Aswan City Information

Aswan is a Nubian city in the south of Egypt located on the east bank of the Nile river connected to Cairo with train stations, railways and domestic flights,its the population almost about 900,000, The city of Aswan is about 85 meters above sea level, it is 879 km from Cairo, and its area about 34,608 km2.
Aswan, Egypt is a city that is steeped in history and culture, and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Located in the southern part of Egypt, on the east bank of the Nile River, Aswan is a city that has been visited by tourists for centuries, and is known for its stunning monuments, beautiful scenery, and rich cultural heritage. In this blog post, I will take you on a journey through the history of Aswan, and show you some of the hidden gems that make this city a must-visit destination in Egypt

Aswan City

The city also known as the land of gold because it was like a huge necropolis for the pharaohs and their treasures for thousands of years. The originals of Aswan are the Nubian representing 30% of the citizens and they speak their Nubian language the rest are Arabs who came after the Islamic invasion speaking the Arabic language. we have made an entire blog about the Nubian villages and culture.

The history of Aswan dates back to ancient times, when it was known as Swenett, and was the gateway to the Nubian region. The city was a center of trade and commerce, and was an important hub for the transport of goods between Egypt and the rest of Africa. Aswan was also known for its granite quarries, which provided the stone for many of Egypt's most famous monuments, including the pyramids and the Sphinx.

In the modern era, Aswan has become a popular tourist destination, and has attracted visitors from all over the world. The city is known for its many historical monuments, including the Temple of Philae, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the Aswan High Dam. These monuments are a testament to the rich history and culture of the city, and are a must-visit destination for anyone who is interested in history and culture.

Aswan is the land of beauty and charming, the icon of the middle east, characterized by its the warm climate and rare plant islands, also there's rock Nile islands around the city extended from the high dam to the north of Edfu, some people of the Nubian villages and islands counts on farming and handmade items as a source of living and  some already took place in governmental jobs, not only the main city of Aswan that has full services but also, the surrounding islands provided by hospitals, schools, and transportations, some of the islands are uninhabited because it's considered to be an archaeological areas like the crocodile island and elephantine island which was a region linking the South and the North in the trade between  Egypt and the rest of Africa. Aswan also considered as the main gate of southern Egypt beside Luxor city and a huge economical source for the country.

Aswan is usually by Nile river cruise with Luxor city within 4 days, or you can find Aswan excursion from Cairo day tours or Luxor day tours to Abu Simbel temple by flight or to Islands like elephantine and Philae. 

Aswan history

Aswan was known as "Sonu" in ancient Egyptian times and meaning the market where it was a commercial center for convoys coming from and to Nubia, pharaohs used to ship the pink and black granite stones and limestones all from Aswan to built their pyramids as queen Hatshepsut did to build her temple and obelisks. The importance of this city started to show up since the ancient kingdom when pharaohs wanted to assure the safety of the southern borders of the kingdom, it was also a center for the military army and played a special rule during the war against heksus. during the Roman era, old fashion Egyptian design temples were constructed while the roman was very admired by the Egyptian mythologies and gods, emperor Trajan built a small temple in order to get closer to the Egyptian people at Philae island where The Temple of Isis is the main temple in the collection of Philae Temples in Aswan, Philae derived its name from the Greek word Philo, meaning loving or love, in reference to the temple dedicated to commemorating the love of the sincere wife of her husband who was  betrayed him by his brother set, the god of evil.

Then, at the early Christian period, Christianity spread all over the country in the fifth a century and the temples turned into churches .after that came the Islamic innovation and Aswan became a very important learning center and three schools were established in the sixth and seventh centuries.

Aswan attractions

Aswan is a city that is full of amazing attractions that are worth visiting. One of the top attractions in Aswan is the Abu Simbel Temples, which are two massive rock temples that were built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Another top attraction in Aswan is the Philae Temple, which is an ancient temple that is dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple was relocated to its current location on Agilkia Island after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Other top attractions in Aswan include the Nubian Museum, the Aswan Dam, and the Aswan Botanical Garden.

• The Upper Dam
• The Aswan reservoir
• The Tabiya Mosque
• The Nile Museum
• The Princess Ferial Park
• The West Suhail area
• The Nile Islands
• kom Ombo temple  
• The twin temple of Abu Simbel

and some areas on the banks of the Nile in Aswan is an attraction for the tourist who visits the city to practice the hobby of swimming, despite the depth of water along  the course of the river, but parts of it is suitable for swimming, and sailing boats also, as well as travel to visit the islands of plants, museums, and temples on the islands of the middle of the river, such as

• The Temple of Philae
• Elephantine island

Best Time to Visit Aswan

The best time to visit Aswan is during the winter months, from November to February, when the weather is mild and comfortable. During this time, the temperatures are cooler, and there is less humidity, making it an ideal time to explore the city and its many attractions. However, if you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the summer months, from June to August, are also a good time to visit, as prices are lower and there are fewer tourists.

If you want to experience the rich cultural heritage of Aswan, book one of our Egypt travel packages include visits to Aswan and other top attractions in Egypt. Contact us now to learn more about our Egypt Nile Cruise , Egypt Luxury Tours