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Province · Nile Delta
Damietta
Damietta, where the Nile meets the Mediterranean: Ras el-Bar beach, the port, the fishing boats and the furniture workshops.
In the photo: Ras el-Bar’s Mediterranean beach and its seaside promenade.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Damietta
Damietta lies at the mouth of the Nile’s eastern branch, between the Mediterranean and Lake Manzala. The city of Damietta has a busy port and a long tradition of woodworking: carved wooden furniture workshops occupy whole neighborhoods and supply the country.
At the point where the river reaches the sea is Ras el-Bar, a seaside resort visited by Egyptian families since the early 20th century. A strip of sand separates the Nile from the Mediterranean, and in summer the town fills with holidaymakers.
To the east, Lake Manzala is a large shallow brackish lake with reed islands, fishermen and waterfowl. In Damietta and Ras el-Bar, fish and shrimp from the sea and the lake appear in the markets and restaurants.
In the Middle Ages Damietta was the target of crusades because of its position at the mouth of the Nile. From the old city come mosques and the street layout of the center.
When to go
The beach season in Ras el-Bar runs from June to September. From October to May the town is quiet, and winter brings wind and light rains.
Getting there
Damietta is about 200 km from Cairo, with buses and trains from Cairo and Mansoura. Ras el-Bar is about 15 km from the city of Damietta. Port Said, at the entrance to the Suez Canal, is about 70 km to the east.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Damietta
What is Ras el-Bar?
It’s a seaside resort at the mouth of the Damietta branch, where the Nile meets the Mediterranean. The season runs from June to September and attracts many Egyptian families.
Why is Damietta known for furniture?
Because the city has a long woodworking tradition, with carved furniture workshops spread across its neighborhoods. Many Egyptian visitors come to Damietta to buy furniture.
How do you get to Damietta from Cairo?
By bus or train, in about three to four hours. By car it’s roughly 200 km via the Delta road.
Is Damietta near Port Said?
Yes. Port Said, at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal, is about 70 km east along the road that runs alongside Lake Manzala.