CityBuddy
Al Ayjah Watchtower
Best time to visit
Arrive before 5 PM to see the gate closing ceremony, the most impressive moment of the day. Early in the morning there are the fewest people and the best light for photos.
Budget tips
Entry is free, but it is worth having small change for tips for the guards, who are happy to show the inner mechanism. The Sur city visitor card is not valid here.
Recommended for
History enthusiasts, Photography enthusiasts, Seekers of cultural experiences
Plan your visit
30-45 min
About
Quick facts: On the walls of this tower, traces of Dutch cannonballs from 19th-century sea battles are still visible. Three times a day, the opening and closing of the city gates of Sur, connecting the old town with the ocean, is controlled from here.
Highlights: The tower still houses an original 18th-century mechanism that controls the massive iron gates. In the evening, when the sun sets over Sur Bay, the guards sound a trumpet signal and the gates close ceremoniously, just as they did 200 years ago.
Insider tips
- Once you climb to the top, you will see the entire old town of Sur and the port, worth spending 5 minutes enjoying the view.
- Photograph the gate opening ceremony from the opposite side of the bay, so the shot is most impressive.
- At noon it is especially hot here, so do not forget a head covering and water.
- If you want to see the gate mechanism up close, politely ask the guards, they usually allow it.
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