Discover El Tor

El Tor offers travelers several ways to experience the area: historic buildings, Hamam Musa and the landscape around Palm Beach. Tell al-Kilani and the Old Monastery represent specific aspects of architectural and religious history; Hamam Musa adds historical and religious significance as well as warm water, while Palm Beach offers palm cultivation and a beach between the Gulf and the mountains. If you are looking for hotels in El Tor, you can match these different highlights to your travel interests.

Tell al-Kilani and the Old Harbor

Tell al-Kilani is a historic area in El Tor associated with religious coexistence and interfaith harmony. The area includes coral-stone houses built in 1826, as well as a mosque dating from the reign of Khedive Tawfiq. The houses have a specific construction year, while the mosque is dated to a period of rule; these different time references offer distinct historical perspectives. The area also includes the Monastery of St. George, which is located beside El Tor’s old harbor. It comprises a church and a rest house for monks. The combination of residential houses and religious buildings with the old harbor gives the area several points of historical interest.

The Old Monastery of El Tor

The Old Monastery of El Tor is another highlight. It was built during the reign of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century and constructed entirely of polished limestone. The complex includes four churches and eight square towers. Its rectangular layout measures 92 meters in length and 53 meters in width; a fortification wall about 1.5 meters wide surrounds the complex. The different side lengths give the exterior a specific scale, while the wall describes its enclosure.

The Old Monastery has 96 rooms, including monks’ cells and rooms for pilgrims. The rooms are thus designated for both monks and pilgrims. The monastery also contains an olive press made of black granite. In addition, there is a grain mill beside a round bread-baking oven. The architectural details range from the overall layout and towers to the rooms and specific objects. Those interested in monastic architecture can consider the floor plan, room arrangement and furnishings as different aspects of the complex.

Hamam Musa

Hamam Musa is located in El Tor, below the mountain on the western side of the city. This health tourism site has historical and religious significance. Its water is warm for most of the year and is continuously renewed. These two characteristics describe different aspects: the water’s warmth for much of the year and its constant renewal. If you are planning a visit to the historic sites or to Hamam Musa, please check access conditions in advance.

Palm Beach and the Landscape

Palm Beach combines palm cultivation with a beach between the Gulf and the mountain range to the east. This landscape highlight differs from the historic buildings at Tell al-Kilani and the Old Monastery. Your trip can therefore cater to different interests: architecture and religious history on the one hand, and the beach, palm cultivation and setting beside the mountain range on the other.

Discover more destinations: Dahab, Taba, Ras Matarma, Saint Catherine, Nuweiba, Ras Sedr, Sharm El-Sheikh

Return to the regional travel overview: South Sinai.