Ain Sokhna (Cairo)

Ain Sokhna sits on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez, about 120km southeast of Cairo. The port has modern facilities and a backdrop of dry Red Sea hills rising behind the harbour. The name means "hot spring" in Arabic, referring to the sulphur springs in the area. The coast here is quieter and more industrial than Egypt's resort towns further south, and most visitors use it purely as a jumping-off point for Cairo. The Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum are the main draw, roughly a two-hour drive depending on traffic. Some cruise lines offer guided transfers. If you stay local, the beaches south of the port are decent for swimming, and the water is warm year-round. A handful of resort-style restaurants along the coast serve grilled fish and Egyptian mezze. There's little to walk to from the port itself, so a taxi or organised tour is the practical option.