Aswan
City in Egypt
Located 682 km from Cairo, Aswan is a city in Egypt with a population of approximately 400,000 as of 2023. Visitors travel here to see historical monuments, island sites, and large-scale engineering projects.
What to see
Aswan contains several distinct landmarks. The city is home to the Aswan High Dam and the Aswan Low Dam. Historical and cultural sites include the Unfinished obelisk, Elephantine, and the Mausoleum of Aga Khan. Additional notable locations in the area include the Nubian Museum, Philae Island, El Nabatat Island, Sehel Island, and Qubbet el-Hawa. Visitors can also view various temples in the vicinity, such as the Temple of Kalabsha, the Temple of Beit el-Wali, the Temple of Gerf Hussein, and Trajan's Kiosk.
When to go
Aswan experiences no rain throughout the year. The cooler months of January and February offer daily highs between 22 °C and 24 °C with lows of 9 °C to 10 °C. Temperatures rise significantly from April through October, with daily highs reaching 35 °C to 40 °C. The months of March, November, and December provide moderate conditions with highs around 24 °C to 29 °C.
Getting there
The city is served by Aswan International Airport, which is located 16 km from the city center.
Top sights in Aswan
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 41 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 22 | 24 | 29 | 35 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 35 | 29 | 24 |
| Average low, °C | 9 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 16 | 11 |
| Rainfall, mm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rainy days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Aswan (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- El Nabatat Island
- Nubian Museum
- Philae Island
- Qubbet el-Hawa
- Sehel Island
- Temple of Beit el-Wali
- Temple of Gerf Hussein
- Temple of Kalabsha
- Trajan's Kiosk