Quick Answer
- Best time: November to February, average highs about 23 to 29°C and almost no rain (WMO).
- Where to stay: the Corniche for convenience; Elephantine or the west bank for Nubian guesthouses.
- Tickets: Philae EGP 550, Abu Simbel EGP 750 (EGP 1,200 on 22 Feb and 22 Oct), Nubian Museum EGP 400.
- From Cairo: Abela Trains sleeper, about 13 hours overnight, or a domestic flight.
- How long: two to three days, one of them for Abu Simbel.
At a glance
- Best time
- Nov–Feb
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
- Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP)
- Language
- Arabic; Nubian languages locally
- Getting around
- Taxis, ferries, feluccas; sleeper from Cairo
Aswan is the slow, beautiful end of the Nile Valley. The river widens around black granite islands, white-sailed feluccas cross between them, and the pace drops after the noise of Cairo and Luxor. It is also the base for two of Egypt’s great temples, Philae and Abu Simbel. Your trip comes down to three choices: the month, the base, and how you reach Abu Simbel. Ticket prices and schedules below were checked on 10 October 2026.
When is the best time to visit Aswan?
Aswan is one of the hottest and driest cities on earth, so the calendar matters more here than almost anywhere in Egypt. Winter is the season.
| Month | Average high / low (WMO) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| November | 29°C / 16°C | Warm days, easy sightseeing, season starts |
| December | 24°C / 11°C | Ideal sun; cold boat rides at dawn |
| January | 23°C / 9°C | Coolest month, still sunny every day |
| February | 25°C / 11°C | Ideal; Abu Simbel sun festival on the 22nd |
| March | 29°C / 15°C | Warming up fast, still workable |
| April | 35°C / 20°C | Hot by midday |
| May to September | 39 to 41°C / 23 to 26°C | Dawn-only sightseeing |
| October | 36°C / 21°C | Hot, but Abu Simbel festival on the 22nd |
Temperatures are long-term averages published by the World Meteorological Organization from Egyptian Meteorological Authority data; rainfall is close to zero all year. Christmas, New Year and February half-term are the busiest and priciest weeks, so book the room and the Abu Simbel transport early for those dates. See our where to go in February guide for how Aswan compares with other winter sun.
Where should you stay in Aswan?
Aswan is small, but the river splits it into very different bases.
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Corniche (east bank) | First-timers, train and ferry access, the souk | Busier, traffic and touts on the waterfront |
| Elephantine Island | Quiet guesthouses, Nubian village life | You rely on the public ferry or a boat after dark |
| Nubian west bank (Gharb Soheil area) | Colourful guesthouses, river views | Remote: every outing starts with a boat |
| Island resorts (Isis Island and others) | Pools and space | Shuttle boat to town, higher prices |
For early December 2026 dates, Elephantine guesthouses started around 40 to 60 US dollars a night and Corniche or island resorts around 150 to 195 dollars. First time? Take the Corniche or Elephantine, where you can walk or hop a ferry to most of what you want. Compare Aswan hotel prices by area .
How do you get to Aswan and around it?
From Luxor, the same Abela sleepers continue south (train 1086 leaves Luxor at 05:35, for example), and many travellers arrive instead by Nile cruise. Our getting around Egypt guide compares flights, trains and buses.
What are the best things to do in Aswan?
Fees below are the foreign adult prices from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticket list; student tickets are half.
| Sight | Entry (foreign adult) | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Philae temple (Agilkia Island) | EGP 550 | Open 7am to 4pm; boat paid separately |
| Abu Simbel temples | EGP 750; EGP 1,200 on 22 Feb and 22 Oct | Open 6am to 5pm; card-only booths are common, carry a card |
| Unfinished Obelisk | EGP 220 | Ancient granite quarry in town; go early |
| Nubian Museum | EGP 400 | Open 9am to 5pm, with extra evening hours on Thursday and Friday |
| Elephantine Island | EGP 200 | Ancient town ruins, a Nilometer and Nubian villages |
| Monastery of St Simeon | EGP 100 | West bank, reached by boat and a walk |
| Temple of Kalabsha | EGP 200 | Quieter temple by Lake Nasser |
- Abu Simbel. The two rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari were moved block by block in the 1960s to escape Lake Nasser. Twice a year, on 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun reaches the inner sanctuary, and the Ministry sells a higher-priced ticket for those mornings.
- A felucca at sunset. Sail around Elephantine and Kitchener’s Island in a traditional sailboat; agree the price and the duration before you step aboard.
- A Nubian village. The west bank villages are known for painted houses and hospitality; go by boat in the afternoon and stay for tea and a meal.
- The souk. Aswan’s market street runs parallel to the Corniche: spices, hibiscus (karkadeh), dates and baskets.
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What day trips can you make from Aswan?
- Abu Simbel: the essential one, close to 300 km south. Most people take an early-morning tour minibus and spend several hours each way in the desert; an EgyptAir flight takes around 45 minutes.
- Kom Ombo and Edfu: the two temples between Aswan and Luxor. Kom Ombo costs EGP 450 and opens until 9pm; Edfu costs EGP 550. Most Nile cruises stop at both, or do them by car on the way to Luxor.
- Luxor: around three hours north by train. See our Luxor travel guide for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
What goes wrong in Aswan?
- Summer heat. From May to September average highs sit near 40°C. Start at sunrise, rest at midday, and drink more water than feels necessary.
- Unpriced boat rides. Feluccas, motorboats and the Philae crossing are all negotiated. Settle the price, the duration and whether it is per boat or per person before you leave the bank.
- Cash versus card. Many monument ticket booths now take cards only, while boatmen, taxis and village guesthouses want cash in Egyptian pounds. Carry both.
- Underestimating Abu Simbel. It is a long day; leave Aswan before dawn, carry breakfast, and do not plan anything demanding for that evening.
- Cold winter mornings. December and January lows average 9 to 11°C, and a dawn boat ride feels colder. Pack a fleece.
How many days do you need in Aswan?
Two to three days. Day one: Philae, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Nubian Museum. Day two: Abu Simbel. Day three: Elephantine Island, a felucca and a Nubian village. If you are combining it with Luxor and Cairo, our Egypt itinerary shows how to fit it into one or two weeks, and the Egypt budget guide prices it all.
Sources
- Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: Aswan archaeological sites and the official ticket price list. Checked 10 October 2026.
- World Meteorological Organization, World Weather Information Service: Aswan climate normals. Checked 10 October 2026.
- Abela Trains sleeper schedules. Checked 10 October 2026.
- Arab Republic of Egypt, official e-Visa portal visa2egypt.gov.eg.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Aswan?
November to February is the best time. WMO climate normals put average highs at about 23 to 29°C in those months and lows around 9 to 16°C, with almost no rain. From May to September highs average 39 to 41°C, so sightseeing has to happen at dawn. Bring a warm layer in December and January: desert nights and early-morning boat rides are cold.
How much does it cost to visit Philae and Abu Simbel?
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities lists Philae at EGP 550 for a foreign adult (EGP 275 for students) and Abu Simbel at EGP 750 (EGP 375 for students). On the sun alignment days, 22 February and 22 October, the Abu Simbel ticket rises to EGP 1,200. The boat to Philae is paid separately at the landing.
How do you get from Aswan to Abu Simbel?
Abu Simbel sits close to 300 km south of Aswan, which makes it a long day by road: most visitors join an early-morning tour minibus and spend several hours each way crossing the desert. The faster alternative is an EgyptAir flight to Abu Simbel airport, around 45 minutes. A night in the village of Abu Simbel lets you see the temples without the tour crowd.
How do you get from Cairo to Aswan?
Fly into Aswan airport (ASW), or take the Abela Trains overnight sleeper. Abela’s published schedule has train 1086 leaving Cairo’s Upper Egypt station at 19:20 and reaching Aswan at 08:35, and train 1084 leaving at 20:35 and arriving at 09:55, both stopping at Giza and Luxor. Book on the Abela Trains website.
Where should I stay in Aswan?
The Corniche on the east bank is the easiest base: walkable to the souk, the train station and the ferry landings. Elephantine Island and the Nubian west bank suit a slower stay in small guesthouses reached by public ferry or boat. For early December 2026 dates, Elephantine guesthouses started around 40 to 60 US dollars a night and Corniche and island resorts around 150 to 195 dollars.
How many days do you need in Aswan?
Two to three days is right. Spend one day on Philae, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Nubian Museum, one on Abu Simbel, and use the third for a felucca, Elephantine Island and a Nubian village. Many travellers instead arrive or leave by Nile cruise, since three-to-four-night sailings link Aswan and Luxor.
Start planning your Aswan trip
If you are arriving on a Nile cruise, the boat is your hotel and you only need a night or two either side. If you are travelling independently, lock in the room first for December to February, then the Abu Simbel transport.
Find cheap flights to Aswan | Compare Aswan hotel prices
Planning the wider trip? See our best time to visit Egypt guide, the Cairo travel guide, Luxor and the Egypt eSIM guide.
