Aswan gives you the pharaonic temples people go to Luxor for, set on the most beautiful stretch of the Nile, where the river breaks around granite boulders and islands. Philae, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Nubian Museum are all close to town, and Abu Simbel is a day trip south. Hostel dorms start around €6 and a local lunch costs about $4, so the temple tickets are your main expense. Fly into Aswan, or take the train from Cairo or Luxor. Three days lets you add Kom Ombo or Abu Simbel.
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When to go
November to February is the time to go, with daytime highs of about 23-30°C and almost no rain all year. March is warm (about 30°C), April and October reach about 36°C, and May to September averages 39-42°C, too hot for comfortable sightseeing. Abu Simbel's sun alignment, when sunlight reaches the inner sanctuary, falls on 22 February and 22 October and needs a special ticket.
Aswan right now and the next 7 days
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Aswan on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Aswan · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 5 November 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Aswan in 2 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Philae TempleHalf day · ₹949 each · Temple of Isis on an island, reached by motorboat. LE550 adult, LE275 student. Open daily 7:00, last entry 15:00. The boat is extra; agree the price for the whole boat before boarding.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Nubian Museum2 h · ₹690 each · Nubian history and culture. LE400 adult. Open 9:00-16:00 daily, plus an evening session on Thursday and Friday.
- 10:30Unfinished Obelisk45 m · ₹379 each · A giant obelisk abandoned in the granite quarry where it was being cut. LE220 adult. Open 7:00, last entry 15:00.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Aswan
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Flight + taxi
Check fareNo public bus serves the airport. Agree the taxi fare before you get in; could not confirm a current fare.
Train
₹6,173Foreigners pay $65 in second class, $80 in first. Since 2022 the national rail website sells only at Egyptian prices, so buy at the station's foreigners' window or through an agent. Day trains such as the 08:00 from Ramses arrive late evening.
Sleeper train
₹10,447Standard sleeper $110 a person sharing a two-berth cabin, $150 alone. Leaves from the Cairo Upper Egypt station.
Train Cheapest
₹3,324VIP/Express $35 in second class, $40 in first. Some slower trains are cheaper.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeThe Corniche, souq and ferry landings are walkable. Avoid midday walks outside winter.
Public ferry
₹9To Elephantine Island and the West Bank, last listed at LE5 for foreigners. Could not confirm a current fare; it is still a token amount.
Taxi or inDrive
₹261About $2.75 for an 8 km ride on local averages. Agree the price first; inDrive (cash) avoids haggling better than street taxis.
Where to stay in Aswan
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Dorm
₹610/nightDorm beds list from about €6-10 (Wanees, Go Inn, Jiwar).
Nubian guesthouse
₹3,039/nightNubian guesthouses on the West Bank list from about $32 a night (Ekadolli, King Kassem), some lower. Reached by boat.
3-star hotel
₹6,553/nightSearch-engine average for 3-star Aswan hotels is about $69 a night.
What to eat, and what it costs
Lunch at a local restaurant
₹355About $3.70. Koshari, grilled chicken or kofta with rice and salads.
Dinner for two at a simple restaurant
₹715About $7.50 for two.
Cappuccino
₹75About $0.80.
Places to visit and things to do in Aswan
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Philae Temple
₹949Temple of Isis on an island, reached by motorboat. LE550 adult, LE275 student. Open daily 7:00, last entry 15:00. The boat is extra; agree the price for the whole boat before boarding.
Nubian Museum
₹690Nubian history and culture. LE400 adult. Open 9:00-16:00 daily, plus an evening session on Thursday and Friday.
Unfinished Obelisk
₹379A giant obelisk abandoned in the granite quarry where it was being cut. LE220 adult. Open 7:00, last entry 15:00.
Elephantine Island ruins
₹345Temple ruins, a nilometer and the small Aswan Museum, a cheap ferry ride from the Corniche. Listed at LE200; could not confirm on the official site.
Tombs of the Nobles
₹345Rock-cut tombs on the West Bank hillside with views over the river. Listed at LE200; could not confirm on the official site.
Monastery of St Simeon
₹172Ruined desert monastery on the West Bank. Listed at LE100; could not confirm on the official site.
Day trips and next stops
Abu Simbel
Check fareDaily bus 08:00 (about 4 h), back 13:00; or early-morning tour in police convoy. Entry LE822
Kom Ombo Temple
Check fareTrain or taxi north along the Nile. Entry LE450
Kalabsha Temple
Check fareTaxi to the High Dam area; could not confirm the last leg. Entry LE200
Luxor
₹3,324Train from Aswan station, or a Nile cruise
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- UK travel advice (updated 27 Oct 2026) names Aswan and Abu Simbel as exceptions to its Western Desert warning; there is no advice against travel to the Nile Valley. It says terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including at places visited by foreigners.
- UK advice warns of touts and scammers in tourist areas, poor safety on some Nile cruise boats, and that women travelling alone should take care, especially in taxis at night. Agree all boat and taxi prices first.
- From May to September daytime highs average 39-42°C. Start sightseeing early, carry water, and expect Abu Simbel tours to leave around 04:00.
Ways to spend less
- Students under 24 with ID pay half at Philae, the Nubian Museum and the Unfinished Obelisk.
- The public ferry to Elephantine Island and the West Bank costs a token fare, while private boats charge many times more.
- Walking the Corniche at sunset and watching the feluccas costs nothing.
Say it in Arabic
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Aswan in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Aswan?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are Jan–Feb, Nov–Dec. November to February is the time to go, with daytime highs of about 23-30°C and almost no rain all year. March is warm (about 30°C), April and October reach about 36°C, and May to September averages 39-42°C, too hot for comfortable sightseeing. Abu Simbel's sun alignment, when sunlight reaches the inner sanctuary, falls on 22 February and 22 October and needs a special ticket.
How do I reach Aswan?
Train: Cairo → Aswan (VIP/Express, second class), About 13-14 h, about ₹6,173 one way. Sleeper train: Cairo → Aswan overnight sleeper, Overnight, about ₹10,447 one way. Train: Luxor → Aswan, About 3-4 h, about ₹3,324 one way.
How much does a 2-day trip to Aswan cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹5,200 on a shoestring, ₹12,600 mid-range or ₹21,400 in comfort over 2 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is train (Luxor → Aswan) at about ₹3,324 each way.
How many days do you need in Aswan?
2 days is right for most people. That covers Philae Temple, Nubian Museum, Unfinished Obelisk without rushing.
Is Aswan good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 4, couples 5, families 3, groups 4. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Aswan?
Vegetarian is easy: koshari (lentils, rice, pasta and tomato sauce), ful (stewed fava beans), ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel), baba ghanoush and vegetable stews are cheap and everywhere. Vegan is also manageable, since many of these dishes have no dairy; ask about ghee and meat stock.
Will my phone and cards work in Aswan?
Phone signal: Buy a SIM from Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat or WE at the airport or in town; bring your passport. Cards and UPI: Taken at hotels and larger restaurants. Small eateries, ferries and boats are cash only. Cash: Egyptian pounds. Carry small notes for ferries, taxis, tips and food; change can be scarce.
Sources and last check
Checked 5 November 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- egymonuments.com OfficialMinistry of Tourism & Antiquities ticket site: Philae LE550 adult, LE275 student (other nationalities); open 07:00, last entry 15:00
- egymonuments.com OfficialNubia Museum LE400 adult, LE200 student (under 24 with ID); 09:00-16:00, plus Thu-Fri evening session to 20:00
- egymonuments.com OfficialUnfinished Obelisk LE220 adult, LE110 student; open 07:00, last entry 15:00
- egymonuments.com OfficialKom Ombo Temple LE450 adult, LE225 student
- egymonuments.com OfficialAbu Simbel LE822 adult, LE445.5 student; sun alignment tickets LE1,272 on 22 Feb and 22 Oct
- egymonuments.com OfficialKalabsha Temple LE200 adult; open 07:00, last entry 15:00
- gov.uk OfficialAswan and Abu Simbel named as exceptions to the Western Desert all-but-essential advice; no advice against the Nile Valley (updated 27 Oct 2026, current 4 Nov 2026)
- gov.uk OfficialIndiscriminate terrorism risk; touts and scammers in tourist areas; poor safety on some Nile cruises; women travelling alone take care in taxis at night
- seat61.com2026 foreigner fares: Cairo-Aswan VIP/Express $80 1st / $65 2nd, standard sleeper $110 shared / $150 single; Luxor-Aswan VIP/Express $40 / $35; Cairo-Aswan day train about 13-14 h (08:00 departure arrives 22:25); foreigners' window in Aswan; ENR site sells only Egyptian-price tickets; Abu Simbel bus 08:00-12:00, return 13:00 (page updated 14 Sep 2026)
- en.wikivoyage.orgNo public bus to airport, agree taxi fare; Luxor 3-4 h by train; ferries to Elephantine and West Bank LE5 for foreigners (2018); inDrive recommended; Elephantine site LE200, Tombs of the Nobles LE200, St Simeon LE100 (undated); Philae boat posted LE150 return for 1-8 people (2018); Abu Simbel police convoys and 04:00 departures; souq pickpocketing
- hostelworld.comDorms from €5.71 (Wanees Hostel), €7.22 (Go Inn), €9.79 (Jiwar Hostel)
- momondo.com2-star average $33, 3-star average $69; Nubian guesthouses Ekadolli $32, King Kassem $33, Mostafa $13
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 5 November 2026 · Photo: Marc Ryckaert · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: M.ramadan2014 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) · CC BY 3.0 · source · Photo: Carole Raddato · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
