EL QUSEIR city tour

El Quseir: Known as the White Port – Egypt’s First and Most Significant Port

In the times of Ptolemy, El Quseir was the endpoint of the desert caravan route crossing Wadi Hammamat.

It was from El Quseir that Queen Hatshepsut sent her envoys to Punt to buy items unavailable in her kingdom: myrrh, ivory, and ebony. The city was fortified during Ottoman times by Sultan Selim.

El Quseir served as a starting point for pilgrims traveling to the holy city of Mecca. Today, you can still see the 19th-century hospital building where medical aid was provided to pilgrims.

During the Napoleonic era and later the British occupation, it was one of the most important ports. Its significance diminished with the construction of the Suez Canal, which took away its role as a connector between the West and the Orient.

The narrow streets of the city, filled with bazaars, are charming places for shopping. Here you can buy clothing, papyrus, ceramics, alabaster souvenirs, leather goods, and imitations of world brands.

An extremely interesting place is the Old Town, full of narrow alleys that take you back in time. Be sure to see the Coptic church and the mosque. Souvenir shops can be found on Sharia Gumhuriya, which runs through the Ottoman castle and the city center. While here, it’s worth trying the specialties of the local cuisine.