Things to do in Alexandria: top sights and where to go
Alexandria strings its sights along the Mediterranean: the Citadel of Qaitbay stands where the Pharos lighthouse once did, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina rises on the Eastern Harbour Corniche, and Pompey's Pillar and the Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs are a ten-minute taxi ride inland. Give the centre one full day; keep the Montaza palace gardens and the Royal Jewelry Museum, out east, for a second.
Sights
Roman Amphitheatre (Kom el-Dikka)
Alexandria, Egypt
45 min200 EGP, students 100 EGPhistoryancient ruinsmuseums
Alexandria National Museum
Alexandria, Egypt
1 h 15 min220 EGP, students 110 EGPmuseumshistoryancient ruins
Alexandria itineraries
Alexandria travel guide
Before you go: Qaitbay on the lighthouse site, the Bibliotheca, the catacombs and Pompey’s Pillar, the Corniche, the trip from Cairo.
Alexandria on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 1–2 days; often a day trip from Cairo
- When to go
- April–June and September–October
- Sea
- Mediterranean: ≈ 26° in summer, rough in winter
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — e-visa or on arrival
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP); cards in hotels and sights
- From Cairo
- ≈ 210 km, 2.5–3 h by train or car
- Airport
- Borg El Arab (HBE) ≈ 45 km from the centre
- Getting around
- Vintage tram and ride-hailing apps
- Winter
- Cool and rainy — unusual for Egypt
- Time zone
- UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Alexandria”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Citadel of Qaitbay”Sourcei
Bibliotheca Alexandrina — official websiteSourcei
Wikipedia, “Pompey’s Pillar (column)”Things to do in Alexandria, Egypt
The best things to do in Alexandria are the Citadel of Qaitbay on the site of the Pharos lighthouse, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar and the Roman amphitheatre at Kom el-Dikka. The Corniche runs along the sea, with the Montaza palace gardens in the east. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Eastern Harbour | Qaitbay, Abu al-Abbas | 1.5 h |
|---|---|---|
| Shatby | Bibliotheca | 1.5 h |
| Seafront | Corniche | sunset |
| Karmouz | Catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar | 2 h |
| Centre | Kom el-Dikka, museum | 2 h |
| East | Royal Jewelry, Montaza | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Alexandria day trip from Cairo
Is Alexandria worth visiting from Cairo? Yes, even for a day: it is ≈ 210 km, about 2.5 hours by fast train from Ramses station or 2.5–3 hours by car or bus. Alexandria’s own Borg El Arab airport is ≈ 45 km from the centre.
| Train | Cairo, Ramses station | ≈ 2.5 h |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Cairo | ≈ 3 h |
| Car or tour | Cairo hotel pickup | ≈ 2.5–3 h |
| Taxi | Borg El Arab airport | ≈ 1 h |
Leave Cairo early: a day fits Qaitbay, the library, the catacombs and a fish lunch on the Corniche.
Alexandria weather by month
The best month to visit Alexandria is in April–June or September–October. The city is milder than Cairo: ≈ 29–31 °C with a sea breeze in summer, ≈ 18–20 °C, windy and sometimes rainy in winter. The swimming season runs June to October, with the sea at 24–27 °C.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 18° | 19° | 21° | 24° | 27° | 29° | 31° | 31° | 30° | 28° | 24° | 20° |
| Night | 10° | 10° | 12° | 14° | 18° | 21° | 23° | 24° | 22° | 19° | 15° | 12° |
| Sea | 18° | 17° | 17° | 18° | 21° | 24° | 26° | 27° | 26° | 25° | 22° | 19° |
| Rain | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–June and September–October
- day ≈ 18°
- night ≈ 10°
- sea ≈ 18°
- rain 6 days
About 18°, rain and storms. Too cold to swim, water — about 18°.
- day ≈ 19°
- night ≈ 10°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 4 days
Windy and cool. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 12°
- sea ≈ 17°
- rain 2 days
About 21°, spring. Too cold to swim, water — about 17°.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 14°
- sea ≈ 18°
- rain 1 days
About 24° — a good time. Too cold to swim, water — about 18°.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 18°
- sea ≈ 21°
- rain 0 days
About 27°, warm. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 21°.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 21°
- sea ≈ 24°
- rain 0 days
About 29°, swimming season. Warm for swimming, water — about 24°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 26°
- rain 0 days
About 31°, sea breeze. Warm for swimming, water — about 26°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 0 days
The warmest sea ≈ 27°. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 22°
- sea ≈ 26°
- rain 0 days
About 30°, pleasant. Warm for swimming, water — about 26°.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 19°
- sea ≈ 25°
- rain 2 days
About 28° — an excellent time. Warm for swimming, water — about 25°.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 15°
- sea ≈ 22°
- rain 4 days
About 24°, first rains. Swimmable, the water is fresh — about 22°.
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 12°
- sea ≈ 19°
- rain 6 days
About 20°, windy. Too cold to swim, water — about 19°.
Where to stay in Alexandria
Where to stay in Alexandria: around the Eastern Harbour and Raml Station for the sights, cafés and sea views, or in the east near Montaza and Stanley for newer hotels and beaches. The city stretches ≈ 20 km along the coast.
| Raml Station | Sights, cafés, trams | Busy and noisy |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Harbour | Sea views, Qaitbay | Older hotels |
| Stanley, Montaza | Beaches, newer hotels | ≈ 30 min to the centre |
What to eat in Alexandria
Alexandria is a fish city: on the Corniche and by the port you choose the catch and it is grilled on the spot. There are old patisseries and cafés from the Greek era, and street food — ful and ta’ameya — is cheaper than in Cairo.
- Fish and seafood — grilled, with sayadeya rice.
- Ful and ta’ameya — breakfast at street cafés.
- Pastries — at the old patisseries downtown.
- Coffee on the Corniche — with Eastern Harbour views.
Alexandria ticket prices
The Corniche and Abu al-Abbas Mosque are free. You pay for Qaitbay, the Bibliotheca, the catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar, Kom el-Dikka, the museums and the Montaza gardens; prices are lower than in Cairo.
| Citadel of Qaitbay | 45 | 1 h | 200 EGP, students 100 EGP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bibliotheca Alexandrina | 45 | 1 h 30 min | 150 EGP, 300 EGP with museums |
| Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa | 42 | 1 h | 200 EGP, students 100 EGP |
| Roman Amphitheatre (Kom el-Dikka) | 38 | 45 min | 200 EGP, students 100 EGP |
| Pompey's Pillar | 37 | 45 min | 200 EGP, students 100 EGP |
| Alexandria National Museum | 36 | 1 h 15 min | 220 EGP, students 110 EGP |
| Royal Jewelry Museum | 29 | 1 h 15 min | 220 EGP, students 110 |
| Montaza Palace and Gardens | 22 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ 50 EGP, gardens |
Free — 2 places: Alexandria Corniche, Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque.
Tips
- Photography is not allowed inside the Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs — shoot the entrance and courtyard.
- Watch the sunset from the Corniche near Qaitbay — the sun sets over the sea.
- The Bibliotheca has museums and a planetarium — check what is open on your day.
FAQ
Is Alexandria worth visiting?
Yes, for Greco-Roman history and the Mediterranean — it feels nothing like Cairo or the Red Sea resorts.
What to do in Alexandria in one day?
Qaitbay and Abu al-Abbas Mosque in the morning, the catacombs and Pompey’s Pillar at midday, the Bibliotheca in the afternoon and the Corniche at sunset.
How do I get from Cairo to Alexandria?
By train from Ramses station in about 2.5 hours, or by car or bus in 2.5–3 hours.
Does the Lighthouse of Alexandria still exist?
No — earthquakes destroyed the Pharos; the Citadel of Qaitbay was built on its site in 1477, partly with its stones.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities can get an e-visa online or a visa on arrival. Check the rules for your passport.
Can you swim in Alexandria?
Yes, from June to October with the sea at 24–27 °C; winter seas are cold and rough. City beaches are crowded — Montaza or beaches outside town are better.
What is the best month to visit Alexandria?
October or May: warm days around 27–28 °C, a swimmable sea and no rain.
What is the weather like in Alexandria in winter?
About 18–20 °C by day and 10 °C at night, windy, with rain — the wettest city in Egypt.
What ancient sites are in Alexandria?
The Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar, the Roman amphitheatre at Kom el-Dikka and the National Museum with finds from the harbour floor.
How do I get around Alexandria?
By ride-hailing app, the vintage tram, or on foot along the Corniche; the city runs ≈ 20 km along the sea.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Alexandria”; “Citadel of Qaitbay”; “Pompey’s Pillar (column)”; Alexandria climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina — official website
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — tickets
Day trips from Alexandria
- Cairo · 181 km
- Sharm El Sheikh · 563 km
- Hurghada · 584 km
- Luxor · 668 km