# Alexandria

- Page: https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/guide/alexandria
- Destination: Alexandria
- Last updated: 2026-10-03

Egypt's Mediterranean face — a Greek-founded port city of faded belle-époque grandeur, sunken royal palaces just offshore, and a corniche that has nothing to do with the Nile or the desert.

## About

Alexandria is unlike every other destination in this guide — it's the one part of Egypt that faces the Mediterranean rather than the Nile or the Red Sea, and it feels like it. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, it was ancient Egypt's intellectual capital, home to the legendary Library of Alexandria and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Lighthouse of Pharos.

Much of that ancient city is gone or literally underwater, submerged by earthquakes and rising seas over the centuries — but what's left is a genuinely distinct Egyptian city: a long curving corniche, faded Mediterranean-European architecture from its early-20th-century heyday, a modern library built in tribute to the ancient one, and a seafood-and-sea-breeze culture that has nothing in common with the desert destinations further south.
Did you know? The Lighthouse of Pharos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and possibly the tallest man-made structure of its era at over 100 metres, stood guard over Alexandria's harbor for around 1,600 years before earthquakes finally toppled it — some of its massive stone blocks now lie on the seabed near the fort built on its old foundations.

## Quick facts

- **Founded**: 331 BC
- **Founder**: Alexander the Great
- **Ancient Wonder Site**: Lighthouse of Pharos
- **Coastline**: Mediterranean Sea

## Top attractions

- **🏰 Qaitbay Citadel**: A 15th-century Mamluk fort built directly on the ruins of the Lighthouse of Pharos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — a dramatic seafront landmark at the harbor's edge.
- **📚 Bibliotheca Alexandrina**: A vast, architecturally striking modern library and museum complex built in tribute to the legendary ancient Library of Alexandria — a working library, planetarium and multiple museums in one.
- **🕳️ Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa**: A remarkable underground tomb complex blending Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles across three levels, discovered by accident in 1900 when a donkey fell through the ground.
- **🏛️ Pompey's Pillar**: A towering red granite column, nearly 27 metres tall, erected for the Roman emperor Diocletian and one of the largest ancient monolithic columns still standing anywhere.
- **🏺 Graeco-Roman Museum**: A collection tracing Alexandria's unique Hellenistic-Egyptian identity, with artifacts spanning the city's founding by Alexander the Great through Roman rule.
- **👑 Montazah Palace Gardens**: Landscaped royal gardens on a seafront bluff, home to a striking Ottoman-Florentine style palace built as a royal retreat in the early 20th century.

## Where to stay

- **🌊 The Corniche & Downtown**: Best for sea views and belle-époque architecture. Alexandria's long curving waterfront promenade, backed by faded early-20th-century buildings, cafés and the Qaitbay Citadel at its western end.
- **📚 Bibliotheca Alexandrina area (Chatby/Shatby)**: Best for the modern library and nearby ancient sites. Home to the striking Bibliotheca Alexandrina and within easy reach of the Roman amphitheater and Kom El Shoqafa catacombs.
- **🌳 Montazah**: Best for gardens, beaches and royal-era architecture. A green, seafront district on the city's eastern edge, home to the Montazah Palace gardens and several beach clubs.

## How to get there

- **By road from Cairo (most common)**: The desert highway connects Cairo and Alexandria in about 2.5-3 hours — buses, trains and private transfers all run this route frequently, making a self-drive or a day-trip transfer easy to arrange.
- **By train**: Frequent daytime trains run between Cairo's Ramses Station and Alexandria (about 2.5-3 hours), a comfortable and popular alternative to the road.
- **By air**: Borg El Arab Airport (HBE) has domestic flights from Cairo (about 30 minutes), though given the short road distance, most travellers find driving or the train more convenient.

## Suggested itineraries

### Day Trip from Cairo
Morning — Qaitbay Citadel and the corniche.\nMidday — Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Graeco-Roman Museum.\nAfternoon — Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa and Pompey's Pillar, drive back to Cairo.

### 2-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Qaitbay Citadel, corniche walk, fishing harbor sunset.\nDay 2 — Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Roman amphitheater, Montazah Gardens.

### 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Qaitbay Citadel, Stanley Bridge beach walk, Alexandria food tour.\nDay 2 — Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Graeco-Roman Museum, Royal Jewelry Museum.\nDay 3 — El Alamein WWII battlefield day trip, or Montazah Gardens and a relaxed final day.

## Best time to visit

The sweet spot for an Alexandria trip is April-June and September-November — mild, breezy Mediterranean weather without summer's beach-town crowds or winter's rain and rough seas.
- **Best for Sightseeing**: April-June & September-November — mild, comfortable weather
- **Best for the Beach**: July-August — warmest sea, though very crowded with local tourists
- **Avoid If You Dislike Rain**: December-February — Egypt's rainiest city in winter
- **Least Crowded**: Weekday mornings outside the July-August local holiday season

## Weather by season

- **Winter (Dec-Feb, 14-19°C)**: Alexandria is Egypt's rainiest city, with genuine winter storms and rough seas along the corniche — a completely different weather pattern than the rest of the country.\n### Top Winter Activities\n- Bibliotheca Alexandrina and other indoor museums\n- Graeco-Roman Museum\n- Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa\n### Winter Travel Tips\n- Pack a proper rain jacket and warm layers\n- Check forecasts — rough seas can affect harbor-area plans\n- This is the quietest, cheapest season for hotels
- **Spring (Mar-May, 18-25°C)**: Mild and pleasant, with the sea still cool but the weather ideal for walking the corniche and exploring outdoor sites.\n### Top Spring Activities\n- Qaitbay Citadel and corniche walk\n- Montazah Gardens\n- El Alamein WWII battlefield day trip\n### Spring Travel Tips\n- A light jacket still helps with sea breeze\n- Great season for photography with clear skies\n- Check Ramadan dates in advance
- **Summer (Jun-Aug, 24-30°C)**: Warm but noticeably milder than inland Egypt thanks to the sea breeze — Alexandria's peak local holiday season, with beaches busy with Egyptian and Cairene visitors.\n### Top Summer Activities\n- Montazah beach clubs\n- Stanley Bridge beach walk\n- Fishing harbor sunset tour\n### Summer Travel Tips\n- Book hotels ahead — this is peak local tourism season\n- Beaches get very crowded on weekends\n- Still use sunscreen despite the milder feel
- **Fall (Sep-Nov, 20-27°C)**: A second sweet spot — warm, sunny days with far fewer beach crowds than summer, and comfortable evenings.\n### Top Fall Activities\n- Bibliotheca Alexandrina\n- Alexandria food tour\n- Pompey's Pillar and Roman amphitheater\n### Fall Travel Tips\n- Pack layers as evenings cool down through November\n- A great trade-off season: warm days, thinner crowds\n- Book hotels early for the September weekend rush

## Costs and daily budget

How far your euros, dollars and pounds go in Alexandria — realistic numbers for 2026.
- **Currency & payments**: The local currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). Hotels and larger restaurants accept cards, but the fish market, tram and smaller cafés are largely cash — carry enough EGP for daily spending.
- **Daily budget guidelines**: Budget traveller: €20-35/day (budget hotel, local food, tram/taxi). Mid-range: €45-80/day (3-4 star hotel, seafood dinners, guided tours). Luxury: €130+/day (5-star sea-view hotel, private guides, fine dining). Alexandria is generally cheaper than Cairo or the Red Sea coast for equivalent comfort.
- **Tipping & baksheesh**: Tipping ("baksheesh") follows the same pattern as the rest of Egypt: €1-2 for restaurant waiters, small notes for anyone assisting at a site, and €3-5 per day for private guides or drivers. Keep small-denomination EGP notes on you.

## Travel tips

### 📌 Good to Know
- **A different Egypt entirely**: Come with different expectations than the Nile or Red Sea destinations — Alexandria's identity is Mediterranean and Graeco-Roman, not Pharaonic or desert-resort.
- **Getting around**: Taxis and ride-hailing apps cover the city easily; the tram along the corniche is a cheap, scenic option for shorter hops between central sites.

### 🕌 Culture & Practical
- **Dress modestly**: Cover shoulders and knees at religious and heritage sites; beachwear is fine right at the beach but less appropriate walking through downtown.
- **A more relaxed, less touristy pace**: Alexandria sees far fewer international tourists than Cairo or the Red Sea coast — expect a more local, less hassle-heavy atmosphere overall.
- **Basic Arabic goes a long way**: "Shukran" (thank you) and "min fadlak" (please) are appreciated everywhere, especially with fishermen and market vendors.

### 🎒 What to Pack
- **A light jacket for the sea breeze**: The corniche and harbor areas are noticeably breezier and cooler than inland Egypt, even in warmer months — worth a layer you wouldn't otherwise pack for Egypt.
- **Comfortable walking shoes**: The corniche is long, and downtown's grid of streets is best explored on foot — good shoes matter more here than a car.
- **Swimwear for a beach club day**: If you plan a Montazah beach day, pack accordingly — Alexandria's beaches are a genuine local summer destination in their own right.

### 🏥 Health & Safety
- **Hydration**: Alexandria's climate is milder than most of Egypt, but summer humidity along the coast still calls for regular water intake.
- **Sea safety**: The Mediterranean here can have stronger currents and less lifeguard coverage than resort-town beaches further south — swim within your ability and near other swimmers.
- **Common scams**: Around major sites, agree prices before accepting help from unsolicited guides, and be wary of anyone offering 'special deals' at the fish market.

### 🍽️ Food & Dining
- **Fresh seafood is the highlight**: As a working fishing port, Alexandria's seafood restaurants — many near the harbor — serve some of the freshest fish and shellfish in the country, often picked straight from the display.
- **Corniche cafés**: Historic cafés along the corniche are worth a stop for tea or coffee with a sea view — several have operated for decades and carry real atmosphere.
- **Drinking water**: Stick to bottled water throughout your stay, and be cautious with ice and raw salads if you have a sensitive stomach.

### ✈️ Travel Logistics
- **Visas**: Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival (around $25) or an e-visa in advance — check requirements for your passport before you travel.
- **Day trip vs. overnight stay**: Alexandria works well as a long day trip from Cairo, but staying at least one night lets you catch the corniche at sunset and avoid rushing the major sites.
- **Emergency numbers**: Police 122, Ambulance 123, Tourist Police 126 — see the full Emergency section below for hospitals and more.
- **El Alamein logistics**: The WWII battlefield sites are spread out — a guided day trip from Alexandria is more practical than trying to piece together public transport between the cemeteries and museum.

## Shopping

- **🐟 Fresh fish market souvenirs**: Not a souvenir in the traditional sense, but Alexandria's harbor fish market is worth a visit in its own right — a genuine slice of the city's working identity.\n### Visiting Tips\n- Go in the morning for the freshest catch and liveliest atmosphere\n- Several nearby restaurants will cook a fish you pick out yourself\n- Bargaining is normal for direct purchases
- **🏺 Graeco-Roman antique replicas**: Small busts, coins and pottery replicas reflecting Alexandria's unique Hellenistic-Egyptian identity, €5-40, sold near the major museum sites.\n### Buying Tips\n- Museum gift shops are a reliable source for quality replicas\n- Ask whether a piece is a replica or an antique — genuine antiques require export permits\n- Compare prices across a few shops before buying
- **💍 Silver & gold jewelry**: Traditional Egyptian designs alongside Mediterranean-influenced pieces, sold by weight from roughly €20 up in the downtown souk area.\n### Buying Tips\n- Check for a quality stamp (18K, 21K or 925)\n- Compare prices across several shops before buying\n- Downtown Alexandria's jewelry shops tend to be less tourist-inflated than Cairo's
- **📜 Books & prints near the Bibliotheca**: The area around the Bibliotheca Alexandrina has small bookshops and print sellers with Alexandria-themed art and books, a fitting souvenir for a city built on its literary legacy, €5-30.\n### Buying Tips\n- Look for locally printed art rather than mass-produced posters\n- Museum shop prints are often higher quality than street stalls\n- English-language books on Alexandria's history make a thoughtful souvenir

## Safety tips

- Keep a physical photocopy of your passport separate from the original
- Make sure your travel insurance covers medical treatment and theft
- Save emergency numbers and your hotel's address in your phone
- Agree on prices before accepting any unsolicited help near sites or the fish market
- Check winter storm forecasts before planning corniche-heavy days
- Swim only at supervised beaches
- Bring extra cash — the fish market and smaller cafés are cash-only
- Learn a few basic emergency phrases in Arabic (see the phrases below)

## Emergency numbers

Tourist Police: 126. Ambulance: 123. Alexandria has several well-equipped hospitals, including private facilities commonly used by tourists and expats — Alexandria's medical infrastructure is generally strong given its size as Egypt's second city.
- **Tourist Police**: 126
- **Ambulance**: 123
- **Police**: 122
- **Fire**: 180
- **General Emergency**: 112

## Frequently asked questions

**🧳 Is Alexandria worth visiting as a day trip from Cairo?**
Yes — the Qaitbay Citadel, Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa can all be covered in a long day trip. That said, staying at least one night lets you experience the corniche at sunset without rushing.

**📚 What happened to the original Library of Alexandria?**
It was gradually lost over centuries through a combination of fires, political upheaval and neglect — historians debate the exact timeline and cause. The modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina was built in 2002 near its believed original location, as both a tribute and a working library.

**📅 How many days should I spend in Alexandria?**
2-3 days covers the essentials well: a day for the Qaitbay Citadel, corniche and food, a day for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Graeco-Roman sites, and an optional day for El Alamein or Montazah Gardens.

**🛂 Do I need a visa to visit Alexandria?**
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival (around $25) or apply for an e-visa online in advance. Check the specific requirements for your passport before you travel.

**⚔️ What is there to see at El Alamein?**
El Alamein was the site of two pivotal WWII battles between Allied and Axis forces in 1942. Today it holds several war cemeteries (Commonwealth, German and Italian), a war museum documenting the campaign, and preserved battlefield remnants — a sobering, historically significant day trip.

**☀️ When is the best time to visit Alexandria?**
April-June and September-November hit the sweet spot — mild, breezy weather without summer's local-tourist crowds or winter's rain and rough seas. Alexandria is notably Egypt's rainiest city in winter, unlike most of the country.

**🏰 Is the Qaitbay Citadel really built on the Lighthouse of Alexandria?**
Yes — the fort sits directly on the foundations of the Lighthouse of Pharos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which collapsed after a series of earthquakes. Some of the lighthouse's original stone blocks are believed to have been reused in the citadel's construction, and more lie on the seabed nearby.

**🐟 Where's the best seafood in Alexandria?**
Restaurants near the fishing harbor and fish market are the classic choice — several let you pick your own fish or shellfish from the display before it's cooked, and it's noticeably fresher than inland Egypt given the city's working fishing port.

**🚕 What's the best way to get around Alexandria?**
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the easiest option overall, but the historic tram running along the corniche is a cheap, scenic way to cover shorter distances between central sites.

**🗺️ What's a good itinerary for Alexandria?**
A day trip from Cairo covers the Qaitbay Citadel, Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. With 2-3 days you can add the Graeco-Roman Museum, Montazah Gardens, a food tour and an El Alamein day trip — see the full day-by-day itineraries above.