Ras el-Barr

Ras el-Barr is a seaside town and resort at the mouth of the Damietta branch of the Nile in Damietta Governorate on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. It is a prominent domestic holiday destination for Egyptians because of its long sandy beaches and seaside promenade.

The town’s primary draws are its beaches, seaside hotels and cafes, and a long seafront promenade used for walks and local leisure. There are shallow bathing areas and informal beach facilities rather than large international-resort infrastructure.

Originally a fishing and river-port settlement, the place grew into a coastal resort serving visitors from the Nile Delta and the greater Cairo region. Over time it developed holiday houses, seasonal businesses and beachside amenities catering to summer visitors.

Ras el-Barr occupies the head of a sand spit where the Damietta Nile branch flows into the Mediterranean, on the northern edge of the Nile Delta. It lies within Damietta Governorate on Egypt’s northern coastline.

• Season: Best visited in summer months when the beaches and seaside facilities are in use.
• Geography: Sits at the tip of a sandy spit where the Damietta branch of the Nile meets the Mediterranean, so much of the settlement fronts onto beaches and shallow water.