Top Tourist Attractions in Aswan

Aswan is an underrated travel destination. Travel to this Nubian city in the south of Egypt located on the east bank of the Nile river and discover the country with more pyramids than any other in the world. 

From the Aswan Botanical Gardens to the majestic High Dam, Aswan's tourist attractions should not be dismissed. 

Here are our highlights of the best things to see in Aswan city.

Aswan Botanical Gardens

Aswan Botanical Gardens is the world's largest collection of living plants. Its lush gardens feature beautiful palms and rare plants from the Far East, India, and parts of Africa. Covering 6.8 hectares, the flush gardens are filled with birds as well as numerous species of flora.

Literally, it is a lovely place to visit. Its rare collection includes a wide selection of the plants found in one of the most bioperse countries on the earth, with a major highlight being the orchid house, which contains a good range of several thousand varieties. In addition to spectacular bromeliads, fuchsias, and African fruit trees, there are many butterflies and birds to be seen, including many hummingbird species.

The High Dam of Aswan

Completed in 1970, the dam was built through the Soviet Union's funding after the World Bank and the United States pulled out of financing the project.

The High Dam has had a significant impact on the economy and culture of Egypt.

Before the dam was built, the Nile River flooded yearly during late summer, when water flowed down the valley from its East African drainage basin.

In fact, the Aswan High Dam positively impacted the development of Aswan Province, especially for the tourism industry.

To build the Aswan High Dam, domestic people and artifacts had to be moved. More than 90,000 Nubians had to be relocated.

The building of the dam also created the Lake of Naser.

Elephantine Island

 

Known as the largest island in Aswan, it lies on the Nile River and was cited as a hub for ivory trading in ancient times, so that's why it's called Elephantine Island.

The Pharaonic sites cluster at the southern end of the island side of the stunning island. They comprise a large fortified town, complete with the Aswan Museum, which was founded in 1912.

The Island features numerous Ancient Egyptian artifacts due to its location at the First Cataract of the Nile, which provided a natural boundary between Egypt and Nubia. It was notable also as the cult center of the god Khnum (the god of the inundation) and hosts iconic temples, such as the Temple of Thutmose III and Amenhotep III.

Nubian museum Aswan

It is cited as the world's largest museum dedicated to Egyptian Nubian history and culture. It ranked as one of the most-visited museums in Africa. The museum has more than 503 pieces that go to the Pharaonic period, 52 to the Coptic era, 103 to the Islamic age, 140 to the Nubian era, in addition to 360 pieces reflecting the history of Aswan. The 50,000 square meters, 7,000 of which are devoted to the building, while the rest are devoted to gardens and other public spaces and its exhibits have won critical praise like e Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001.