Siwa Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
depression in the Western Desert of Egypt
About Siwa
Siwa is in a great depression in the Sahara, so although it is 300 km from the Mediterranean coast at Marsa Matruh, it lies at sea-level or even a few metres below. This brings it close to a great aquifer of sandstone and limestone, containing "fossil water" - rain that fell 40,000 years ago. All the oasis water comes from this non-renewable resource. The depression was scoured out by wind-blown sand and salt, and the water is only usable if it is not salty. Most of Siwa's water is salty and the town is surrounded by large bitter lakes, which support wildlife (eg migratory birds, which gorge on the insects and grubs) but not agriculture. Wells nowadays have to drill down 300 m to access fresh water, so the area remains fertile but its development is constrained - tourist hotels are notorio
Top Attractions in Siwa
Explore the best things to see and do in Siwa:
- ★Ain Duheiba
- ★Bilad er-Rum
- ★Biʾr Wahid
- ★Cleopatra's Bath
- ★Fatnas Island
- ★Gebel Darkur
- ★Gebel el-Mawta
- ★Maraqi
Where to Eat in Siwa
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Abdu's Restaurant
- 🍴Abou Ayman
- 🍴Albabenshal Siwa Restaurant
- 🍴Alexander Restaurant
- 🍴Bakri's Cafe
- 🍴Dunes Restaurant
Where to Stay in Siwa
- 🏨Albabenshal Hotel
- 🏨Cleopatra Hotel
- 🏨Ghaliet Ecolodge
- 🏨Palm Trees Hotel
- 🏨Siwa Safari Paradise Hotel
- 🏨Siwa Shali Lodge
Siwa Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 13 sections including: