Ismailia Things to Do

The Suez Canal is certainly the main attraction of Ismailya! Its one of the worlds most important water ways. The idea of a canal connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea to avoid the passage around Southern Africa is very old but only during the 19th century the project was successfully finished.

Its a nice and relaxing way to to spend a couple of hours to observe the large ships passing by.

To reach the canal its a pleasant 40 minutes walk along the sweet water canal or a short taxi ride for 2 E.P. The road ends at the ferry jetty. There a is restaurant that offers local dishes and beverages.

A couple of years ago this was one of the few places in the world where it was possible to swim from one continent to another. Nowadays its at least possible to cross by ferry to the Sinai side.

Be careful with taking pictures! Officially its forbidden!

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Market area is typically Egyptian! Its dirty, busy, lively and full of interesting street scenes to observe. In this area there is also a taxi rank and a micro bus station "- these are microcosm of the surrounding neighbourhood, which features muddy, potholed streets, horn-honking maniacs and smoking piles of garbage!” (L.P.5th edition)

Be careful when taking pictures! Not everybody on the market likes it. Ask before you make a mistake.

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Enjoy the comparatively peaceful quarter east of the railway. The main square is Midan al Gomhuryya. The promenade is named Sharia Salah Salem and running along the sweet water canal. At night time this is the place where young Ismailyans stroll along with their beloved. Its a kind of a “love mile”!

The Suez Canal is the very unnatural link between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea... unnatural but useful, as it makes a ship's way to India much shorter. The alternative would be to circumnavigare Africa!
Whi had this brilliant idea? Many, including Napoleon... but the person who carried out was not him but another French man: Ferdinand de Lesseps.
Construction started in 1859 and it went on for 8 years.
The offician inauguration, however, took place only in 1869. In the extra 2 years they built a highway linking Cairo to Ismailia, and then an Opera House. Giuseppe Verdi was commissioned to compose the Aida - yes, for the Canal's official opening!!! But he never made it in time. Aida was not performed at the ceremony.

One of the few other sights of Ismailia town is also connected with Ferdinand De Lesseps. In this case it's his carriage: it was once displayed inside his house garden, but recently it has been moved... it's now out in the streets for everyone to be seen - just around the corner from his house.