Summer in Egypt has always meant beach, breeze, and bites. But as we know it today? It’s been on quite a journey — from El-Agamy’s family cabins to Sahel’s seaside sushi bars. Here’s a nostalgic scroll through the evolution of our summer escapes.
Pre-Sahel
Where You’d Go
Before “Sahel” entered the group chat, families swore by El‑Agamy’s trio of Al‑Hanovel, Al‑Bitash, and El Ferdous (Paradise Beach).
Montaza regulars showed off cabins at Semiramis or Aida and splurged on a night at the Helnan Royal Palestine.
El‑Maamoura’s public sands and the privately guarded Stanley cabins rounded out the map, while the lone Sidi Abdelrahman Hotel hinted at bigger things to come.
The Scene
Cars arrived stuffed to the ceiling with wooden bendable chairs, a patchwork of cotton umbrellas, a giant water cooler, and that indestructible thermos of sweet coffee.
Lunch was a stack of sandwiches pané alongside Tupperware filled with termes (Lupini Beans) and leb; someone always dragged a watermelon through the sand.
Ritsa‑fish vendors balanced trays on their heads, Kluklu ice‑cream sellers rang bells, and the call of the fresca guy carried over the waves.
A roaming photographer clicked portraits, then handed you a ghostly negative to “develop” back home. It was sweaty, loud, and gloriously uncomplicated.
El Sahel El Tayeb
Where You’d Go
The next chapter opened with Maraqia and Sidi Kerir, and it got more flair as Marina sprang up, turning the dusty coastline into Egypt’s first purpose‑built beach city.
The Scene
Food meant home-cooked Macarona & Pané, or you could also go for feteer from a stall called something dramatic like “Nermin El Shaʿeya.” Snacks are always gandofli bought from a vendor passing through the sand and dessert is zalabya tossed in icing sugar.
Nights kicked off with a squeaky bike rental and a lap around the lagoon before staking out the only cafeteria. And we can’t forget about the tiny, dim shops that sold unique accessories that never survived until the next summer.
No curfew meant playing cards until sunrise, as you ignore the mosquitoes devouring your arms.
The fresca guy still rolled through at golden hour, proving legends travel well. It felt like the class trip that never ended—chaotic, sandy, and perfectly sweet.
El Sahel El Shereer
Where You’d Go
Fast‑forward, and the coast is a mood board. Marassi glitters with yacht views, Almaza Bay does boho luxe, and the Hacienda is simply something else.
📍Marassi Marina #sahel #viral #fyp #egypt #foryou♬ original sound – Basunyyy1
The Scene
Your summer escape starts in the car, stuck at the entrance, refreshing WhatsApp, waiting for someone with a villa to send you that elusive QR code. Once inside, it’s Pilates at sunrise, matcha by noon, and beach clubs by dusk. Sushi rolls replace sandwiches, and matcha replaced the iconic red water cooler.
Everything is curated, from crochet cover‑ups to playlists, yet the coastline still tastes like childhood.
Somewhere between a sushi roll and a sunset selfie, the fresca guy wheels are still walking past, calling with that familiar voice.
The Summer Feeling Never Left
Three eras, one coastline. Whether you remember wooden chairs in El‑Agamy, late‑night bikes in Marina, or matcha lattes in Hacienda, Egyptian Summer or el masyaf keeps evolving without losing its core: that rush when the sea first hits your ankles, the crunch of something sweet after a swim, and the sense that for a few weeks each year, the shore is exactly where life is supposed to be.
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