Ismailia Travel Guide

  Cargo Vessel Cruising Through the Canal
by Mozumbus
 
  • Cargo Vessel Cruising Through the Canal
      Cargo Vessel Cruising Through the Canal
    by Mozumbus
  • Bridge over the sweet water canal
      Bridge over the sweet water canal
    by frockland
  • Midan Orabi in front of the station
      Midan Orabi in front of the station
    by frockland
  • Suez Canal
      Suez Canal
    by frockland
  • war memorial, Sinai
      war memorial, Sinai
    by uglyscot
 

Explore Ismailia

Things to Do  

Swimming in Lake Timsah

Swimming in Lake Timsah, Ismailia

 frockland Says:  If you want to go swimming and do not feel like jumping into the canal then Lake Timsah is another option. The “Crocodile Lake” what Timsah means in Arabic is a lake the canal is built through. There are no crocks any more and swimming is safe. To get there it a good idea to... 

Observing Ships

Observing Ships, Ismailia

 frockland Says:  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... 

Market Area

Market Area, Ismailia

 frockland Says:  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,... 

Enjoy down town

Enjoy down town, Ismailia

 frockland Says:  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... 

The Suez Canal

The Suez Canal, Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  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... 

De Lesseps' carriage

De Lesseps' carriage, Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  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... 

De Lesseps' house

De Lesseps' house, Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  Ferdinand de Lesseps was a French man and the director of the contruction of the Suez Canal, for which he received permissionin 1854, from Said Pasha, viceroy of Egypt.Today his house and garden can be visited, to see how rich and powerful people lived at the turn of the... 

Hotels  

Mercure Forsan Island Ismaielia

 33 Opinions

Hotels  

Al-Burg Hotel: Budget Accommodation

Al-Burg Hotel: Budget Accommodation, Ismailia

 frockland Says:  Next to the station there are a few hotels. With hard bargaining a windowless room in Al-Burg Hotel costs 30 E.P. 

Restaurants  

Nefertiti's Restaurant: We appreciated!

Nefertiti's Restaurant: We appreciated!, Ismailia

 RAYMBETZ Says:  Situated on Sultan Hassain Street - Ismaïlia, we did like the local propositions. Not expensive. Egyptian plates 

Take Aways: Market Area

Take Aways: Market Area, Ismailia

 frockland Says:  There are several local restaurants and takeaways in the market area. Food is cheap and delicious. Have a closer look before you order your meal.(“Cook it, boil it, peel it or forget it!”)Try the excellent Khushari! 

simply pizza: one of the best pizzas abroad

simply pizza: one of the best pizzas abroad, Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  Among the expensive fish restaurants on the shore of Timsah Lake, there's this simple and little pizza place... it was empty, but somehow it looked inviting - so in we went! Amazing pizza! Really one of the best we have eaten abroad (the best one being still in Egypt, for... 

Transportation  

Transport in general

Transport in general, Ismailia

 frockland Says:  The main bus terminal is a couple of kilometres out of the centre and its worth taking a taxi to it. There are good connection to Hurgarda, Suez and Cairo.Cairo can easy be reached by train. There are several rolling to the capital throughout the day. Its a battle for... 

Are you a cargo-boat?

Are you a cargo-boat?, Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  Are you a cargo-boat? No? Then you are not allowed to travel on the Suez Canal... however there's a way to cheat a little bit... there's a small passenger and car ferry in Ismailia, that drives you from one side of the canal to the other... and yes, you are crossing it while... 

Local Customs  

Local holiday makers...

Local holiday makers..., Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  Local (meaning: rich people from mostly Cairo) holiday-makers and weekend trippers often have their second hom in high rise buildings along Timsah Lake, 12 kilometres from Ismailia.The entire area is developed: there's an endless row of expensive restaurants and attractions... 

Tourist Traps  

Do you want to be a tourist?

Do you want to be a tourist?, Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  Do you want to be a tourist? Do you want to take pictures of the Suez Canal? Well, I wanted it... Well, officially you are not allowed! Anyway this is Egypt, so basically it's simple... you pay a baksheesh and you can take all the tourist pics that you want. Don't take... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Sinai

Sinai, Ismailia

 uglyscot Says:  Sinai is a peninsula of great strategic significance, lying between Egypt and Israel.It is interesting from a geological point of view , but there are also some historical and environmental places too.There are also resorts like Sharm el Sheikh at the southern end. 

Tanks Battle Memorial of Abu Atwa

Tanks Battle Memorial of Abu Atwa, Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  When you cross over the Suez Canal is Ismailia, and then enter the Sinai desert, passing the dozens of military camps, in the middle of nowhere you'll find the Tanks Battle Memorial of Abu Atwa. It was built to commemorate the tanks battle during the 1973-October war when... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Ismailiya sporting village

Ismailiya sporting village, Ismailia

 uglyscot Says:  This sporting village has facilities for several sports including swimming ,squash a games hall,and football.There is a gymnasium which can also be used [for handball, volleyball or basketball] , sauna s- one for men and one for women- steam baths, and quite extensive... 

Favorites  

Ismailia

Ismailia, Ismailia

 call_me_rhia Says:  Ismailia is the capital of the Suez Canal area, and it's also called City of Gardens and Flowers... you can easily guess the reason. It's half-way between Cairo and Port Said, it's in the Sinai region, and it's located on the shore of Al-Temsah Lake. A temsah, by the way, is... 

The Place

Plan a Ismailia vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Ismailia locals

Experience Ismailia
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The People

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 Next to the station there are a few hotels. With hard bargaining a windowless room in Al-Burg Hotel costs 30 E.P. 

6 members live in Ismailia

 

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Top Ismailia Writers

1

ismailia

call_me_rhia profile photo

  the capital of the suez canal . . 

2

On the Suez canal

uglyscot profile photo

 We stayed outside Ismailia at the Sporting village. I thought there'd be things to do , but was told that the pool wasn't open , and anyway women couldn't use it. I couldn't walk around the grounds...... 

3

Ismailya

frockland profile photo

 Ismailya was named after Pasha Ismail the Khedive of Egypt during the time of construction. Is a pleasant city with tree lined boulevards. During the construction of the Suez Canal it was the base of... 

4

The village on the Suez Channel

Prasnjavi profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Ismailia. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 1 photo uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

5

Crossing the Suez

Mozumbus profile photo

 December 6: Beauty, Enchantment, and the Suez Crossing of Ismailia 

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