Exploring the Distance Between Egypt and Turkey – Two Countries Linked Through History

At the crossroads of Europe Asia and Africa, Turkey and Egypt have been entwined for millennia through culture, trade, and empire. Their proximity along the Mediterranean helped facilitate this interaction. But just how far apart are these two countries with such intertwined histories? Whether traveling for trade or tourism, the distance has been bridged countless times over the centuries. Let’s measure the miles from Cairo to Istanbul and examine the links between Egypt and Turkey.

Getting Perspective: How Far is Egypt from Turkey at Their Closest Point?

To start grasping the scale, let’s look at the closest distance between Egypt and Turkey:

• At the narrowest sea crossing, Egypt and Turkey are separated by approximately 395 miles from Tasucu, Turkey to Alexandria, Egypt.

• This is roughly the distance from Chicago to Indianapolis or London to Paris as the crow flies,

• Sailing directly between the port cities of Mersin Turkey and Alexandria Egypt spans about 415 miles.

• Istanbul to Alexandria is approximately 560 miles across the Mediterranean Sea.

So at their nearest approach, Egypt and Turkey are within 400 miles of each other. This relatively close proximity helped facilitate interaction across the Mediterranean for thousands of years.

Examining the Travel Time from Egypt to Turkey

For modern travelers, what are the options and durations for directly transiting between Egypt and Turkey?

• A passenger ferry takes around 18 hours to sail between Tasucu, Turkey and Alexandria, Egypt covering 395 miles.

• Alternately, the ferry route from Mersin to Alexandria runs around 20 hours for the slightly longer 415 mile journey.

• Passenger ships connecting Istanbul and Alexandria cover 560 miles in about 30 hours.

• For those prone to seasickness, flying is faster. Direct flights from Cairo to Istanbul take 3.5 hours to traverse the roughly 1,100 miles.

So thanks to modern transportation, travelers can directly connect Egypt and Turkey in as little as 3.5 hours by air or make the scenic ferry passage in about a day.

Key Landmarks En Route Between Egypt and Turkey

Whether crossing directly or overland, which major cities and landmarks lie along the route connecting Egypt and Turkey?

• Traveling from Cairo to Istanbul passes through the Mediterranean coast and cities of Alexandria and Mersin in Egypt and Turkey.

• Sailing from Istanbul to Port Said provides views of the Gallipoli Peninsula and Dardanelles Strait, significant WWI sites.

• Overland routes pass through the cities of Aleppo and Gaziantep in Syria and Kahramanmaraş in Turkey.

• The ancient Syrian city of Antioch was an important crossing point on trade and pilgrimage routes between Turkey and Egypt.

• The island of Cyprus sits midway between Egypt and Turkey off the southern Turkish coast.

So modern travelers journey in the footsteps of merchants and pilgrims that crisscrossed these sites linking Egypt and Turkey.

Examining Overland Routes Between Egypt and Turkey

For those looking to road trip between Cairo and Istanbul, overland routes provide an adventurous alternative to flying or sailing directly:

• The shortest drive from Cairo to Istanbul covers around 1,550 miles and takes about 27 hours of nonstop driving through Israel, Jordan and Syria.

• Taking the southern route through Saudi Arabia lengthens the drive to about 2,350 miles via Aqaba and Haql. Driving time exceeds 40 hours.

• Following relics of the ancient Silk Road takes you 2,600 miles through Jordan, Syria, and Turkey. You would pass through Damascus and Aleppo before reaching Turkey. Driving time is around 45 hours.

• Tracing the pilgrim trail connects 2,100 miles through the Sinai, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. Key sites include Mt. Sinai, Petra, Palmyra, and Antioch. Expect around 37 hours of driving.

So while direct sea and air connections are fastest, adventurous overland routes let you follow in the footsteps of history. Just be sure to plan border crossings carefully in this region.

Ancient Trade Routes That Linked Egypt and Turkey

The relatively short distances between Egypt and Turkey enabled extensive trade and exchange for millennia:

• The city of Antioch in Turkey was the western terminus of the ancient Silk Road connecting China through Mesopotamia and Anatolia to Egypt and seaports on the Mediterranean.

• Spices, textiles, medicines, and agricultural goods flowed between Egypt and Turkey overland via caravan and by sea.

• The Ancient Egyptians imported lumber from the forests of southern Turkey for construction, furniture, and shipbuilding.

• The legendary “Elephantine Route” brought live elephants from Syria through Turkey and on to Egypt to be used in war.

• The fertile Nile Valley exported grain, papyrus, gold, linen, and glassware throughout the eastern Mediterranean, including to Turkey.

So proximity and complementing resources facilitated robust trade between Egypt and Turkey dating back thousands of years to the very origins of civilization.

Shared History Between Turkey and Egypt Under the Ottomans

In more recent centuries, Egypt and Turkey’s histories were directly intertwined:

• The Ottoman Empire conquered Egypt in 1517 CE, ushering in 300 years of Ottoman rule. This imperial expansion connected Turkey with Egypt and beyond.

• Under the Ottomans, Istanbul and Cairo were linked as two of the largest cities and centers of power, trade, and culture in the Empire.

• The Ottomans expanded the overland “Pilgrim Road” through the Levant to facilitate travel to Mecca, benefiting trade between Turkey and Egypt.

• Goods like coffee, textiles, and spices flowed within the Ottoman trade network between Turkey and the Egyptian port of Alexandria for export to Europe.

• A late 19th century railroad connecting Alexandria and Cairo through the Levant to Turkey strengthened connections before the Ottoman withdrawal.

So for 300 years up through World War I, Egypt and Turkey were part of the same Ottoman sphere, with Istanbul governing Egypt from afar.

Cultural Connections Bridging Turkey and Egypt

Beyond trade and politics, Egypt and Turkey also share cultural and religious ties:

• As centers of Islamic civilization, Cairo and Istanbul both became thriving hubs for religion, philosophy, science, and arts during the Islamic Golden Age.

• Turkish art and architecture influenced styles and techniques seen in mosques, schools, and houses across Ottoman-ruled Egypt.

• Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, spread via adherents traveling between Egypt and Turkey over the centuries.

• Belly dancing traditions draw on both Turkish and Egyptian roots, blending Romani, Arabic, and Anatolian influences.

• Egyptian-style rosewater and orange blossom extracts became staples in Ottoman era Turkish cosmetics and perfumes.

These lasting cultural exchanges were facilitated by Egypt and Turkey’s proximity across the Mediterranean Sea.

The relatively close sea crossing of just 400 miles between Egypt and Turkey enabled millennia of interaction. Trade caravans and sailing ships carried goods back and forth across this link between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East countless times. Conquering armies like the Ottomans spread influence in both directions. Today, cheap flights and ferry service reconnect this historic crossing in just hours or days. So the next time you embark on travel between Egypt and Turkey, appreciate that you are retracing connections across the Mediterranean forged over centuries.