Many people venture to Aswan as a gateway to visit Abu Simbel. However, there are many awesome things to do when spending one day in Aswan. I would recommend setting aside at least one day in your Egypt itinerary to see the sites in Aswan, either before or after you visit Luxor.
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History of Aswan
Aswan was once an important trading post and gateway to Africa because of its location on the Nile. It became famous for its granite quarries that provided much of the stones for the Egyptian monuments and pyramids. Aswan was also an important center for worship.
In more modern times, Aswan gained prominence for the Aswan High Dam, which helps regulate the Nile’s flow and creates power for the area. This also led to the creation of one of the largest artificial lakes, Lake Nasser. Today, Aswan is known for its landscapes, temples, and culture.
Visa for Egypt
In order to visit Egypt as a U.S. Citizen (and many other countries), you need a visa to enter. I recommend buying one through iVisa prior to visiting, so it will be one less thing you have to worry about.
Alternatively, you can buy a visa on arrival at the Cairo Airport. Once you reach the arrivals hall before customs, there are a ton of bank windows with signs pointing to them that say “visa.” You can buy a visa at any of these. It costs $25 USD.
When to Spend One Day in Aswan
The best time to spend one day in Aswan is from October to May. This is when you will beat the hot and dry summers and have the best weather. While the winter season brings nicer weather, it is also more crowded, so keep that in mind when booking.
Therefore, the best time to spend one day in Aswan is during the seasons: Fall and spring. During this time, the weather will be slightly cooler and less crowded. Prices for hotels will also be cheaper.
How to Get to Aswan
Aswan from Cairo
Aswan has one airport that has flights from Cairo and Abu Simbel. It is a very small airport! Flights from Cairo range from $70-$120 depending on the day, season, and how far in advance you book them. It is only about a 1.5-hour flight from Cairo and 1 hour flight to Abu Simbel.
Alternatively, visitors can opt to take the train. Trains can be booked up to two weeks in advance, and they run around $67 for second class. You can buy tickets online ahead of time or at the train station. Trains depart several times a day, but many people book an overnight train to save on the hotel room cost.
Aswan from Luxor
There are several options to get to Aswan from Luxor: you can hire a driver, fly, take a Nile River Cruise, or take the train. This Edfu and Kom Ombo tour option is great if you want to stop along the way, or you can read more about our experience hiring a private guide in this post.
Flying or taking the train are both great options to get to Aswan from Cairo, but it all depends on the type of experience you want. Since I was short on time, we opted to fly back to Cairo from Aswan, but for a future trip, I would like to try out the train.
Transportation in Aswan
Unlike Cairo, Aswan does not have Uber to get around. We had a private driver for our time in Aswan, so we did not have to worry about this. However, depending on where you stay, you can walk to several places or arrange transportation through your hotel. In general, I would recommend booking a tour like this one that includes transportation just for ease of travel.
Pre-booking an airport transfer and a train station transfer is also helpful and will be less stressful upon arrival.
Where to Stay in Aswan
Aswan is a little bit different from some of the other cities in Cairo as there are no major American chain hotels in Aswan. Therefore, I had to do a bit of research to figure out the best place to stay. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Aswan hotels here!
We stayed at the Basma Hotel Aswan. It was not anything fancy, but it was good enough for one night. It came with breakfast and had an on-site restaurant. I would give it a solid three stars. Other options that have been recommended include the Movenpick Resort Aswan, Citymax Hotel Aswan, Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, and the Obelisk Hotel Aswan.
What to do During One Day in Aswan
While you can hire a driver or take taxis around during your one day in Aswan, I also recommend taking an Aswan day tour that takes you to all the sites. It is very affordable and will be less stressful.
Day 1
Aswan High Dam
Cost: $6.50 (200 EGP)
The Aswan High Dam, built in the 1960s to help control the flooding of the Nile each year, is now one of the world’s largest dams. The dam is 12,570 feet long and 3,200 feet wide. Overall, it took ten years to build. Once at the viewing point of the dam, there are several displays around that tell the history of the area and how the dam was built. Also nearby is the Arab-Soviet Friendship Monument (lotus flower) that commemorated the completion of the High Dam.
Philae Temple
Cost: $14.50 (450 EGP)
Hours: 7am-4pm
The Philae Temple complex is the best thing to do during your one day in Aswan. This complex was originally built from 306-362 BC for Isis, the goddess of the moon, fertility, love, and healing. After the Aswan High Dam was constructed, this temple had to be moved from its original location due to all the flooding from the Nile.
What is unique about this temple is that it is on an island, so you have to take a boat to get to it. This cost is not included in the admission fee, so you will have to negotiate with a boat driver or plan to book a tour that includes the transportation.
Once there, you can explore several parts of the temple. The most interesting fact about the Philae Temple is this is the place where the last hieroglyphic was ever carved in 294 AD. We learned about this after the fact and wish we had been able to go find it.
You will want at least an hour to explore the Philae Temple, plus plan on at least 15 minutes each way for the boat transfer. In the evenings, you can opt to view the Philae Temple light show.
Unfinished Obelisk
Cost: $6.50 (200 EGP)
Hours: 7am-4pm
The Unfinished Obelisk is the largest known obelisk in existence. It lies in a stone quarry from ancient Egypt and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hatshepsut ordered this obelisk to be built and most likely would have ended up at Karnak Temple. For unknown reasons, they abandoned the project.
Present-day visitors can walk along the obelisk and view what has been done to it. There are also other unfinished objects as a part of the open-air museum. Plan to spend around an hour at this stop. You will not want to miss the unfinished obelisk when spending one day in Aswan.
Nubian Museum
Cost: $10 (300 EGP)
Hours: 9am-5pm
Established in 1997, the Nubian Museum, an archeological museum, is another fun stop during one day in Aswan. This museum is dedicated to Nubian culture and civilization. Inside are over 3,000 pieces of Egyptian artifacts from various ages. You will spend at least an hour in the museum. It is only a short walk from the Basma Aswan Hotel if you opt to stay there.
If you have the time, opt to squeeze in a Felucca Ride on the Nile or a visit to a Nubian Village for a Nubian Dinner. Both of these can add some fun experiences to your one day in Aswan.
Final Tips for One Day in Aswan
Taking a Nile River Cruise can be a nice all-inclusive way to see some of the sites in Aswan and Luxor. However, spending one day in Aswan will ensure you see all of the sites in the area. Interested in learning how I visited Egypt for almost free? Check out this post to see how I visited Egypt using points.
