Damietta: Hotels for Culture and Coast

For a stay in Damietta, you can focus on several different interests: archaeological sites such as Tell al-Deir in New Damietta, religious heritage in Damietta, and the coastal character of Ras El Bar. Al-Lessane is the triangular area where the Nile and the Mediterranean meet. If you are looking for a hotel in Damietta, this thematic overview can help you decide what to focus on during your trip. Check the location, amenities and booking conditions of each specific offer.

Tell al-Deir and the history of Damietta

Tell al-Deir in New Damietta is a large necropolis that was used during several periods of ancient Egypt. The 26th Dynasty, as well as the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods, are particularly notable. Its long history makes the site interesting to travelers who want to explore more than one period. Excavations uncovered seven Byzantine gold coins and ushabti statues bearing the cartouche of King Psamtik II.

Other finds include 63 mud-brick tombs and simple burials with gold foil from the Late Period, as well as bronze coins from the Ptolemaic period. These represent a range of burial types and finds from different historical periods. Finds from Tell al-Deir are also linked to Damietta’s important trading role across several historical periods. The historical context of the necropolis therefore encompasses both its long period of use and its economic significance.

Ras El Bar and Al-Lessane

Ras El Bar is a summer resort. Its triangular area, Al-Lessane, lies where the Nile and the Mediterranean meet. Tourists visit Al-Lessane to take photos and view the waterway between the two bodies of water. This offers a specific focus for visitors interested in this striking meeting point and its views. A tourist promenade with shops and services is also planned as a development goal for Al-Lessane.

Religious heritage and sights

The Al-Muaini Mosque is one of the five oldest mosques in Africa. The shrine of the Shata Mosque is also still visited. The Saint George Church in Damietta was built in 1650. These different sites offer several tangible points of reference for Damietta’s religious history: a mosque of long-standing historical significance, a shrine that continues to be visited, and a church with a clearly dated construction year.

The tourist attractions of Damietta Governorate also include the Hanging Garden and Fort Orabi. Along with the religious buildings, they expand the cultural themes you can consider when planning your trip. Whether you are more interested in individual buildings, historic sites or the coastal resort depends on your own priorities.

Another theme: Garbie

The Garbie area has a physical therapy center associated with dry sand, which is said to be suitable for treating rheumatism. This possible therapeutic connection offers a different theme from the archaeological finds and historic buildings.

Egypt as a wider travel horizon

To put Damietta in a wider context, it is worth looking at Egypt as a whole: the country has seven sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Wadi Al-Hitan is Egypt’s only natural site on the list. Its fossils document the evolution of whales into marine mammals. The Egyptian Museum offers another distinct historical focus: it is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East and houses the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities. The collection spans from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman era.

Discover more destinations: Damietta, Ras El-Bar, ‘Izbat al Burj, New Valley, Ismailia, Cairo Governorate, Sharqia, Red Sea Governorate.

For the broader travel overview: Egypt.