How to Plan a Day Trip to Alexandria, Egypt From Cairo

We visited Alexandria on a day trip from Cairo during our multi-day ‘Jewels of the Nile’ tour of Egypt, and after more than a decade of researching and writing first-hand travel guides, it is a trip we’d happily recommend to the right traveler. Founded by Alexander the Great around 331 BC and nicknamed the Pearl of the Mediterranean (locals just call it Alex), Alexandria is Egypt’s second largest city and its main port on the Mediterranean coast.

In its Hellenistic heyday, Alexandria was home to the Great Library and the Pharos, the lighthouse that ranked among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it was the setting for the story of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony. Modern Alexandria has lost a lot of that grandeur, and today you’ll find concrete apartment blocks and traffic filled streets sitting right alongside the history. But with a little patience, the Greco-Roman monuments, the citadel, the palaces, and the Old-World cafés are all still here to be found.

Most travelers see Alexandria as a day trip from Cairo, as we did, although it also works well as a base for a couple of days if you have the time. Below we cover whether the day trip is worth it, a realistic one-day plan, how to get there and get around, current 2026 prices, and a full rundown of the city’s sights for anyone who decides to stay longer.

 

Is Alexandria Worth a Day Trip From Cairo?

Yes, Alexandria is worth a day trip from Cairo if you’re interested in ancient and Greco-Roman history, want to see the Mediterranean side of Egypt, and do not mind a long day of travel. It is not the right trip if your time in Egypt is short and you would rather spend it at the Pyramids, in Luxor, or on the Red Sea.

The thing to weigh up is the math of the day. Alexandria sits about 225 km (140 miles) northwest of Cairo, which works out to roughly 2.5 to 3 hours each way by train, bus, or car. That is five to six hours of round-trip travel wrapped around however long you actually spend in the city. Leave Cairo early and you realistically get six to eight hours on the ground, which is enough for the main highlights but not for a slow wander.

So who is it for? If your Egypt trip is only a few days and centered on Cairo and the Nile, we’d skip Alexandria this time and save it for a return visit. If you have a week or more, or you love Roman history and Mediterranean port cities, a day here is time well spent. And if you can spare a night, staying over turns a rushed day into a relaxed one and lets you see the sights without watching the clock.

 

One Day in Alexandria: A Realistic Itinerary

If you only have one day, do not try to see everything. Alexandria’s sights are strung out along the coast, and traffic alone can eat an hour getting from one end of the Corniche to the other. Here is the route we’d prioritize for a single day, ordered to keep backtracking to a minimum:

• Start early at Pompey’s Pillar and the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, the two big ancient sites, which are within walking distance of each other.
• Head to the Citadel of Qaitbay out on the harbor (the exterior and the sea views are the real draw; go inside only if you have time to spare).
• Walk the harbor and have lunch at a seafood restaurant near the citadel.
• Travel east along the Corniche to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, adding the Alexandria National Museum if you’re moving quickly (it is a short hop away).
• Continue along the Corniche past Stanley Bridge and finish at the Montaza Gardens for the exterior of the Al-Haramlik Palace and a walk in the grounds.

What we’d leave off a one-day plan: the beaches (they swallow time and you’re not here to swim), the shopping malls, and the museums beyond the library unless one of them is a particular interest. The beautiful Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque is an easy addition near the citadel, about a 15-minute walk, if you’re keeping up a good pace.

This is a full day. The distances between sites are not huge, but you can lose over an hour getting from the library to Montaza when the traffic is bad, so an early start really matters, especially if you’re coming from Cairo. It is also much easier with a driver, private transfer, or tour than on public transport, where getting from place to place will eat further into your day.

 

Getting to Alexandria From Cairo

Most people reach Alexandria from Cairo, and you have plenty of options: train, bus, a private car or transfer, a guided tour, or a domestic flight. Here is how they compare for a day trip.

Option	Time each way	Cost	Best for
Train (1st class express)	about 2.5 hours	about $40 USD foreigner fare	Independent travelers who want comfort and a set schedule
Bus (Go Bus, Blue Bus, Super Jet)	2.5 to 3 hours	about EGP 200 to 350	Budget travelers happy with a simpler ride
Private car or transfer	2.5 to 3 hours	varies (negotiate or book ahead)	Families or groups who want door-to-door flexibility
Guided day tour	2.5 to 3 hours	from about $80 per person	First timers who want zero logistics and a guide
Domestic flight	about 45 minutes flying	varies	Rarely worth it for a day trip (see below)

If you want to travel independently, we’d take the train. For the least hassle, join a day tour or hire a private car service. Those on a tight budget should look at the bus, though train tickets are reasonably priced too.

 

Alexandria by Train

There is a good, comfortable express train service between Cairo and Alexandria, with the fastest trains taking about 2.5 hours. Most trains leave from Cairo’s main Ramses Station and arrive into Misr Station (the primary station) or Sidi Gaber in Alexandria. We would take one of the modern air-conditioned 1st class express trains for the most comfort and the best time savings.

One important change to know about: foreigners now pay fares that are set in US dollars, and a 1st class VIP express ticket runs around $40. Since December 2022, non-Egyptians can no longer buy these foreigner fares on the Egyptian National Railways website (it sells only Egyptian-citizen fares). Instead, you buy in person at the station’s foreign reservation office (at Ramses in Cairo) or through a booking agent such as 12Go or Bookaway. If you want to understand the system before you go, this guide to buying train tickets in Egypt from Seat 61 is the best resource we know of.

Ordinary (non-express) trains are cheaper but slower and less comfortable, and foreigner access to them is limited, so for a day trip the 1st class express is the one to book.

 

Alexandria by Bus

Buses between Cairo and Alexandria usually take 2.5 to 3 hours. The comfortable, modern operators worth booking are Go Bus, Blue Bus, and Super Jet, all of which you can book online or at the station. Fares run roughly EGP 200 to 350 depending on the operator and class.

Bus schedules can be hard to pin down online, so it is best to either book in advance through the operator or arrange it once you’re in Egypt through your hotel or at the station.

 

Domestic Flights

EgyptAir, along with Nile Air and Air Cairo, flies between Cairo and Alexandria in about 45 minutes. The problem is that flights land at Borg El Arab International Airport, since the old Alexandria (El Nozha) airport has been closed since 2011, and Borg El Arab is about 45 km from the city center. Once you add check-in, the flight, and the transfer into town, flying rarely saves any time on a day trip, so most people are better off with the train, bus, or a car.

 

Taxis and Private Car Service

You can also hire a taxi or private transfer to drive you between the two cities, which takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Taxis are easy to find at the airports, train stations, and bus stations, or your hotel can arrange one. For a day trip, hiring a car and driver for the day is one of the most flexible options, since you can set your own pace and stops. Agree the price before you set off, and if you’re booking through your hotel, confirm exactly what is included.

 

Guided Tours

A guided tour is one of the easiest ways to do a day trip to Alexandria from Cairo. Your transport is covered and you get a guide, usually an Egyptologist, who can take you straight to the highlights and explain what you’re looking at, which makes a real difference at sites with few English signs. Because tourism in Egypt has had some tough years, tour prices here are lower than you would pay for something comparable in many other countries.

Before booking, compare prices, itineraries, and what is included. Here are some tours to consider:

• This full day tour from Cairo (from about $80 per person) covers round-trip transport, entrance fees to three attractions, and lunch, with a focus on the historical sites. It’s the one we’d book for a first visit.
• This guided Alexandria day tour is a good option if you’re already in the city, and includes transport within Alexandria, entrance fees, and lunch, along with stops such as St. Mark’s Church and the Abu al-Abbas Mosque.
• This private day tour from Cairo includes round-trip transport, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, and visits to most of the city’s highlights. The itinerary is similar to the day trip we did.
• This overnight trip adds round-trip transport, a guide, entrance fees, a night’s lodging in Alexandria, and breakfast, which gives you plenty of time to see everything at a gentler pace.

We visited Alexandria as a side trip on a longer Egypt tour we took with Travel Talk Tours. If you’re interested in a longer guided trip, you can read Laurence’s write-up of that Jewels of the Nile Egypt tour over on Finding the Universe.

 

Renting a Car

Renting a car in Egypt is fairly easy, and many of the international car hire agencies have offices at the airports and in major cities including Cairo and Alexandria. You will need an International Driving Permit (check how to apply in your own country) to rent and drive here.

There are two main routes between Cairo and Alexandria: the faster Route 75, which has tolls, or the slower Alexandria Agricultural Road via Tanta. Renting a car is easy enough, but drivers who aren’t used to Egyptian roads can find the driving and parking stressful, especially in the packed downtown areas.

We would suggest reading about other travelers’ experiences before deciding to drive yourself, as many seasoned drivers find driving in Egypt, and Cairo in particular, a real challenge. The Cairo to Alexandria run is fairly simple, but if you plan to go further afield, be aware that some desert roads are closed to tourist traffic and some routes are in poor condition once you leave the main roads.

 

Getting Around Within Alexandria

Within Alexandria there are several public transport options, including the tram network, the commuter rail, and public buses. There are also informal microbuses, but since the city has a public bus system you do not really need to rely on those, as they can be hard to figure out. Lonely Planet has a useful overview of getting around Egypt if you want more background, though concrete local information can be difficult to come by.

Schedules can be hard to find, so check at bus and tram stops or ask at your hotel. Having the names of the places you want to go written down in Arabic as well as English makes it much easier for locals to point you in the right direction. Numbers are often written in Arabic too, so keeping a table of Arabic numerals with you is a smart move.

Taxis are plentiful as well, though it is best to ask hotel staff or a local for normal fare prices and to agree the fare clearly with the driver before you set off.

 

How Much Time Do You Need in Alexandria?

Most people can cover the major sites, plus a few minor ones, by spending three days in Alexandria. If you just want to see a handful of the main highlights, you can do that on a day trip from Cairo, or by spending a full day and staying overnight. If we could go back, we’d definitely spend a night in the city so we could see more.

 

Best Time to Visit Alexandria

Alexandria, unlike most of Egypt, has a Mediterranean climate, with hot humid summers and mild rainy winters. It is humid throughout the year, but summers are especially humid during the day and temperatures can climb high, although the sea breezes help.

Many Egyptians vacation in Alexandria in summer to escape the heat in Cairo and elsewhere, so it gets busy then. Winters can be cool and rainy.

The best time to visit Alexandria for both weather and smaller crowds is spring (March to early June) and autumn (September to November).

 

Tips for Visiting Alexandria

First, as in much of Egypt, having a guide is really useful, because there are few information signs in English and it can be hard to appreciate a museum or an archaeological site without some background. We had an Egyptologist guide with us on our tour, which helped us get a lot more out of the sites. If you would rather not hire a guide, or one is outside your budget, consider buying a good guidebook to Egypt to read up on the main sights.

You do not need a guide for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, as a member of the library staff runs a free 30-minute guided tour (available in several languages) that is included with your entrance ticket.

Note that almost every attraction in Alexandria charges an entry fee, and prices have risen sharply in recent years as the Egyptian pound has weakened. As of 2026, the major antiquities sites for foreign visitors run roughly EGP 150 to 400, and many now take card payment only, so do not count on paying cash everywhere. We list current prices for the main sites further down.

Another helpful tip, especially if you’re traveling independently, is to carry a cheat sheet of common Arabic phrases and numbers. The numbers matter for reading prices, bus numbers, and train seats, and writing down the names of places you want to visit in Arabic really helps when you’re asking for directions or giving instructions to a taxi driver.

Carrying smaller bills and coins helps too, as we found that some shopkeepers could not make change for large notes. Tipping is customary for services, and it is good to keep a few Egyptian pound coins on you for the likes of shoe attendants and bathroom attendants (a tip is not obligatory, but a 50 piastre or 1 pound coin is appreciated).

Finally, dressing modestly is seen as a mark of respect for the local culture, and it also helps you avoid unwanted stares and comments. Although it is a seaside city, Alexandria is much more conservative than the Red Sea resorts, which cater to international tourists. Women here dress modestly even on the beaches, with a few exceptions at some of the private international hotel beaches. Anyone planning to enter a mosque or other religious site will need to dress modestly, and women may want to bring a scarf or wrap.

On safety, Alexandria and the Cairo to Alexandria corridor sit under a routine “exercise increased caution” posture from most governments, the same tier as much of Western Europe. The standing travel warnings for Egypt apply to the Sinai Peninsula and remote border areas, not to Alexandria. As anywhere, check your own government’s current travel advice before you go, and take normal precautions: the most common issue for tourists is petty theft such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, so keep an eye on your valuables.

 

Where to Find More Information

You can find further visitor information at the official Egypt tourism website and the tourism website for Alexandria. We didn’t travel with a guidebook in Egypt, but the Rough Guide to Egypt was one of the most highly recommended to us, and there’s also a Lonely Planet Egypt guide, both now in current editions.

Once you’re in Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a good place to buy a map and get information about the city.

If Alexandria has you thinking about the rest of the country, Laurence has covered more of Egypt’s destinations on Finding the Universe.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is Alexandria Worth Visiting as a Day Trip From Cairo?

Yes, if you’re interested in ancient and Greco-Roman history and want to see the Mediterranean side of Egypt. Alexandria has the Citadel of Qaitbay, Pompey’s Pillar, the catacombs, and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, all doable in a day.

The trade-off is travel time. It is about 2.5 to 3 hours each way from Cairo, so you spend five to six hours on the road for six to eight hours in the city. If your Egypt trip is short and focused on the Pyramids and the Nile, we’d save Alexandria for another visit.

 

How Do You Get From Cairo to Alexandria?

The most comfortable option is the 1st class express train, which takes about 2.5 hours (foreigners pay a fare set in US dollars, around $40, bought at the station or through an agent like 12Go). The bus is the cheapest, at roughly EGP 200 to 350 with operators like Go Bus and Blue Bus.

For the least hassle, hire a private car and driver or book a guided day tour, both of which take about 2.5 to 3 hours and let someone else handle the logistics.

 

How Many Days Do You Need in Alexandria?

A single day is enough to see the main highlights, and it is the most common way to visit as a day trip from Cairo. To see the city more fully, including its museums, palaces, gardens, and beaches, plan on two to three days.

If you can manage it, we recommend staying at least one night. A day trip works, but it is a rushed one, and an overnight stay lets you enjoy the sights and the seafront at a much more relaxed pace.

 

What Can You See in Alexandria in One Day?

A realistic one-day route is Pompey’s Pillar and the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa in the morning, the Citadel of Qaitbay and a seafood lunch by the harbor around midday, then the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Montaza Gardens in the afternoon.

That covers the ancient sites, the harbor, the famous library, and a royal palace and garden. It is a full day, so start early and use a car, transfer, or tour to keep moving between the sites.

 

Is Alexandria Safe for Tourists?

Alexandria is generally considered safe for tourists, and it sits under a standard “increased caution” advisory from most governments, on a par with many popular destinations. Egypt’s more serious travel warnings apply to the Sinai Peninsula and remote border regions, not to Alexandria or the Cairo to Alexandria corridor.

As with any big city, use common sense: petty theft like pickpocketing is the most likely problem, so watch your valuables in crowds and check your own government’s current travel advice before you go.

 

Where Can You Get a Drink or a Beer in Alexandria?

Alexandria is more conservative than Cairo or the Red Sea resorts, so alcohol is not as freely available, but you can still find it. Licensed hotels, some of the seafood restaurants such as the White and Blue at the Greek Club, and a handful of historic bars and cafés serve beer and wine.

Do not expect a big nightlife scene, but a cold beer with a sea view is easy enough to find, particularly at the hotels and restaurants along the harbor and the Corniche.

 

Which Alexandria Hotels Have the Best Sea Views?

For sea views, the standout modern option is the Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano. Near the Montaza Gardens, the Palestine Montaza (formerly the Helnan Palestine) sits right on the water.

For old-world character on the seafront, the historic Corniche hotels are the ones to look at, including the Steigenberger Cecil and the Windsor Palace. We say more about the city’s historic hotels in the section on 1920s Alexandria below.

 

Things to Do in Alexandria if You Have More Time

If you have more than a day, or you simply want the full picture, here is a fuller rundown of what there is to see and do in Alexandria. I had long wanted to visit, a wish first stoked by the epic film Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Alexandria was the setting for so many historic events, dramatic stories, and great feats of architecture.

With a little patience you can still find traces of the ancient pharaohs, the Greeks, the Romans, the royals, and the early twentieth century intellectuals sitting alongside the apartment blocks and office buildings. There is plenty here to suit a range of interests and budgets, so use the list below to build your own itinerary for a one-day or multi-day visit.

 

Lighthouse of Alexandria and Citadel of Qaitbay

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, often called the Pharos, was a huge lighthouse built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 280 and 247 BC and thought to have stood about 140 meters (450 feet) tall.

It was built of stone, probably whitewashed limestone (although some say marble), and a furnace at the top produced light to guide ships safely into the harbor. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and one of the tallest manmade structures on earth in its day.

Sadly you cannot see the great lighthouse today, as it was badly damaged by earthquakes, abandoned by 1323 AD, and by about 1480 AD its remaining stones were reused to build the Citadel of Qaitbay, which sits on the very spot where the lighthouse once stood.

Some submerged remains of the lighthouse have been discovered in Alexandria Harbor, and divers can see them. There are plans to seek UNESCO protection for the remains and to open an underwater museum so more visitors can view them. For us, it was enough to sit and picture the ancient structure, and imagine a time when the likes of Julius Caesar steered their ships into the harbor by its light.

The Citadel of Qaitbay was built in 1480 AD by the Mamluk Sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay and was one of Egypt’s most important defensive strongholds along the Mediterranean. As noted above, some of the stones from the ancient lighthouse were used in its construction.

Later rulers kept the fortress up because of its strategic importance, and in 1882 it was seriously damaged by the British during the Urabi Revolt. After that it fell into neglect until King Farouk turned it into a royal palace in 1904.

After the Egyptian revolution in 1952, it was decided that the citadel would be restored and turned into a maritime museum. If you want to go inside (there’s an entrance fee, around EGP 200 for foreign adults and card payment only), the rooms are mostly empty, but there are great views of the harbor from the terrace (watch out for the waves) plus a small mosque and maritime museum to explore.

From the harbor there are lovely views of the citadel with the waves crashing against its outer walls. Many visitors walk along the harbor and then have lunch at one of the seafood restaurants for fresh local fish and the harbor views.

 

Eat the Local Seafood

The food in Alexandria is much like what you’ll find across the rest of Egypt, but the city is best known for its seafood. There are several seafood restaurants with views within walking distance of the Citadel of Qaitbay and the eastern harbor, such as the popular White and Blue Restaurant (also known as the Greek Club, about 5 minutes from the citadel), which sits on the top floor above the Greek Nautical Club of Alexandria. Another popular spot nearby with a view, though a bit pricey, is the Fish Market (a 15-minute walk from the citadel).

Elsewhere in the city there’s Abou Ashraf (28 Sharia Safar Pasha), a much simpler place with no view but known for freshly caught fish cooked to order.

If you’re interested in the local fishing industry and willing to get up early, visit the Anfushi Fish Market (a 10-minute walk from the Citadel of Qaitbay). Every morning after dawn the local fishermen come in with their catch and hold a daily fish auction.

 

Library of Alexandria

The ancient Great Library of Alexandria is believed to have been one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world and an important center of scholarship. Founded by the Macedonian general and pharaoh Ptolemy I Soter, it is thought to have held a vast collection of works (most written on papyrus scrolls) and to have drawn many of the ancient world’s most famous thinkers to study there.

The library was famously burned during a siege when Julius Caesar’s army set fire to the city in 48 BC, and it may or may not have been completely destroyed then. There is some evidence it survived and was finally destroyed during an attack by the Roman emperor Aurelian in the 270s AD.

In 2002, a new library, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, officially opened as a library and cultural center commemorating the original, built near where the ancient library is thought to have stood. The modern disc-shaped building has a large and impressive reading room.

It holds books in three main languages, Arabic, French, and English, and contains several museums, galleries, and temporary exhibits. It is one of the most modern public buildings in Egypt and one of the most expensive (many Egyptians feel too much was spent on it), with a striking exterior of Aswan granite carved with characters from 120 different writing systems.

The library is air-conditioned, which makes it a perfect place to escape a sweltering summer afternoon. There is an entrance fee (currently EGP 150 for foreign adults, and EGP 20 for students), which includes a 30-minute guided tour, available in four languages, from a member of the library staff.

 

Important Religious Sites

Although the religious sites in Alexandria are perhaps not as grand as some of those in Cairo, this important seaport has long been a cosmopolitan trading city with residents of all faiths.

Probably the most famous and the largest mosque in Alexandria is the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, which has a beautiful cream-colored exterior and holds the tomb of the 13th century saint Abul Abbas al-Mursi. Much of the current building dates from 1775, with renovations in the twentieth century.

Non-Muslim visitors can visit the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque and some of the other main mosques of Alexandria, but everyone must be modestly dressed, women should cover their heads, and shoes must be removed at the entrance. Women are not allowed in the main prayer area but can visit the mausoleum and view the main interior from behind a barrier, and there are separate entrance doors for men and women. If you go in, bring coins to tip the shoe keepers.

Two other popular mosques are the El Nabi Daniel Mosque (some believe it may hold the tomb of Alexander the Great) and the Imam Al Busiri Mosque (dedicated to an Islamic poet).

There are also interesting Christian and Jewish places of worship in the city. One notable church is St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, said to have been originally founded by Saint Mark the Evangelist and the historic seat of the Pope of Alexandria. A cathedral is believed to have been founded here in 60 AD by Saint Mark, though the church was destroyed or rebuilt many times and most of the current structure dates from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The body of Saint Mark the Evangelist is thought to have been buried here after his death. The Venetians, however, are said to have later stolen most of the saint’s body to provide relics for their now-famous St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Saint Mark’s head is believed to still be buried here, and a few other relics are said to be at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo.

For anyone interested in the history of Jews in Egypt, the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue is a notable stop. Originally built in 1354, destroyed by the French in 1798, and rebuilt in 1850, this large synagogue is a reminder that Alexandria once had a thriving Jewish community, which has since dwindled to a very small one following the founding of Israel, the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and the Suez Crisis.

The interior is rarely open given the small community and security concerns, so if you want to get inside you can try to arrange a visit in advance with a member of the local Jewish community, or ask the guards at the front gate.

 

Important Ancient Archaeological Sites

There are several archaeological sites in and around Alexandria. We visited before seeing any of Egypt’s other major archaeological sites, so we really enjoyed them, but they may feel modest to anyone who has just come from the Valley of the Kings or Abu Simbel.

One of the most popular is Pompey’s Pillar (also known as the Column of Diocletian), the largest Roman triumphal column built outside Rome or Constantinople. Made of a single piece of Aswan granite with a base and Corinthian capital, it is one of the largest ancient monoliths ever raised, standing over 26 meters (85 feet) tall. Entry for foreign visitors is around EGP 150.

Despite the name, the column has nothing to do with the Roman Pompey. It was misattributed in the Middle Ages, but was actually built around 297 AD to mark the emperor Diocletian’s victory in ending a revolt in Alexandria. Around the column you’ll also find statues, artifacts, and the remains of a Serapeum, a temple to the god Serapis.

Nearby and within walking distance are the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, a necropolis on three sub-levels dating from the 2nd century AD (entry around EGP 200 for foreign adults). You descend a narrow spiral staircase to find a series of tombs, statues, reliefs, and objects that show a striking blend of the Pharaonic funeral cult with Hellenistic and Roman influences.

Underground passages lead to a pillared hall, a Roman triclinium (a banqueting hall where mourners paid their respects during a funeral feast), the main tomb area, and the Hall of Caracalla. Some passages are narrow and the spaces a little confined, so this is probably not the best site for anyone who is claustrophobic. Photography inside is now allowed with a separate photo ticket, though flash is not permitted.

Another ancient site is the Roman Amphitheater, the most complete Roman ruin in Egypt. Dating from the 2nd century AD, it is a small amphitheater the Romans used for poetry and music. Other ruins have been excavated on the site too, including a bath house and a villa with some well-preserved mosaics.

 

Family Friendly Sights in Alexandria

Families will probably enjoy letting kids explore, swim, and play at the city’s many gardens and beaches, which are also great for a family picnic. Another good bet for families is the Planetarium Science Center next to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which has a planetarium with IMAX science films, a history of science museum, and the ALEXploratorium, a hands-on science center aimed at children and young adults.

Near the citadel is the Alexandria Aquarium Museum, which has a small collection of live and taxidermied sea creatures, with a focus on species from the Mediterranean and Red Seas as well as some freshwater species from the Nile and the Amazon. The aquarium is quite small and can be crowded, with some good exhibits for children but little to impress anyone who has visited larger aquariums.

Note that there’s also a zoo in Alexandria. We would urge you not to visit it (or any of the zoos in Egypt), as there have been numerous reports of inhumane treatment, abuse, and neglect of the animals. Both local and international animal rights groups have petitioned to have the zoos closed unless they can secure adequate resources to properly care for the animals.

 

Museums in Alexandria

There are several museums you can visit in Alexandria. Sadly we didn’t have time to visit any on our own day trip, but the one I would have most liked to see is the Alexandria National Museum.

The Alexandria National Museum holds a collection that tells the story of the city from antiquity to the modern era. It is housed in the Italianate mansion of the wealthy wood merchant Al-Saad Bassili Pasha, later home to the American consulate, and is considered one of the best museums in Egypt.

Other museums to consider, depending on your interests, are the Greco-Roman Museum, which reopened in October 2023 after a long restoration and now charges around EGP 400 for foreign adults (card payment only), the Royal Jewelry Museum, and the Cavafy Museum, a house museum of the Greek poet Constantine Cavafy. There are also the museums inside the Bibliotheca Alexandrina mentioned earlier, and the family-friendly Planetarium Science Center.

 

Palaces in Alexandria

The most popular palace is the large Al-Haramlik Palace (also known as Montaza Palace), built by King Fuad I in 1932 as a royal summer palace. After the 1952 revolution it was also used as a residence for Egyptian presidents.

The architecture of the Al-Haramlik Palace is striking, an unusual mix of Turkish and Italian design, and it is surrounded by 150 acres of former royal gardens. The gardens are open to the public (there’s a small entry fee), although the palace itself is gated and guarded and not open to visitors, but you can get a good look at it from the gardens. There are proposed plans to eventually open parts of the palace as a public museum.

The smaller but older Salamlek Palace also sits in the Montaza royal gardens and was originally a hunting lodge and residence for a companion of Khedive Abbas II. It has since been restored and reopened in January 2025 as the Rixos-operated Salamlek Palace, a luxury hotel, after years of being closed for renovation.

The Ras el-Tin Palace, completed in 1847, is one of the official residences of the President of Egypt and sits on a naval base. There is no public access to the palace, though you can view it from a distance. It was at Ras el-Tin that King Farouk abdicated in 1952 and left Egypt with his family for exile.

 

Shopping in Alexandria

In the central downtown area you’ll find plenty of shops selling clothing, accessories, home decor, and tourist souvenirs.

If you’re after antiques, handmade items, and a more traditional shopping experience, head to the Souk El-Attarine. The Attarine district, near the pretty Attarine Mosque, is a warren of narrow alleys full of shops selling antiques (both Arabic and European), clothing, spices, home decor, sheeshas (hookahs), and custom wrought-iron furniture, a specialty of Alexandria. Note that some sellers may offer you what look like Egyptian antiquities; it is illegal to take any antiquities out of the country without a permit.

For an upscale Western-style mall with international brands, a food court, and a cinema, head to the San Stefano Mall, just behind the Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano.

Other popular shopping centers include the City Centre Mall on the edge of the city and the Green Plaza Mall near the Hilton Hotel. Bear in mind that in most shops, especially those outside the malls, prices are displayed in Arabic numerals, so keep your Arabic number cheat sheet handy.

 

Beaches in Alexandria

The Corniche is the waterfront promenade that runs for about 10 miles along the eastern harbor, from the Citadel of Qaitbay to the Montaza Palace, and it is a great area for a walk. Many beaches, seaside restaurants, and gardens line this stretch.

There are numerous beaches within Alexandria and in the surrounding towns. Many are private beaches owned by hotels and resorts (though you can often pay to access them as a non-guest), and some are public (many charge an entry fee, though a few are free). Some of the most popular are Maamoura Beach, Stanley Beach, and the beaches near the Montaza Palace.

Beaches, especially the public ones, get very crowded in summer, and the cleanliness of the sand and water varies. At many beaches the entry fee includes the use of beach chairs, umbrellas, changing rooms, and toilets.

Note that women are expected to dress modestly on most Alexandria beaches (most women we saw were fully clothed), so women who want to get in the water may want to bring a long cover-up, caftan, or dress to wear over a bathing suit.

For women who would feel more comfortable uncovered in a bathing suit, the Venezia Beach and the Palestine Montaza hotel beaches are probably your best bets.

Here is a list of city beaches and a short guide to some of the best beaches in Alexandria.

 

Gardens in Alexandria

There are several gardens and parks to visit in Alexandria, and they are a great place to take a break, have a picnic, or find a bit of peace and greenery in the busy city.

The one we visited was the Montaza Gardens, the 120-acre former royal garden surrounding the Al-Haramlik Palace. It is sometimes called the Love Garden, as local couples come here to spend time together, and it is a pleasant place to wander. We enjoyed walking across the Montaza bridge to the Tea Palace Island, which has beaches, a villa, some restaurants, and the Montazah Diving Center.

Other gardens and parks include the Antoniadis Gardens (the 19th century Palais d’Antoniadis and its park were built as a miniature Versailles), the Shallalat Gardens, and the International Park of Alexandria, an area set aside for recreation, sports, and festivals with pavilions, sports fields, and playgrounds.

 

Finding a Bit of 1920s Alexandria

Alexandria in the early twentieth century was a cosmopolitan city and a source of inspiration for artists from around the world. It had a large European community and was well known for its excellent cafés and patisseries. After the 1952 revolution, many of the popular coffeehouses, restaurants, and clubs closed, and many have since been torn down.

A few cafés and patisseries still remain from that era, including Café Trianon (52 Saad Zaghloul St), Athineos (21 Midan Saad Zaghloul), Délices (46 Saad Zaghloul St), and Brazilian Coffee (44 Saad Zaghloul St).

For a taste of cosmopolitan Alexandria, we’d also suggest a visit to the Antoniadis Gardens (the Palais d’Antoniadis, not open to the public, hosted many important figures of the period), the Montaza royal gardens, the Royal Jewelry Museum, and the Cavafy Museum (Cavafy lived in Alexandria during this period). For an evening out, consider a performance at the small but elegant Alexandria Opera House.

If you’re staying overnight, we can recommend one of the city’s historic hotels. Those with some Old-World style include the Steigenberger Cecil Hotel (formerly the Cecil Hotel), the Windsor Palace Hotel, and the Le Metropole Hotel. The historic El Salamlek Palace, out at Montaza, has also reopened as the Rixos-operated Salamlek Palace.

 

Fishing, Boating, and Diving in Alexandria

Fishing, boating, swimming, and diving are all popular in Alexandria thanks to its place on the Mediterranean. For fishing, you can hire a boat locally or book a fishing trip in advance.

Alexandria is not nearly as good for snorkeling or diving as the Red Sea, given its poorer water quality and thinner sea life. That said, history-loving divers may be drawn to Alexandria, as the harbor holds parts of the ancient lighthouse, the sunken ruins of a Ptolemaic palace, Roman trading vessels, artifacts from the former Royal Quarter, and Napoleonic shipwrecks.

The issue is that visibility can be very poor at times, so check on conditions with local divers first. Guided diving trips and equipment can be arranged at Alexandra Dive and the Montazah Diving Centre (seasonal), next to Venezia Beach.

There you have it, our guide to planning a day trip to Alexandria and to the city’s many things to do. We hope it helps you decide whether the trip is right for you and, if it is, gives you everything you need to plan a great day (or a longer visit) in this historic Mediterranean city!

What would you put on your itinerary for a day trip to Alexandria? Have you been to Alexandria? As always, feel free to ask us any questions about our trip, or to leave your own tips and advice on things to do in Alexandria in the comments below!