Practical Information The city’s main road runs diagonally southeast from the train station at Orabi Sq. to the Ismailiya Canal via Goumhouriya Sq. Many of Ismailiya’s restaurants, hotels, and shops are on Sultan Hussein St., which trots north-south about five blocks east of Orabi Sq. From the train station, walk to the left (as you face it) until you reach the level crossing; turn right and the bus station will be 100m on your right. The post office (open Sat.-Thurs. 8am-4pm; closed on holidays) and the elecommunications office (open 24 hrs.) are both on Orabi Sq., and the police station (tel. 122) is in the Governorate Building along the canal on Salah Salam St., two blocks south of Goumhouriya Sq. The tourist office, on the left side of Salah Salam St., just past the intersection with Sultan Hussein, hands out largely useless maps (open Sat.-Thurs. 8am-2pm, Fri. 10am-2pm).

The easiest place to change money is at the Bank of Alexandria on the eastern side of Orabi Sq. The general hospital is appropriately located on Hospital St. in the Al-Arishayat Masr district (tel. 22 20 46/7; open 24 hrs.). Dial 123 for an ambulance. For minor maladies, go to the Ismailiya Pharmacy at 24 Sultan Hussein St. (Tel. 22 93 19; claims to be open daily 24 hrs.)

Midway along the Suez Canal, Ismailiya is linked by road and the Ismailiya Canal to the Delta, and by highway and railroad to Cairo (160km) and Alexandria (280km). Buses leave daily for Cairo every hour from 6:30anv7:30pm (I.E5) and depart for Al-Arish (4 per day, 7am, 2:30pm, 3:30pm and 7pm; LE6.25). There are also frequent departures to Port Said (LE4) and Suez (LE3). You can also get to Cairo by train; locomotives leave Ismailiya six times per day (2nd-class LE3-40, with A/C LE7.35). Service taxis depart from opposite the bus station. There is frequent and fast service to Cairo (LE4.50), Port Said (LE3) and Al-Arish (LE6).