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The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qaitbay Citadel, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa and a seafood lunch on the Corniche are the essential four. Alexandria is Egypt's Mediterranean city — Greco-Roman ruins, a breezy seafront and the country's best seafood rather than pyramids. The headline sights sit close together, so one well-planned day (or two to slow down) covers them, and a guided tour is the easiest way to link them up — including as a day trip from Cairo.
Alexandria feels like a different country from the rest of Egypt, and that's exactly why we love bringing people here. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC and once home to the legendary Library and the Pharos Lighthouse, this is a Mediterranean city of sea spray, faded royal glamour and layered Greek, Roman, Ottoman and modern history — with barely a pharaoh in sight. We guide day tours here every week, and the pattern is always the same: visitors arrive expecting more temples and leave raving about the seafront, the catacombs and the best fish lunch of their trip. The sights cluster from the western harbour to the eastern gardens, so it all fits into one satisfying day.
The modern reincarnation of the ancient Library is a stunning disc of glass and granite tilted toward the sea, its outer wall carved with scripts from every world alphabet. Inside is a cavernous, light-filled reading room plus museums of antiquities and manuscripts and rotating art shows. We always suggest a guided interior tour — the architecture alone is worth the ticket. Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Built in the 1480s on the exact spot where the Pharos Lighthouse once stood, this honey-coloured fortress guards the harbour mouth and delivers the best sea views in the city. It's compact, breezy and endlessly photogenic, especially in late afternoon light. Local tip: pair it with a wander through the Anfoushi fish market and a seafood lunch nearby. Qaitbay Citadel
Egypt's largest Greco-Roman burial complex spirals three storeys underground, blending pharaonic, Greek and Roman funerary art in one eerie, atmospheric maze. Discovered by accident in 1900 when a donkey fell through the ground, it's one of the strangest and most rewarding sites in the country. Wear closed shoes — the spiral staircase can be damp and slippery. Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa
Standing 27 metres tall in red Aswan granite, this is the largest ancient monolithic column in Egypt — misnamed by Crusaders after Pompey, but actually raised for Emperor Diocletian around 297 AD. The surrounding hilltop, with its granite sphinxes and the ruins of the Serapeum temple, is quick to explore and sits a short hop from the catacombs, so we always visit the two together. Pompey's Pillar
The former royal summer palace sits in sprawling seaside gardens of palms and pines on the city's eastern edge. You can't go inside the palace itself, but the grounds, private beach and Florentine turret make a lovely, breezy stroll away from the downtown traffic. It's a local favourite for family picnics at weekends, and the sunset over the bay here is glorious. Montaza Palace
The only Roman amphitheatre in Egypt, with thirteen tiers of white-and-grey marble seating and mosaic-floored villas alongside it. It's small but beautifully preserved, right in the city centre near Misr train station, and easy to combine with the National Museum. Go early in the day to have the marble terraces almost to yourself before the tour groups arrive.
Alexandria's soul lives on its waterfront. Stroll the sweeping Corniche promenade that hugs the great curving bay, dodging the sea spray and the fishermen, then head east to the elegant Stanley Bridge with its Ottoman-style turrets arcing over the beach. Doing this at sunset, ice cream in hand, is the most authentically Alexandrian thing you can possibly do.
Housed in a restored Italianate villa, this compact, well-curated museum tells the city's story across three floors — pharaonic, Greco-Roman, and Coptic-and-Islamic — including finds recovered from the sunken royal quarter beneath the harbour. It's the perfect one-hour orientation if you want the historical context before heading out to the ruins themselves.
The most beautiful mosque in Alexandria, with cream stone, a soaring minaret and four domes, sits in the atmospheric Anfoushi district near the citadel. Non-Muslim visitors can admire the exterior and, outside prayer times, usually step inside if dressed modestly. The tangle of old streets around it is full of genuine old-Alexandria character and great little cafés.
No visit is complete without a long, lazy seafood lunch. Pick your catch from the ice, have it grilled or fried, and pair it with tahini, salads, rice and warm bread — this is the meal locals travel from Cairo for. The Anfoushi fish-market restaurants near Qaitbay and the classic Corniche spots are our reliable go-tos.
Tell us when you can travel and we'll suggest the ideal route and season — usually within the hour.
Chat with a local expertBecause the sights spread from the western harbour to the eastern gardens, a guided day tour is the easiest way to see the highlights without wrestling with taxis, parking and opening times. Our local Egyptologists handle every logistic and bring the layered Greek, Roman and Ottoman history to life. Browse the full range on our Alexandria day tours page, or pick a highlights tour with a seafood lunch already built in. Alexandria day tours Alexandria day tour highlights with lunch
Many travellers visit Alexandria as a day trip from Cairo, and it works beautifully — it's roughly 2.5–3 hours each way by car along the desert road. A private, door-to-door tour makes it a comfortable single long day, taking in the catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, the library and Qaitbay Citadel before heading back to Cairo by evening. If you're based in Cairo, this is by far the least stressful way to do it. Alexandria day tour from Cairo by car
★ Ready to explore Alexandria the easy way? Our private Alexandria day tours cover every highlight with a local Egyptologist, a comfortable car and a seafood lunch by the sea — whether you start in Alexandria or come as a day trip from Cairo. See our Alexandria day tours Alexandria day tours
One full, well-planned day is enough for Alexandria's headline sights — the catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, the amphitheatre, Qaitbay Citadel and the library — with a seafood lunch in between. Give it two days if you want to slow down, wander Montaza's gardens and soak up the café culture. Most visitors fold Alexandria into a wider Egypt trip, so it pairs naturally with Cairo; see how the two cities fit together and browse our multi-day packages to combine them. Things to do in Cairo 8-day Egypt itinerary Best Egypt tour packages
We'll tell you honestly what the weather and crowds are really like for your travel dates.
Chat with a local expertAlexandria sits about 220 km northwest of Cairo. The fastest options are a private car (2.5–3 hours via the desert road) or the frequent trains from Cairo's Ramses Station (2–2.5 hours on the express), and there are a handful of flights into Borg El Arab airport. Within the city, taxis and Uber are cheap and easy, while the historic tram is charming but slow. For the full breakdown of routes, times and costs, see our dedicated Cairo-to-Alexandria guide. Cairo to Alexandria guide
For first-timers we recommend basing yourself along the Corniche between downtown and Stanley — you'll be walking distance from the seafront, the restaurants and many of the sights, with sea-view rooms at every budget. The San Stefano and Stanley areas are quieter and more upmarket, while downtown is best for history buffs and evening buzz. Our full where-to-stay guide breaks down every neighbourhood. Where to stay in Alexandria
As a Mediterranean city, Alexandria is milder and wetter than the rest of Egypt. Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are ideal — warm, breezy and good for both sightseeing and the beach. Summer is the liveliest season, when half of Egypt seems to holiday here, but it's crowded and humid. Winter is mild but can bring grey skies and rain. See our full seasonal guide to time it right. Best time to visit Egypt
★ Want Alexandria as part of a bigger Egypt trip? Tell us your dates and interests and we'll build a private, tailor-made itinerary — Cairo, Alexandria, the Nile and the Red Sea, all with your own guide and driver. Plan a tailor-made Egypt tour Tailor-made Egypt tour
Join one of the best Alexandria day tours with our experts and explore top Alexandria sightseeing attractions, including the Pompey’s Pillar, Qaitbay...
Enjoy an unforgettable Alexandria day trip from Cairo on a private guided tour to Egypt’s Mediterranean pearl. Join a Cairo to Alexandria private day...
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