Tanta

Tanta is the 5th largest city in Egypt.

Understand

The city is one of the oldest cultural and religious settlements in Egypt, and also home to a large and prestigious university, Tanta University.

Understand

Tanta is famous for the mosque and festivals of Sayed Ahmad al-Badawi, and also for the delicious sweets made in that area.

Get in

By train

There are frequent daily connections from Alexandria, Cairo, and Port Said. 1 Tanta railway station is centrally located, just south of the city centre.

By bus

Minibuses and Peugeot shared taxis abound in other cities.

Get around

The easiest way to get around is by taxi. A ride will cost LE 1.5-2 for short distances, and may reach LE 3-4 for long distances at rush hours. Another option is to take one of the public minibuses.

See

The Ahmad Al-Badawi mosque and Al Azher schools were founded hundreds of years back. The sayed al-Badawi mosque is spectacular and can get very very crowded during the festival seasons. Gold and crystal chandeliers, impressive tile work, painted wood, and stained glass decorate this holy place in Tanta's downtown. You can certainly walk there from the train station, it's probably less than 1 km. There are custodians at the mosque to hold onto your bag or backpack while you are making the prayers or touring the mosque.

• 1 Ahmad Al-Badawi Mosque (مسجد أحمد البدوي). (updated Sep 2018)
• 2 Tanta Museum (متحف اثار طنطا), Moustafa Al Gendy Moheb Sabekan. Sa-Th 08:00-14:00; closed F. Some old artifacts from Ancient Egypt. (updated Oct 2020)

Buy

traditional sweets canes and wicker work peasant vests, underwear, and crocheted caps

Eat

Near the Mosque of Sayed al-Badawi, on one of the streets to the right side if you're facing the mosque, is a fuul and ta'amiya restaurant called Abu Sina. It's packed with locals eating the delicious fuul. For LE 10 LE, you get two plates of fuul, gargeer, babghanoush, tahini, ta'miyas, salad, tomatoes, potato salad, pickles, and one can of pop. Plus it was absolutely delicious!

You can also buy some delicious sweets from hallawyat masr or if you want to get some other eastern sweets go to adly sweets.

• 1 El Watanya Restaurant (مطعم الوطنية), ☏ +20 40 3348848. Noon-01:00 M-Sa, Noon-00:00 Su. Here you can try some molokhia or other yum-yums. (updated Oct 2020)

Drink

Rural conservatism is apparently on the decline, as one sees women and men in coffee shops, including near the main mosque. Enjoy a drink of karkadee or yansoon, in addition to the traditional tea or coffee.

Sleep

• 1 New Arafa Hotel (فندق عرفة الجديد), ☏ +20 40 3336954. (updated Jul 2017)
• 2 Green House Hotel (فندق جرين هاوس), ☏ +20 40 3330761. (updated Jul 2017)
• 3 Panorama Hotel, ☏ +20 100 640 3223. (updated Jul 2017)