Nubian Museum
The Basics
There’s a significant charge to gain access to the Nubia Museum’s award-winning architecture and vast exhibition halls. Exhibits, which include a display on the development of Nile irrigation, are clearly labeled and easy to follow. The focus is on treasures salvaged while the Aswan High Dam was being built during the 1960s. Visit as part of an Aswan tour, in combination with a boat trip to Kalabsha Temple or a journey into Nubian culture on Elephantine Island, or as a stand-alone experience with a private guide to talk you through the heritage.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Nubia Museum is a must for history buffs and fans of ethnography.
Be sure to take in the spectacular views of the Nile and Aswan from the site.
The Nubia Museum is fully wheelchair-accessible, with elevators.
How to Get There
The Nubia Museum stands about half a mile (800 meters) east of the Unfinished Obelisk at the southern edge of Aswan city. Aswan’s microbus transport system is hard to access unless you speak Arabic, so many travelers will prefer to join an organized tour that includes door-to-door round-trip transfers.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The Nubia Museum has unusual hours, opening from morning until lunch, then closing for the afternoon and reopening in late afternoon (winter) or early evening (summer). The museum is rarely busy, so visit at a time that suits your schedule, but be aware of the afternoon closures.
Discovering Nubian Culture in Aswan
The region of Nubia runs along the Nile (and Lake Nasser) from Aswan in Egypt to Khartoum in Sudan and is home to one of Africa’s oldest civilizations. While the Nubia Museum tells the history of Nubia, you can learn more about contemporary Nubian folklore and lifestyles on Elephantine Island, home to the Nubian villages of Siou and Koti. Cultural experiences run from Nubian cooking courses to Nubian music and dance classes.