Suakin
Sudan · Red Sea · 5 m
Description
Suakin was the great Red Sea port of Sudan for centuries, an island town built entirely of blocks cut from coral and faced with white plaster, with Ottoman merchant houses of three and four storeys and carved wooden mashrabiya screens. When Port Sudan opened to the north the trade moved away, the island was abandoned, and the coral walls slowly dissolved into pale rubble. A few buildings have been consolidated and the Ottoman gate restored. The mainland town still runs the ferry to Jeddah, which fills the quay with pilgrims and traders.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 day
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – March
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Suakin coral island ruins
- Ottoman merchant houses
- Restored Ottoman gate & causeway
- Shafi'i Mosque ruins
- Suakin ferry quay to Jeddah
- Khorshid & Beit Shennawi houses
- Suakin lagoon & mangroves
- Beja traders in the mainland town
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- PZU
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry