor. Aswan is known for its distinctively African atmosphere. Although it is a small city, it is graced with an incredibly beautiful setting on the Nile. Some say that you haven’t seen the great Egyptian Nile until you’ve gone to Aswan. Because of fact that although it doesn’t have the number of great ancient monuments located in Luxor, it does still have some of the most picturesque ancient & modern monuments making it among the list of the top-visited cities in Egypt. The city is also on UNESCO creative cities Network in the category of folk art and craft. Aswan’s weather has some relaxing & rejuvenating prosperities and this is the main reason which makes tourists come to enjoy their fabulous vacation in Aswan, touring around its fabulous landmarks & sightseeing.
The magical city of Aswan was believed to be the first town to be established in ancient Egypt and notably, a very important trade hub for having the life-giving Nile. There are tons of fascinating places to visit in Aswan just like seeing the adorable Unfinished Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut, heading on a historical tour to the great High Dam, or visiting the fascinating Philae temple but what you don’t know is that there are many fabulous things you can do or visit while being in Aswan at night and here are some of the most exciting information about how you can spend a mesmerizing night in Aswan.
Although you can visit the incredibly gorgeous temple of Philae during the daytime which enables you to visit a complex that dates back to 632 BC, you can still visit it at night to attend a spectacular breathtaking show there when you find the temple lit up against the night sky and while being there, you are going to watch a spectacular show which shows the love story between two ancient deities “Isis & Osiris”. Can you imagine that you can choose between 10 different languages to hear that spectacular legacy!! It is definitely worth the try during the night in Aswan city.
There is another charming way to experience the amazing beauty of the Nile River is by using the traditional wooden sailing vessels which were used for the last centuries to cross the Nile Valley. It is actually the best and the most recommended way to explore the scenic landscapes and the exceptional ancient sites in Aswan city.
Among the fascinating things you can do while being in Aswan, you can enjoy walking along the corniche to enjoy the amazing beauty of the sunset over the islands and the magical desert across the Nile. The most terrific place to watch the corniche is from the terrace of the great Old Cataract Hotel and also from the Sunset restaurant. You can also head to the amazing souk and bazaar there where you will find so many fabulous items to buy and enjoy while being there.
In case you can’t afford to be accommodated at the Old Cataract Hotel, then heading to the majestic classic 1902 restaurant at night to enjoy your dinner meal will no doubt take your fancy. Following the feedback of many visitors, it is considered the most beautiful restaurant in the area. You will enjoy it a lot with its romantic lighting inside and what is much more interesting than this is that once you chose your cuisine, the chefs will get to your table to cook food at your table.
During its creation, Aswan was called "Swenett" and later on "Swan" which means market, the city was located on the main trade road between the southern land and Egypt which was the main supplier of gold, ivory, and many others. The city also had a very religious connection as they worshipped the deity Khnum (deity of the source of the Nile) and later on replaced by the deity Isis (deity of protection magic). The city provided many stones for the construction of many megastructures like Obelisks and even Pyramids.
The peculiar location of Aswan has continued to influence its history even in contemporary times. During the colonial era, the city was the base for the Anglo-Egyptian military forces aimed at stopping the unrest in Sudan. Later, at the end of the 19th century, Aswan grew in importance as a tourist destination, thanks to its mild winter, especially attractive to European travelers.
Today the city remains one of the country’s major tourist destinations, known for its beautiful Nile landscape and Nubian culture, which still enjoys a strong influence in the south of the country. The controversial construction of the high dam in 1964 brought serious consequences to the area, such as the forced displacement of more than 100,000 Nubians living along the river bank. Many of these people now live in Aswan and try to make a living from tourism and the production of typical handicrafts or other cultural events.
Although the amazing city of Aswan has the least amount of sightseeing compared to Luxor & Cairo, you can still witness some of the greatest and the most bewitching monuments & historical sightseeing on its land, and here are the most impressive sights you should definitely visit while planning a tour to Aswan City:
There are two majestic temples that are located about 280km from Aswan in Abu Simbel and there, you will be able to witness the greatest success & dedication story which was narrated thousands of years ago during the reign of the great King Ramses II. This is one of the most prestigious temples in Egypt that were mainly dedicated to pharaoh Ramses II & his beloved wife, Nefetari along with other ancient gods.
Philae Temple is one of Aswan’s top attractions, dedicated to Isis, Osiris, and Horus. The temple consists of various pylons, shrines, and monuments, and was the last to be built in the Classical Egyptian style. It was actually built on Philae Island but it was relocated to Agilkia Island as it has been in great danger of being destroyed as a result of the flood of the Nile so it was relocated along with other attractions with the assistance of UNESCO.
Aswan, Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
Aswan, Egypt
