Orientation
Matruh (you can drop the official "Marsa" part of the name locally, and will get blank looks if you call the town "Marsa") is situated on a wide bay. The main "downtown" area is concentrated around Alexandria Street (Shara' Iskandreya), which is the main route from the train and bus stations and from the airport. Alexandria Street meets the Corniche at the eastern end of the bay near the Riviera Palace. The Beau Site is located at the other end. The beaches and the museum are located farther west.
Getting There
By Air -- During the summer months, there are three flights a week into Matruh. As they are scrubbed for the winter and then rescheduled in the spring, it is best to check the EgyptAir website (www.egyptair.com) or ask your travel agent. The taxi into town will set you back about LE20 ($3.60/£1.85).
By Bus -- The West Delta bus station is on the Matruh-Alexandria road about 2km (1 1/4 miles) from the seaside. There are usually plenty of blue-and-white taxis around. Five pounds (90¢/45p) will take you almost anywhere in town. Buses to Alexandria leave at 7:30am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm, and 2am. Tickets are LE12 ($2.20/£1.10).
By Train -- The train station is close to the bus station, and though taxis, in my experience, are more scarce here, you should have no problem picking up a blue-and-white to take you to your hotel for LE5 (90¢/45p). Trains arrive from Alexandria at about 1 and 8pm.
Fast Facts
Getting online in Matruh is harder than most places in Egypt. The best place to go is a dank little store with no name in the "mall" at the very bottom of Iskandreya Street, across from the Riveria Palace Hotel.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
