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Pompey's Pillar, Alexandria

Red granite Pompey's Pillar with a Corinthian capital and two sphinxes on the Serapeum hill in Alexandria
Photo: Daniel Mayer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
200 EGP, students 100 EGP
Hours
Daily from 9:00, last entry 16:00 (15:00 in Ramadan)
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
45 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Foreign visitors
200 EGP
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Students
100 EGP, aged 24 or under with a valid student ID
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Children
Free under 6
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Where to buy
Ticket office at the gate or the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' official system (Egymonuments)
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Payment
Visa and Mastercard accepted
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Photos
Free with a phone
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Getting there
Uber, Careem or taxi from Saad Zaghloul Square, about 10–15 min
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Address
Karmoz Street, Karmouz, Alexandria
Coordinates
31.18250, 29.89640YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

≈ 27 mtotal height with base and capital — 26.85 m
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaEgypt Fun Tours
Diocletianthe emperor it honours, dedicated by the prefect of Egypt, Publius
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaTravel Talk Tours
AD 298–302when it went up (some sources say up to 303)
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaTravel Talk Tours
One blockthe shaft is a single monolith about 20.5 m tall
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
≈ 285 testimated weight of the shaft
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
2.71 mshaft diameter at the base
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Aswanwhere the pink granite was quarried — ancient Syene
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
≈ 7 mheight of the lost porphyry statue of the emperor that stood on top
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Ptolemy IIIbuilt the Temple of Serapis on this hill in the 3rd century BC
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, Serapeum of AlexandriaEgypt Fun Tours
Amoud El Sawarithe Arabic name taxi drivers know
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaExcursionMania

How much are Pompey's Pillar tickets?

Foreign visitors pay 200 EGP; students aged 24 or under with a valid ID pay 100 EGP, and children under 6 go free. These are the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' official prices. One ticket covers the whole Serapeum site: the pillar, the sphinxes, the temple ruins and the underground galleries.

Buy at the gate or in advance through the Ministry's official ticketing system, Egymonuments, or its Experience Egypt app. Online tickets are dated and non-refundable. Queues are rare here, so booking ahead is optional. Phone photography is free.

Officially, Visa and Mastercard are accepted at the ticket office as well as online. Carry some small Egyptian pound notes anyway — street taxis, tips and toilets are cash only.

Why is it called Pompey's Pillar?

It is a misnomer. The column was raised around AD 298–302 for the Roman emperor Diocletian, dedicated by a prefect of Egypt named Publius. Pompey the Great died in Egypt some 350 years earlier and has no link to it.

Four lines of the Greek dedication survive on the base. The prefect's name, Pouplios, was at some point misread as Pompeios — Pompey's name in Greek. A second story, popular in the Middle Ages, held that Pompey's remains were buried here. Either way, the name stuck in European travel writing.

Locals call it Amoud El Sawari. If a driver looks blank at "Pompey's Pillar", use the Arabic name.

Is Pompey's Pillar worth visiting?

Yes, if you care about ancient Alexandria — it is the only ancient monument in the city still standing where it was built. The pillar, sphinxes and tunnels take about 45 minutes; with the ride from the Corniche, budget an hour and a half.

Be realistic: this is not Luxor or Giza. Beyond the column and the two sphinxes, the hill is mostly foundations and scattered stone, and the Karmouz neighbourhood around it is busy and run-down. If you only have time for one ancient site, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa are more striking — but they are a 10-minute walk away, so most people do both.

Come in the morning: the light is softer for photos, crowds are thinner, and between October and April the hill is far more comfortable than at midday in summer.

What to see at the Serapeum

  • The pillar itself — walk all the way round and look at the base, where the worn Greek dedication to Diocletian survives.
  • Two pink granite sphinxes at the foot of the column — the classic photo. Their origin is disputed: some sources say they guarded the Serapeum, others that they were brought from Heliopolis.
  • The Temple of Serapis ruins — foundations of the great Greco-Roman sanctuary founded by Ptolemy III.
  • The underground galleries cut into the rock: narrow passages lined with niches, linked either to the temple's "daughter library" or to the cult of Serapis. Nobody is quite sure which. Wear shoes with grip.
  • The Nilometer — a deep stone shaft that guidebooks describe as a water-level gauge.
  • The view from the top over the old rooftops of Karmouz.

How to get to Pompey's Pillar

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On foot

More tips

  1. From Saad Zaghloul Square on the Eastern Harbour, the pillar is about 2 km south-west as the crow flies. Uber, Careem or a taxi takes 10–15 minutes depending on traffic. The Raml tram is currently closed for rebuilding, so don't plan around it.
  2. In the app, search "Pompey's Pillar". With a street taxi, say "Amoud El Sawari" and agree the fare before you get in — meters are rarely used.
  3. Arriving by train from Cairo at Misr Station? The pillar is about 1.5 km away: a 20–25 minute walk through busy streets or a 5-minute taxi ride.
  4. The ticket office is at the gate. Head to the pillar and sphinxes first and leave the tunnels for last.
  5. Then walk 10 minutes (about 600 m) to the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa — the obvious next stop.

Before you go

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Pompey's Pillar vs Kom el-Shoqafa vs Kom el-Dikka

Pompey's Pillaryou are hereRoman column and Serapeum ruins200 EGP16:00Karmouz≈ 45 min
Kom el-ShoqafaUnderground Roman necropolis200 EGP16:00Karmouz, ≈ 600 m from the pillar≈ 1 h
Kom el-DikkaRoman theatre and excavations200 EGP16:00Near Misr Station, ≈ 1.5 km from the pillar≈ 45 min

Prices and hours are the Ministry's official figures. All three are close together and none stays open late — start in the morning and go pillar, catacombs, then the theatre.

Historic Alexandria: compare and choose

Every historic site in Alexandria rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

Citadel of Qaitbay451 h200 EGP, students 100 EGP3.6 km
Bibliotheca Alexandrina451 h 30 min150 EGP, 300 EGP with museums3.2 km
Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque4320 minFree2.9 km
Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa421 h200 EGP, students 100 EGP16 min walk
Roman Amphitheatre (Kom el-Dikka)3845 min200 EGP, students 100 EGP27 min walk
Pompey's Pillaryou are here3745 min200 EGP, students 100 EGP—
Alexandria National Museum361 h 15 min220 EGP, students 110 EGP45 min walk
Royal Jewelry Museum291 h 15 min220 EGP, students 1109.1 km
Montaza Palace and Gardens221 h 30 min≈ 50 EGP, gardens16.4 km

Roman Alexandria in a morning

The pillar and the catacombs sit side by side; then the theatre in the centre, the library and an evening on the seafront. Add it to your route and YesGo works out the timing and walks.

  1. Pompey's Pillaryou are here45 min · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
  2. 16 min walk from the previous stopCatacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa1 h · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
  3. 15 min walk from the previous stopRoman Amphitheatre (Kom el-Dikka)45 min · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
  4. 29 min walk from the previous stopBibliotheca Alexandrina1 h 30 min · 150 EGP, 300 EGP with museums
  5. 18 min walk from the previous stopAlexandria Corniche1 h · Free

5 places · about 6 h 18 min with walks · 78 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

Alexandria, Egypt

1 h · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP · 16 min walk

Alexandria Corniche

Alexandria, Egypt

1 h · Free · 41 min walk

How to do it right

  • Pair it with the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa — a 10-minute walk, same price and same hours.
  • Arrive at 9:00: it's cooler on the hill and you can photograph the sphinxes without people.
  • To fit a sphinx and the whole 27-metre column in one shot, step back a few dozen paces — up close it won't fit.
  • If your driver doesn't know "Pompey's Pillar", say "Amoud El Sawari".
  • Students aged 24 or under pay half with a valid ID — bring it.
  • Finish by the sea: the Corniche is about 15 minutes away by taxi.

Questions

How much is the ticket to Pompey's Pillar?

200 EGP for foreign adults and 100 EGP for students aged 24 or under with ID; children under 6 go free. These are the official Ministry prices.

What are Pompey's Pillar opening hours?

Daily from 9:00, with last entry at 16:00. During Ramadan the last entry is 15:00. There is no weekly closing day.

How do I get to Pompey's Pillar?

Take Uber, Careem or a taxi from Saad Zaghloul Square — 10–15 minutes. From Misr Station it is about 1.5 km, a 20–25 minute walk.

Is Pompey's Pillar worth visiting?

Yes if you're interested in ancient Alexandria, especially combined with Kom el-Shoqafa next door. On its own, it's a short stop — a column, two sphinxes and ruins.

How long do you need at Pompey's Pillar?

About 45 minutes for the pillar, sphinxes and tunnels. Add the catacombs and travel, and it fills half a day.

Why is it called Pompey's Pillar?

The name of the prefect Publius in the Greek inscription was misread as Pompey's, and a medieval legend placed Pompey's tomb here. It was actually built for Emperor Diocletian.

How tall is Pompey's Pillar?

About 27 m including the base and capital. The shaft is a single granite block about 20.5 m tall, estimated at 285 tonnes.

Can you go inside the Serapeum tunnels?

Yes, the underground galleries are included in the ticket. They are narrow and dim, so wear sturdy shoes.

Can I pay by card at Pompey's Pillar?

Officially, yes — Visa and Mastercard are accepted at ticket offices and online. Keep cash for taxis and tips.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, official ticketing system (Egymonuments): Serapeum of Alexandria — prices, hours and rules, 03.11.2026
  • Egymonuments: Kom el-Shoqafa Catacombs and Roman Amphitheatre — prices and hours for comparison, 03.11.2026
  • English Wikipedia: Pompey's Pillar (column); Serapeum of Alexandria
  • Russian Wikipedia: Pompey's Pillar; Wikidata Q492487
  • Egypt Fun Tours — Serapeum guide (unofficial)
  • Travel Talk Tours — Pompey's Pillar
  • ExcursionMania — getting there from central Alexandria
  • Uber — Alexandria city page
  • OpenStreetMap — address and distances
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedPrices, hours and rules (student age limit, free entry under 6, phone photography) come from the Serapeum page of the Ministry's official ticketing system; card payment from its FAQ. Dimensions and history were checked against English and Russian Wikipedia and two guides. Construction dates differ (298–302 or 298–303), so we give both. The purpose of the tunnels, the Nilometer and the origin of the sphinxes are unofficial and sources disagree. Travel times are estimates from OpenStreetMap distances and are marked as checking.

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