Beyond the temple, about 2km to the south on the same road, lies the cool and mossy Pool of Cleopatra. Like many of the approximately 200 natural springs in Siwa, this one has been encircled with a stone basin, with an irrigation duct running out one end. This pool is popular with local men and boys, but fully clothed women should also feel comfortable swimming here, and are free to enter the enclosure next to the spring. On the other side of town the gorgeous Pool of Fatnus ripples out on an island in the middle of a salt lake (accessible by a small causeway), providing a spectacular setting for an afternoon swim. Although smaller in diameter than the Pool of Cleopatra, this spring is more attractive and less visited. A bathing suit with a shirt on top is acceptable attire for women.

The road to Al-Maraqi, which traverses a low desert pass, is lined with craggy yellow buttes honeycombed with caves and Roman tombs. The village of Al-Maraqi lies in its own lush oasis, virtually severed from the rest of Siwa by the clenching fingers of the desert. Several dozen Bedouin families inhabit this western fringe of Siwa. Al-Maraqi makes a good daytrip (by local bus) from Siwa town. After traveling two hours on a twisting road, the bus will stop in Al-Maraqi and then turn around for the return trip. The round-trip fare is 75pt. (Contact the tourist office for a bus schedule.) The tourist office can also arrange car trips to Al-Maraqi or to Abu Shrouf, noted for its ruined Roman temples and five splendorous springs.