Port Said — 3-Day Guide | ThreeDayGuides

Founded to build the canal that shortened the Asia-Europe route by 7,000 km — Port Said watches 12% of global trade pass its waterfront daily, has 500 wooden-balcony Belle Époque buildings, Africa's first electric lighthouse and an ancient fortress city where Pompey was assassinated.

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📋 General guide ⭐ Highlights

400 m Container Ships Through 200 m Canal, Africa's First Electric Lighthouse & French Colonial Arcades

De Lesseps' Original Surveying Instruments, French Colonial Villas of the Sweet Water Canal City & Pompey's Murder Site

Three Decisive Ancient Battles in One Ruined City, Duty-Free Egyptian Souvenirs & Mediterranean Ship-Watching Beach

📋 General 3-day guide ⭐ Highlights

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Language	Arabic (Egyptian Arabic dialect); English spoken at hotels and some Canal Authority sites; basic English in tourist shops; French still understood by older Canal Zone residents from the French canal heritage
Currency	Egyptian Pound (EGP); cash economy; ATMs in the city centre; USD and EUR exchangeable; duty-free shops accept hard currency; rate approximately EGP 50 per €1 (subject to significant change)
Transport	Port Said is compact — the historic centre is walkable; taxi within city EGP 30-100; service taxi to Ismailia EGP 30-50 shared (90 min); to Cairo 220 km (2.5 hrs by road, East Delta Bus Company from Port Said bus station); to Alexandria 260 km
Best time	Mar–May and Sep–Nov (Mediterranean spring/autumn, 20-26°C, ideal weather); Jun–Aug hot (32-35°C but Mediterranean sea breeze makes it tolerable); Dec–Feb cooler, quietest
Getting in	Port Said has no commercial airport — nearest airports: Cairo International Airport (220 km, 2.5 hrs by road) and El Arish (200 km east in North Sinai, domestic flights from Cairo); regular bus from Cairo Turgoman Station (East Delta Co.) 3 hrs; from Alexandria 4 hrs; many visitors come from Cairo for a day trip or overnight
Tipping	10-15% at sit-down restaurants; EGP 20-50 for museum guards who may show you around; EGP 100/day for private guides; taxi drivers round up to nearest EGP 10
Safety	Generally safe in the city centre and tourist areas; standard Egyptian precautions; the duty-free zone area has pickpockets — keep valuables secure; the Sinai Peninsula (East Bank of canal) has security concerns separate from Port Said itself
Budget tips	Canal viewing platform free; National Museum EGP 100; old quarter walk free; lighthouse EGP 50; Canal Museum EGP 80; Ismailia museum EGP 50; Pelusium EGP 50; beach free; duty-free market free to browse; koshary EGP 30; fish dinner EGP 300