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Province · Suez Canal
Ismailia
Ismailia, the garden city in the middle of the Suez Canal: Lake Timsah, the tree-lined streets of the European quarter and Ferdinand de Lesseps’s house.
In the photo: Palm trees and the shore of Lake Timsah in Ismailia.
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 Ismailia
Ismailia sits halfway along the Suez Canal, on the shore of Lake Timsah. It was founded in 1863 as a base for the canal works and is named after the Khedive Ismail. The European quarter, with its wide streets, gardens and verandah houses, preserves the town layout established by the canal company.
Ferdinand de Lesseps’s house, the French diplomat who promoted the construction of the canal, is in the center, and the Ismailia Museum displays pieces from ancient Egypt found in the canal region. Along the shores of Lake Timsah there are beaches and clubs where residents spend the weekend.
To the west of the city the irrigated lands of the Delta begin, with mango and fruit plantations. Ismailia is known for its mangoes, sold on the roads during the summer.
The governorate extends on both banks of the canal. Visitors usually stay on the west bank, in the city and by the lake; for trips beyond the canal, plan ahead.
When to go
From October to May temperatures are pleasant. Summers are hot, and the mango season usually runs from July to September.
Getting there
Ismailia is about 130 km from Cairo, with trains and buses. The road along the canal connects the city to Port Said to the north and Suez to the south.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Ismailia
What to see in Ismailia?
The European quarter, with its tree-lined streets and houses from the canal company era; Ferdinand de Lesseps’s house; the Ismailia Museum; and the shores of Lake Timsah.
How to get to Ismailia from Cairo?
By train or bus in about two to three hours. By car it’s about 130 km.
Can you see the canal ships from Ismailia?
Yes — from the shores of Lake Timsah and along the canal, where ships pass in convoys at varying times.
Why is it called Ismailia?
Because of Khedive Ismail, who ruled Egypt when the city was founded in 1863 as a base for the construction of the Suez Canal.