Practical Information

To reach the banks in Qena, turn right from the main square on Al-Goumhouriya St. (500m west of the train station). The Banque du Caire is 100m down the street on the west side, the Bank of Alexandria 300m farther just past the mosques. (Both open daily 8am-2pm and 6pm-9pm.) To get to the post office, go from the train station to the main square, make a left, and walk 100m. (Open Sat.-Thurs. 8am-2:30pm.) The telephone office is on your left as you walk west under the aquamarine archway from the main square (open 24 hrs). Another office in the train station only places calls within Egypt. The telephone code is 096-There is a police office in the train station (tel. 32 52 84). The main office is just behind the bus station.

Each of Qena’s important transit centers is in a different part of town. The best way to get from one train, bus, or taxi terminal to another is to hail a horse carriage (LEl-1.50for 1-3 people, with bargaining. Don’t abuse the horse by cramming more than 3 people in the carriage). The train station is located at the intersection of Al-Mahatta St. and Al-Coumhouriya St. There are ten trains daily to Cairo (llhr., 2nd-classA/CLE2O.5O, students Hi-price) and ten trains daily to Luxor (2hr., 2nd-class A/ C LE5.60, students LE3-5O). You can reach the bus station by walking forward out of the train station (down Al-Goumhouriya) until you reach a large square (500m). Turn right and continue past the mosques; the station will be on the left. Buses are often slow and crowded. Buses to Hurghada run at least every hour in the morning, more often in the evening (3 hr., LE5-10, make reservations). Buses to Luxor run every hour (LEI.50), and there is generally frequent service to Dendera as well (20pt).

Service taxis and pickup trucks to Dendera are more convenient than buses. Hail northbound service taxis either one block west of the bus station or from a taxi depot just to the east of the Nile bridge, lkm north of the bus station. Service to Dendera is 35-5Opt. If you’re going to Abydos, say you want to go to Balyana (LE5); if you mention Abydos, which is only 3km farther, you’ll have to refuse offers for a special taxi. It’s LE5 to Sohag, and taxis go as far as Assyut (LE8). For southbound service taxis, walk to the right from the front of the train station toward the bridge spanning the canal. Cross and walk to the right side of the square. Frequent service to Luxor (LE2) and Aswan (LE9). To reach Esna, change at Luxor. To reach Edfu or Kom Ombo you’ll have to pay the full fare to Aswan. Hail taxis to Hurghada at the far comer of the southbound station square, in front of the large mosque (LE8).

Local taxis depart from the square beyond the bus station and the Bank of Alexandria, or wherever you happen to find one. Fare to Dendera is LE7-10 round-trip wirii earnest bargaining.