With mile after mile of white sandy beaches, Marina El Alamein has become a Mediterranean playground for those seeking sun, sand, and surf. But while the modern holiday complexes on the shoreline and the party spots around Marina Lake are an attractive spot for party-goers and sunbathers, the area is also famous for a darker chapter in history. The area around El Alamein was the location of two key World War II battles, where thousands of soldiers from numerous nations paid the ultimate price. Today various battlefield cemeteries are carefully maintained in the area, welcoming visitors eager to pay their respects to those who fell during the dark days of the 1940s. Naturally, the sun and history of the area mean there is plenty to see during your visit. Read on for some of the things to do in Marina El Alamein, Egypt.
1. Travel back in time at El Alamein World War II Military Museum (from USD 215.0)
As mentioned, El Alamein was a pivotal moment in World War II. Its significance is perhaps best reflected in comments by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill after the war: “It may almost be said: ‘Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat’.” But that victory came at a heavy cost - with thousands of soldiers on both sides paying dearly. This seven-hour private tour picks people up from their hotels in Alexandria or Cairo, and transports them to El Alamein, where they will visit the World War II Military Museum containing some of the military equipment and tanks which were used in the battle. The tour will also visit the Commonwealth and German cemeteries as well as the actual battle site. The tour fee includes entry costs and experienced guide.
Cairo or Alexandria to El Alamein Private Full-Day Guided Tour
Duration: 7 hours
2. Tour the famous Marina El Alamein town
Today Marina El Alamein may be a modern tourist resort, but its story stretches back much further - and eagle eyed tourists will find the old and new rubbing shoulders. Some 2000 years ago it was a bustling port known as Leukaspis or Antiphrae, and a key Mediterranean location within the Greco-Roman world. But that all ended when a massive tsunami struck, destroying the port and forcing the settlement to be abandoned. Today the desert around Marina El Alamein still features some of those remains so keep an eye out. And even if you fail to spot them, the modern beach resorts that punctuate Marina El Alamein, such as Diamond Beach Village, will certainly offer plenty of distractions - should you happen to be staying at one.
Diamond Beach Village
Address: Alexandria - Marsa Matrouh Rd, Qesm Marina, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt
3. Pay homage to the war victims at the Italian Memorial (from USD 213.0)
Of course, German forces were not the only Axis power in the battles of El Alamein. Scores of Italians and Libyans also fought and died, and they are remembered at the striking Italian Memorial which sits roughly where the front line was. The memorial features a long tree-lined path and an imposing marble-clad tower, inside which are plaques with the names of the fallen. The site is also home to a mosque and chapel, where people can pay their respects, as well as a hall of remembrance. At the complex’s entrance there is also a small museum. You can choose to visit the site under your own steam, or as part of a wider day tour of the El Alamein area, such as the one below which visits the town’s military museum, as well as the Italian, German and Commonwealth cemeteries.
El Alamein Day Trip from Alexandria port
Duration: 6 hours
4. Walk along thousands of tombstones at El Alamein War Cemetery
The immaculately maintained El Alamein War Cemetery gives you some idea of the sheer scale of the loss of life during the war. Today, its row after row of serried grave stones, interspersed by desert plants, contain the burials of some 7,240 Commonwealth soldiers. Only 815 have been identified - a sobering reminder not just of the human cost, but also of the heartbreaking fact that so many who fought and died went unidentified. The cemetery is also home to the Alamein Memorial, through which you enter the site, and the Alamein Cremation Memorial, which marks the lives of some 600 men who were cremated in Libya and Egypt during the war.
El Alamein War Cemetery
Address: Markaz Al Alamein, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt
Website: Commonwealth War Graves Commssion
5. Have good time at Marina White Beach
As mentioned earlier, Marina El Alamein itself is a popular tourist spot thanks to its miles of impressive sands, and the Marina Lake - a saltwater lagoon/marina right down on the seafront - is a particular highlight. Its sheltered sands are surrounded by marina resort buildings - from the multiple-storey complex of the Hotel Porto Marina Resort and Spa to the lower level villas on other stretches. And, among these locations are a number of nightspots such as Marina White Beach - which lives up to its name by boasting picture postcard sands. Located near the Maxim hotel at Marina 5, this popular resort spot features party music on the beach - such as techno - and features dance and foam parties among its activities.
Marina White Beach
Address: Marina 5 north coast 65454 El Alamein, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt
Website: Marina White Beach
6. Sunbathe in the marvellous German Memorial Beach
Although the conflict of WWII looms large, the area is also famed for its turquoise seas and white sands, and one noteworthy stretch of sand is named after a nearby WWII memorial. The so-called German Memorial Beach is a popular sunbathing spot and lies a 2 km (1.25 mile) walk in front of the eponymous war memorial. The beach can be reached from the memorial itself (the keeper will open the gate that leads toward the beach), but if you’ve a vehicle which can handle the sand, the beach can also be reached via a sand track which turns off the main road just over 100 metres (300-400 ft) before you reach the memorial. Naturally, the quietness of the beach means there’s no lifeguard cover so bear this in mind if heading there.
Memorial to the German Military El Alamein
Address: Alexandria - Marsa Matrouh Rd, Markaz Al Alamein, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt
History and stunning sands await
History and picture postcard beaches rub shoulders at Marina El Alamein. So, whether you’re there simply to enjoy yourself, or to pay homage to those who sacrificed everything in one of the world’s most devastating conflicts, there’s an array of fascinating locations and sights awaiting you in this corner of Egypt.
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