Amazing Things to Do in Ras El Bar

Ras El Bar is located in Damietta city, which is considered one of the most beautiful areas that can be visited during the winter and summer seasons, due to its location at the confluence of the Nile River with the Mediterranean Sea. It offers fascinating views that you rarely see in any other place in the world as well as its lovely weather, in addition to a large number of gardens and trees surrounding the area. 

Ras El Bar is unique in that it is one of the rare places in the world where the river meets the sea, which is why it has plenty of beaches that overlook the Nile and the sea together. 

The city takes the shape of a triangle with one of its sides overlooking the Nile River and the other side overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Its base overlooks the port of Damietta. The nature of Ras El Bar has helped attract many lovers of tranquility and charming nature to enjoy its mild climate. 

Ras El Bar has two lighthouses opposite each other to guide the ships. Work is being done to develop the two lighthouses periodically to preserve their identity. Tourists are keen to visit the two lighthouses and enjoy the picturesque nature. The city of Ras El Bar was called the Best Summer Resort, and it was considered the city where stars meet. 

It has also been visited by countless famous theatrical groups, as well as many important figures, such as Queen Nazli, the mother of King Farouk and her daughters and sisters of the king, especially in the summer. In 1883, a German scientist called Kouh visited Ras El Bar. He was fascinated by the beauty of the city and its charming nature, as he wrote that this area would have great importance due to its geographical location and its picturesque nature.

Things to do in Ras El Bar

As one of Egypt’s top summer destinations, there are countless exciting things to do in Ras El Bar. Here are some of our highlights.

1. Al Fanar Walkway 

If you decide to go to Ras El Bar, your trip cannot be complete without visiting the lighthouse, which is a tourist walkway located on the northeastern coastal part of Ras El Bar. This walkway is supported by large barriers of rocks to protect the coast from erosion. The Al-Fanar area contains a large area designated for sitting and enjoying the fresh outdoors with direct viewing of the clear water and the blue sky.

In this wonderful place, the Nile River journey ends after a journey that lasts for more than 6695 km, in which the water passes through ten African countries. The waters of the Nile River converge with the waters of the Mediterranean here around this tourist attraction, which is certainly the best of all.

2. Garbi Area

The Garbi area is located on the Nile in the south of the city. At present, it is considered the main entrance to the city of Ras El Bar. This area contains many casinos and clubs overlooking the Nile shore, which gives you a magnificent view that you will love. It is considered a perfect place for hiking and recreation, as tourists often go there to enjoy the atmosphere, hop on to Nile cruises in wonderful sailboats, and even practice swimming or kayaking.

It is considered the best area for physiotherapy in Egypt because it has a long history since ancient times for its dry sand containing thorium, which is used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. The treatment was done through burial in the sand.

3. Nile Street

Nile Street is one of the most important streets that describes the city of Ras El Bar. Iit is an open space and a site to look at the simple and beautiful cultural and architectural monuments. Nile Street extends along the coast of the Nile, and by walking in the street, you can see many hotels with wonderful architectural styles.

If you visit Nile Street, it is best to do so at sunset, when the weather is calm and beautiful. It is known as the street that never sleeps and you can enjoy your time until the early hours of the morning.

4. Port Said Street

Known as the main market, it is a large street with a walkway that extends along the sea from the south to Al-Fanar in the north. The street contains several distinctive shops, restaurants, children’s entertainment parks, and cafeterias.

5. Sea Walkway

To appreciate the amazing views of the Mediterranean, walk along the city’s coast, and enjoy the coastal walkway with many beach services and a large number of cafeterias and restaurants.

Things to do Near Ras El Bar

Ras El Bar is also ideally situated close to many of the top tourist attractions in Egypt. Here are some of the top places you can visit with a short journey from Ras El Bar.

1. Damietta City

Damietta city is famous for its many archaeological sites that prove that Damietta was one of the most important cities in ancient Egypt. Its importance is increased by the distinctive geographical location and the picturesque nature, as it is an area with mild weather throughout the year. 

Many of these archaeological sites date back to the era of the Pharaohs, followed by the Islamic conquest, such as the Amr ibn al-Aas Mosque, the second mosque built in Africa, as well as its historical churches, which date back to the early ages of Christianity.

Damietta city has a large group of sunken antiquities in the Mediterranean Sea facing the coasts of the city. The most prominent of which is the area of Tel El-Deir, which is considered one of the most important archaeological hills in Damietta city.

2. Amr Ibn Al Aas Mosque

The mosque is considered one of the most famous mosques in Damietta, and it is also called Al-Fath Mosque. It is the second mosque built in Egypt after the construction of the Amr Ibn Al Aas Mosque in Fustat, and it was built in the same style. The Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque is located in Al Gabana Al Kobra in Damietta. It is also the largest mosque in Damietta in terms of area. 

The mosque consists of an open rectangular courtyard surrounded by corridors on four sides, the most important of which is the southern portico, which is the qibla portico. This includes four naves, and the eastern and western porticos, each of them containing two naves, as well as the northern portico, which currently contains two naves. 

The Fatimid era was the golden age of the city of Damietta, where the city grew and prospered. This appeared in its architecture, specifically that of this mosque. This mosque was known in the Mamluk era as the Fateh Mosque, due to a person called Fateh bin Othman, who came from Marrakech to Damietta during the reign of King Al Zahir Baybars, and he cleaned and purified the mosque and re-established prayer in it.

3. Lake Manzala

Lake Manzala is an important and large natural lake in Egypt. Its banks are bordered by four main governorates which are Dakahlia, Port Said, Damietta, and Sharqia and they are connected to the Suez Canal through a spur that borders Port Said Governorate from the southern side called the Communication Canal.

The lake is located in a unique location in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta, where the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal to the east, the Nile River to the west, Damietta branch, and the Husseiniya Hill to the south. 

It is also an important place for raising fish due to the availability of natural nutrients and it produces a lot of fish compared to any other natural lake in Egypt. The water of the lake varies in terms of salinity and its water is relied on to feed many plants with fresh and saltwater.

4. Tel El Dier Area

It is one of the important archaeological Areas in Damietta, located northeast of the city of Kafr Al Batekh and it has an area of 7 acres. It was an ancient Egyptian cemetery dating back to the 26th dynasty of the Pharaonic era and there were 1100 artifacts discovered at the site to be displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum. 

Tel El Dier Area contains more than 3500 artifacts, including golden charms and amulets, and some amulets made of precious stones and there are also 13 pure limestone sarcophagus discovered with human figures of men and women during the excavations and some of these mummies are of nobles and there are antiquities dating back to the Ptolemaic and Roman eras that were found there as well. 

5. Tel Al Brashiya Area

The area is located in a place called Faraskur in Damietta, where you will find a Roman bath and it is the first of its kind in the eastern Delta region. This bath contains a lower tank for storing water, interspersed with sewage lines, and also you will find a residential area with its architectural division adjacent to this bath. There are words written in the Coptic language on the walls, containing a slice of gold, and on some Roman bronze coins. Also when you are in the area you will see beside the bath a cemetery dating back to the late Roman Coptic era. 

6. St. George’s Church

The church was built in 1650, and it contains the bones of Saint George, who was martyred in the 9th century. 

Inside the church, you will find some archaeological icons, like the icon of Anba Anthony, the Holy Virgin, Archangel Michael, Saint George the Roman, and Saint Demiana and in 1989, the church was repaired to retain its archaeological character and several buildings were built for church services. There are also 3 altars, the main altar in the name of St. George the Roman, the sea altar in the name of Archangel Michael, and the tribal altar in the name of the Virgin Mary.

7. Al Diasty or Al Ansari Dome

The dome was built in the 8th century, in the Ottoman era and the reason for building it was for holding meetings of seniors, also as a place for learning sessions for students coming from outside Damietta, and it was used as a place for the governor to stay when he comes to Damietta. It is classified as one of the prime examples of Islamic architecture, as it is polygonal in shape, it was built on a square room topped by three holes held in a triangular shape and it contains an iwan, and its floor is decorated with Islamic inscriptions.

The dome hosted dignitaries and students from the Ottoman era until the French campaign entered Egypt, making it one of the top historical sites in Egypt.

8. Al Bahr Mosque

It is one of the most famous and important mosques in Damietta. It was repaired in 1009 and is located on the eastern bank of the Nile. It was built in the Andalusian style, on an area of 1200 m2, and then rebuilt in 1967 in the same style. When you enter the mosque you will find that it is decorated with lovely Islamic inscriptions with five domes and two minarets and an annex to it which includes a cultural and religious library.

9. Church of St. Mary

The church is located in Sorour Square in Damietta. It was built in 1745 and it belonged to the Catholic Church. After many years the church became affiliated with the Orthodox Church, and there you will find the preserved body of Saint Sedhom Beshai who was martyred in this area, and also there is a part of the cross of Christ, which the church acquired from Bishop Morcos, Bishop of Marseilles in 1974. It is a famous attraction in the city, which receives visitors all year round. 

Now that our trip to Ras El Bar is over, check out our guide to planning your next Egyptian vacation.