Aswan Museums and Art Galleries

(Aswan, Egypt)



Photo of the Ruins of AbuThe Nubian Museum is really a must-see in Aswan and its extensive collection of ancient exhibits are housed within a fairly modern-building, which was designed to incorporate many traditional features of Nubian architecture. Also popular is the very established Aswan Museum and the adjacent Ruins of Abu.

The Ruins of Abu are basically a huge outdoor museum, comprising the Temple of Khnum, a 4th-dynasty 'step pyramid', the 18th-dynasty Satet Temple, the Ptolemaic Chapel, and also two Nilometers, which once recorded the level of the River Nile and showed whether or not there would be enough water for Aswan to enjoy a bountiful harvest.


As a direct result of the success of the city's International Sculpture Symposium, art lovers in Aswan are now treated to a Sculpture Museum (Sculpture Park), an open-air attraction best reached by private taxi, where you can stroll around some enormous granite sculptures and true masterpieces.

Further view of the Ruins of Abu

Aswan Museum and the Ruins of Abu

Located on the south-eastern side of the city's Elephantine Island, both the Aswan Museum and the adjacent Ruins of Abu are well worth visiting. Many tourist choose to visit both of these attractions at the same time, due to their proximity. the Aswan Museum first opened its doors to members of the general public in 1912 and features many spectacular Nubian artefacts, which were saved at the time that the old Aswan Dam was built. A relatively new extension was added in the 1990s and boasts many Egyptian relics actually discovered on Elephantine Island itself and these include everything from weaponry and pottery, to various utensils and ancient mummies. The beautiful gardens alongside the Aswan Museum lead visitors towards the wonderful Ruins of Abu, where archaeological excavations are still taking place.
Open hours: daily, October to April - 08:00 to 17:00; May to September - 08:30 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and students

Nubia Museum

Nubia Museum

Address: Abtal at-Tahrir, Aswan, Egypt, EG
Tel: +20 097 231 3826
A visit to the city's Nubia Museum is a real highlight for any tourist visiting Aswan and this cultural attraction truly celebrates the art and history of Nubia. Exhibits at the museum date as far back as pre-historic times, right up to the present day. As you enter the main exhibition hall, you will notice a detailed model showing the Nile Valley and all of the region's most noteworthy temple sights. One of the main attractions at the Nubia Museum are the pottery bowls, a number of which are more than 6,000 years old. Also of interest here are an array of Pharaonic artefacts and burial treasures dating back as far as the 7th century (Ballana Period).
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 21:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and students

Fatimid Cemetery

Fatimid Cemetery

Address: Abtal at-Tahrir, Aswan, Egypt, EG
Not some much of a museum as a major attraction brimming with history, the Fatimid Cemetery is well worth exploring, particularly when you find out that it is just a stone's throw from the Nubia Museum. The Fatimid Cemetery is home to a vast collection of well-preserved mud-brick buildings, which often feature impressive domed roofs. Many of the actual graves are not in great condition and a number of the marble inscriptions are now on display in Cairo. Those who choose to visit Aswan's Fatimid Cemetery should head to the back, where there are a group of mausoleum structures built during the 9th century and are therefore of great historical significance.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free