El Arish

This El Arish travel guide covers the best things to do in El Arish: palm-lined Mediterranean beaches and the North Sinai coast. Below you will also find the best time to visit El Arish, how to get there and around, and where to stay.

El Arish is the capital of North Sinai governorate and the largest city on Sinai’s Mediterranean coast. It was once a popular summer resort for Egyptian families, known for long sandy beaches backed by date palms, and it remains the administrative and commercial centre of the north of the peninsula.

History

Classical writers knew the town as Rhinocorura, and it is recorded from at least the 2nd century BC as a staging post on the ancient coastal road between Egypt and the Levant. The city stands where Wadi El Arish, the largest valley in Sinai, reaches the sea. Armies and traders used this route for centuries, and the remains of an Ottoman-era fort survive from the town’s time as a frontier stronghold.

What the area is known for

• Beaches and palm groves: the shoreline is lined with date palms, and dates, fishing and farming are still important to the local economy.
• Bedouin market: a weekly market, traditionally held on Thursdays, brings together traders from across North Sinai selling embroidery, rugs, herbs and household goods.
• Bedouin crafts: North Sinai is known for its cross-stitch embroidery on dresses and cushions.
• Zaranik Protected Area: about 30 km west of the city on the eastern edge of Lake Bardawil, protected since 1985, this is an important bottleneck for migratory waterbirds; some 270 bird species have been recorded.

Practical notes

Road access across North Sinai is restricted and subject to checkpoints, and flights to El Arish airport are limited. Keep your passport with you. For most visitors, Sinai’s Red Sea resorts in the south are the practical alternative.

Last checked October 2026. Sources: gov.uk, gov.uk, britannica.com, encyclopedia.com.