During World War II, several battles were fought around its environs as the Italo-German Panzer Army Africa attempted to capture the port.

The city features soft white sand beaches and calm transparent waters; the bay is protected from the high seas by a series of rocks forming a natural breakwater, with a small opening to allow access for light vessels.

It became known as Ammonia (Ancient Greek: Ἀμμωνία, Ammōnía)[citation needed] after the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great of Macedon in the 4th century BC.

Starting with the completion of an extension from the previous railhead at Fuka in February 1936,[8] Mersa Matruh was the terminus for a single-track railway, which passed through El Alamein.

[citation needed] Mersa Matruh and Port Said have the coolest summer days of all Egyptian cities and resorts, although not significantly cooler than other northern coastal places.