Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract is Aswan’s most famous hotel, a Victorian palace opened in 1899 on a granite outcrop above the Nile, looking straight across to Elephantine Island and the desert beyond. Agatha Christie stayed here and set part of Death on the Nile in its rooms, and the hotel has hosted royalty and world leaders for more than a century. Today it combines the original Palace building with the newer Nile Wing, offering about 140 rooms and suites in Moorish and Victorian style. Categories range from Nile-view rooms and Palace garden rooms to a long list of suites — from 64 m² junior suites to the legendary Sir Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie suites of 138 to 175 m². The terrace is the place for afternoon tea with sweeping views over the river, and the hotel’s restaurants, including Saraya and The Terrace, serve Mediterranean and international cuisine, with a pool bar and lounge bar for the evening. Gardens, an outdoor pool, a library and a 24-hour business centre complete the picture. The Nubian Museum, the Coptic Cathedral and the boats to Elephantine Island are all a few minutes’ walk away. It is a once-in-a-lifetime choice for couples, honeymooners and history lovers.

Location: About 32 min drive from Aswan International Airport (ASW). Nearby: Elephantine Island (boat landing) (0.3 km, 3 min walk), Coptic Cathedral of St. Michael (0.3 km, 3 min walk), Nubian Museum (0.5 km, 5 min walk), Unfinished Obelisk (1.3 km, 15 min walk), Aswan Bazaar (2.3 km, 4 min by car).