City, Egypt
Aswan
Calm, friendly Nubian town on the Nile with felucca sails, Philae Temple and the road to Abu Simbel. Small and slow-paced; very hot in summer, with fewer evening options.
At a glance
- Safety4/5Safe with normal careDetails
- Monthly budget$478–803Comfortable, one person · E£25,000–42,000Details
- Value for money94/100Better value than 93% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goNov–MarWarmest: Aug, 44°CDetails
- Air quality313 µg/m³PM2.5 annual average (2016) · Severely pollutedDetails
- Internet99 MbpsFixed broadband, Egypt medianDetails
- Tap waterNo, drink bottledDrink bottled water; avoid ice at street stalls.Details
- LGBTQ+1/5DangerousDetails
- Solo travel3/5English: common in tourist areasDetails
- Doctor's visit$5.7–19.1Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundPublic ferry (Elephantine)Walkable centerDetails
- Cash or cardMostly cashCards in larger hotels and some restaurants; cash for taxis, felucca, souq, small eateries and tips.Details
Where to stay in Aswan
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Corniche (East Bank) | First-timers: hotels, restaurants, felucca docks and souq |
| Elephantine Island | Quiet Nubian guesthouses reached by short ferry |
| West Bank Nubian villages | Homestays, painted houses and desert views |
Apps that work in Aswan
No ride-hailing apps work here; see the taxi note below.
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp
- Go Bus: Intercity and Red Sea bus tickets
- Taxis: Taxis and boats set prices by negotiation. Agree fares before boarding; hotels can arrange fixed-price drivers.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in Egypt.
- Mostly cash Cards in larger hotels and some restaurants; cash for taxis, felucca, souq, small eateries and tips.
- Currency: Pound (EGP). US$1 ≈ E£52.28 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: Common in cities and resorts; use machines at bank branches. ATMs at the Taba border often run dry.
- Tipping: Baksheesh is part of daily life: about 10% on top of restaurant service charges, small notes for guards, toilet attendants and guides.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work at contactless terminals; InstaPay needs an Egyptian bank account.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Get an e-visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg at least 7 days ahead, or buy a visa on arrival at airport bank kiosks for US$30 cash.
- Since 1 August 2026 Cairo airport also sells digital visas on arrival by card (US$36) via kiosks or visaonarrival.gov.eg.
- Flying into Sharm el-Sheikh for under 15 days in South Sinai resorts? A free entry stamp replaces the visa.
Emergency numbers
Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Fire 180 · Tourist police 126
Plugs
Type C, F · 220 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Vodafone, Orange and e& booths in Cairo airport arrivals and shops everywhere; passport required. Data is cheap. Long stays may require registering a foreign phone. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in Egypt
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.