Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Province · Suez Canal
Suez
Suez, at the southern entrance of the canal: Port Tewfik and ships leaving for the Red Sea, the beaches of Ain Sokhna and the Galala mountains.
In the photo: Coastal mountains and the Gulf of Suez seen from Ain Sokhna.
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 Suez
Suez lies at the southern tip of the Suez Canal, at the head of the Gulf of Suez, an arm of the Red Sea. The city is an old port, used by caravans and by pilgrims heading to Mecca long before the canal opened in 1869.
At Port Tewfik, at the canal’s entrance, a waterfront promenade shows the ships that enter and leave in convoys. Beneath the canal, the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel links Suez to the Sinai Peninsula, on the route to Sharm el-Sheikh and Saint Catherine.
South of the city, on the gulf coast, is Ain Sokhna, with beaches, hotels and resorts about 120 km from Cairo. It is the closest sea to the capital, and many Cairo families spend weekends there.
Behind Ain Sokhna rise the Galala mountains, where a road climbs to a plateau with views over the gulf. The gulf’s water is calm for much of the year and suitable for swimming.
When to go
Ain Sokhna receives bathers from March to November; in summer, Fridays and public holidays fill the beaches. From December to February the wind is cool. Suez has mild days from October to April.
Getting there
Suez is about 135 km from Cairo, with buses and a highway. Ain Sokhna is about 120 km from Cairo via the road that leaves the capital to the east. From the south of Suez, the coastal road continues toward Hurghada.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Suez
Where is Ain Sokhna?
On the coast of the Gulf of Suez, south of the city of Suez, about 120 km from Cairo. It is the closest beach location to the capital.
Where to see Suez Canal ships in Suez?
At Port Tewfik, at the canal’s southern entrance, where a promenade runs alongside the ships’ passage. They pass in convoys, at varying times.
How to get from Suez to the Sinai?
Via the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel, which passes under the Suez Canal north of the city. From there, the road follows the Sinai’s west coast to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Is Ain Sokhna worth a day trip from Cairo?
Yes, for those who want a day at the beach: the trip takes about one and a half to two hours by car. Many visitors prefer to stay overnight.