Beat the heat · Siwa

Siwa in the heat: what to see early, and where to spend midday

In July, Siwa averages 37.3 °C at the warmest time of day. Feluka's planner fills no full day in July, against 1 in January. Plan the open-air sights for early in the day and keep the middle of the day indoors or in the shade.

How hot does Siwa get, month by month?

Jan18°
Feb20°
Mar24°
Apr29°
May34°
Jun36°
Jul37°
Aug37°
Sept35°
Oct30°
Nov24°
Dec20°

Average high, °C. Hotter months are marked.

How long will you be in the sun at each place?

In the openMostly shadedIndoors
Dakrour Mountain (Gabal Dakrur)90 min
Fatnas Island and Spring90 min
Siwa Salt Lakes (Al-Malahat)90 min
Cleopatra's Spring75 min
Amon Temple (Temple of the Oracle)60 min
Mountain of the Dead (Gebel al-Mawta)60 min
Shali Fortress60 min
Siwa Lake60 min
Temple of Umm Ubayd30 min

Minutes in the open sun during a visit, as the guide records them.

What should you see early in the day?

Siwa Salt Lakes (Al-Malahat)

about 90 min

A salt-lake shore east of Siwa where reviews mention floating and swimming; free entry is mentioned.

What to do there
  • Float in the very salty water
  • Swim in the lake
  • Rinse off in the fresh-water bath

East Salt Lakes6J7C+F3G, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011702Best: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?

Cleopatra's Spring

about 75 min

The stone pool filled by a natural spring, one of the best-known visits in Siwa, with cafes beside it; open 24 hours.

What to do there
  • Bathe in the stone pool filled by the spring
  • Have a drink at the cafes by the spring

Dakrour5HW2+Q3C, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011430Best: morning, late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Amon Temple (Temple of the Oracle)

about 60 min

The Temple of the Oracle of Amun at Aghurmi, which Alexander the Great reached in the winter of 331 BC.

What to do there
  • Visit the temple Alexander the Great came to in 331 BC
  • Take in the view over the oasis

Aghurmi6G4V+4C6, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011632Best: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?

Mountain of the Dead (Gebel al-Mawta)

about 60 min

A hill of rock-cut tombs about 2 km from Siwa; the listing gives 8 am to 6 pm, closed on Fridays.

What to do there
  • See the rock-cut tombs of the Roman-era necropolis
  • Look over the oasis and its palm trees from the hill

Siwa Town6G6G+G2X, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011605Best: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Shali Fortress

about 60 min

The abandoned salt and mud-brick fortress of old Siwa, built on a rock and left after the heavy rains of 1926.

What to do there
  • See the oldest mud mosque in Africa on top of the fortress
  • Explore the abandoned salt and mud-brick old town

Siwa TownNumber 2, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011323Best: early morning, golden hour, late morningOn the map ›Something wrong?

Temple of Umm Ubayd

about 30 min

The second Temple of Amun of the oasis, near the Oracle temple; open 8 am to 6 pm, closed on Fridays.

What to do there
  • Look for the relief of the king kneeling to Amun
  • Walk among the temple ruins

Aghurmi6G2V+RW7, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011431Best: morning, late morning, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Where can you spend the middle of the day?

Abdu Restaurant

about 70 min

An Egyptian restaurant in Siwa town, open 8 am to 1 am; reviews mention couscous, lentil soup and chicken curry most.

What to do there
  • Order the couscous
  • Try the lentil soup or the chicken curry

Siwa Town6G2C+W7F, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011325Best: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Abu Ayman Restaurant

about 70 min

An Egyptian restaurant on Anwar El Sadat Street, open 10:30 am to 12:30 am; reviews mention lamb and grilled meats.

What to do there
  • Order the lamb or the grilled meats
  • Try the chicken with olives

Siwa TownAnwar El Sadat Street, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 51714Best: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Tekeyet Elamir Restaurant & Cafe

about 70 min

An eclectic restaurant and cafe in Siwa town, open 9 am to midnight; reviews mention baba ghanoush and moussaka.

What to do there
  • Order the baba ghanoush or the moussaka
  • Finish with a chocolate crepe

Siwa TownEl Taba el Kebera Street, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 51714Best: lunch, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Nacho Siwa Restaurant & Cafe

about 70 min

An Egyptian restaurant next to Shali Fortress, open 11 am to 11 pm; reviews mention the rooftop and the views.

What to do there
  • Eat on the rooftop with views of Shali Fortress
  • Try the Siwa soup

Siwa TownOld Market, next to Shali Fortress, Marsa Matrouh GovernorateBest: lunch, golden hour, dinnerOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Bedouin Roof Restaurant

about 70 min

A rooftop Egyptian restaurant in the Siwa Pazar souvenir market, open 24 hours; reviews mention the roof and city view.

What to do there
  • Eat on the rooftop with a view over the town
  • Try the couscous

Siwa Town6G2C+G5M, Marsa Matrouh - Siwa Rd, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011325Best: lunch, dinner, eveningOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

What is best at golden hour?

Cleopatra's Spring

about 75 min

The stone pool filled by a natural spring, one of the best-known visits in Siwa, with cafes beside it; open 24 hours.

What to do there
  • Bathe in the stone pool filled by the spring
  • Have a drink at the cafes by the spring

Dakrour5HW2+Q3C, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011430Best: morning, late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Fatnas Island and Spring

about 90 min

A palm-fringed island with a spring on the salt lake, 6 km west of Siwa; reviews mention the sunset above all.

What to do there
  • Watch the sunset over the lake
  • Sit at the lakeside seating

Fatnas Island5FRH+XQ6, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5000001Best: golden hour, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?

Shali Fortress

about 60 min

The abandoned salt and mud-brick fortress of old Siwa, built on a rock and left after the heavy rains of 1926.

What to do there
  • See the oldest mud mosque in Africa on top of the fortress
  • Explore the abandoned salt and mud-brick old town

Siwa TownNumber 2, Siwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011323Best: early morning, golden hour, late morningOn the map ›Something wrong?

Dakrour Mountain (Gabal Dakrur)

about 90 min

A ridge of hills 3 km south of Siwa, known for hot sand baths used against rheumatism; open 9 am to 5 pm.

What to do there
  • Take a hot sand bath in late morning or before sunset
  • Watch the sunset from the mountain

DakrourSiwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5011530Best: late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?

Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.

Siwa Lake

about 60 min

The salt lake west of Shali, one of the oasis's four salt lakes; reviews mention floating and the sunset.

What to do there
  • Float on the salty water
  • Watch the sunset over the lake

Siwa LakeSiwa, Marsa Matrouh Governorate 5010301Best: golden hour, afternoonOn the map ›Something wrong?

In short

See the 6 open-air places early in the day; spend the hot hours at the 5 indoor or shaded ones.

Every place in Siwa ›