The North Coast

It’s certainly no secret that the Egyptian summers are scorchers, with temperatures sometimes reaching the 40sC/100sF in the hottest months of July & August.  Living in such busy cities as Cairo and Alexandria, it can get very, very hot.  It’s no wonder that Egyptians look to escape the crowds and head somewhere they can really enjoy the summer.  For most Egyptians, this would logically mean they would head to the North Coast, as it’s not so far.  Cairenes & Alexandrians  head to the Northern Coast so that they can enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

The most popular destinations along the North Coast include some parts of Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh, and the strip of coastline between the two, called Sahel in Arabic.  Alexandria has long been enjoyed by the Egyptian people since the time of the Ptolemies, with Cleopatra even having a few baths in the area.  Historically, it’s been a favorite of royals, with the Montazah and Maamoura palaces being located in private areas of the Alexandria coastline.

Sea View in Alexandria

Marsa Matrouh is also a popular destination for those looking to simply relax.  As a small coastal border town, Matrouh doesn’t have much in the way of activities, and there’s only one main street with shops and restaurants on it.  This pretty much means that the main purpose of a visit to Marsa Matrouh is some good old R&R (rest and relaxation).  Visitors can hire a car to drive them to Ageeba beach, carved out of the mountain by the sea, or go swimming in Ubayyed Beach, with its white sandy beaches and clear waters.

Marsa Matrouh Beach

The area between these two cities is called Sahel.  This area has been developed with many compounds having been built, as well as shops and restaurants.  Thousands of chalets have been built and Sahel is the “place to be” during the summer months, as families will go for a week or so at a time, and the working crowd spends nearly every weekend there.  The beaches are great, and the nightlife is actually very lively, with many of the same clubs in Cairo opening a location in Sahel during the summer.

For the typical Egyptian, these are the popular options for spending some time at the beach on the Mediterranean during the summer, and if you’ve got the time, take a trip up to the North Coast.  For sure you’re going to find half of Egypt there enjoying their time!