How to Book Train Travel From Alexandria to Mersa Matruh, Egypt

Egypt is a virtual heaven on earth for travelers with a fondness for exploring the past. Train travel from Alexandria to Mersa Matruh offers ample opportunities to enjoy and appreciate relics from a bygone age. Follow these steps to start planning your trip.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Book Train Travel From Alexandria to Mersa Matruh

1. Get your seats online via the Egyptian National Railways Web site (see Resources below).

2. Reserve by calling the Egyptian National Railway's Mersa Matruh office at 011 ([phone].

3. Reserve your seats through an Egyptian travel agent. Bookings can be made via fax or email. Reserving by fax is your best bet.

4. Travel time runs from six to seven hours. Only two trains follow this route daily. One leaves Alexandria around 6:40 a.m.; the other around 1:30 p.m.

5. Prepare yourself for accommodations that can be described as basic at best. Express trains do not run from Alexandria to Mersa Matruh. Your only choice is the ordinary train that's far more rustic. It offers few amenities and no air-conditioning.

Prepare for Train Travel From Alexandria to Mersa Matruh

6. Pack a swimsuit. Mersa Matruh is famous for its beaches. You'll want to fully enjoy the region's white sands and clear waters.

7. Unless you're a national of Malta, South Africa or Zimbabwe, you'll need a visa to enter Egypt. Apply for one with your country's Egyptian embassy.

8. Buy a book that offers translations of Arabic numbers. Most Egyptians speak some English and French; but train stations show arrival and departure times only in Arabic. Understanding the numbers will be of great assistance in your travels.

Enjoy Mersa Matruh

9. Visit Rommel's Hideout. This vast cave has been converted into one of Egypt's most impressive military museums.

10. Swim the Mediterranean. Mersa Matruh is home to an exquisite beach with a history that dates back to the days of Alexander the Great.

11. See the Coptic Chapel. Built centuries ago, this chapel offers a network of caves carved with mysterious inscriptions.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the U.S. international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00."
• All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Located on the Egyptian coast, Mersa Matruh is a seaport. In recent years, it has become a resort haven for Cairo natives during the hot summer months.