# Citadel of Qaitbay, Alexandria

> The Citadel of Qaitbay is a Mamluk sea fort built in 1477–1479 on the spot where the Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood, partly from its fallen stones. Foreign visitors pay 200 EGP, students 100. Open daily from 9:00; last entry 17:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer. An hour covers the courtyard, walls and keep.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/qaitbay-citadel

- City: [Alexandria](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria), Egypt
- YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h
- Entry: 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Foreign adult: 200 EGP
- Students (24 and under): 100 EGP with valid student ID
- Children under 6: Free
- Hours: Daily from 9:00; last entry 17:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer
- Ramadan: From 9:00, last entry 15:00
- Closed: Never — open every day
- Where to buy: Egymonuments website, Experience Egypt app or the ticket office
- Payment: Visa and Mastercard accepted in every sales channel
- Photos: Phone photos free; drones need a Ministry of Defence permit
- Getting there: From Saad Zaghloul Square: 10–15 min by Uber or taxi, or a 35–45 min Corniche walk
- Where: Northern tip of the former Pharos island, at the mouth of the Eastern Harbour
- Coordinates: 31.21300, 29.88520
- Facts checked: 03.11.2026

## Key facts

- **1477–1479** — built under the Mamluk sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay (source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Pharos site** — the fort stands where the Lighthouse of Alexandria stood, partly built from its fallen stone (source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; English Wikipedia (Lighthouse of Alexandria))
- **3 floors** — in the keep — a square fort with a half-round tower at each corner (source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
- **1303** — the earthquake that finally brought the lighthouse down (source: English Wikipedia (Lighthouse of Alexandria; Citadel of Qaitbay))
- **A mosque** — a small one inside the fortress, part of Qaitbay’s original plan (source: English Wikipedia; EgyptToursPlus)
- **Limestone** — the main building stone of the walls and towers (source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; EgyptToursPlus)
- **1798** — French troops took the weakly garrisoned fort (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **1882** — the British fleet bombarded Alexandria and largely destroyed the western façade (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **After 1952** — the Egyptian navy turned the fort into a Maritime Museum (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **1984** — the largest restoration, by the Egyptian Antiquities Organization (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)

## Qaitbay Citadel tickets and opening hours

Foreign adults pay **200 EGP**; students aged 24 and under with a valid ID pay 100 EGP, and under-6s are free. These are the official Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities prices, and one ticket covers the courtyard, walls and keep.

The citadel is **open every day from 9:00**. The ministry’s ticketing site gives last entry at 17:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer and 15:00 in Ramadan, and asks visitors to arrive at least an hour before closing. Another ministry page simply says 9:00–20:00 daily, so plan on the earlier times.

Buy on the official Egymonuments website, in the Experience Egypt app or at the ticket office. Tickets are dated and non-refundable. The ministry says Visa and Mastercard are accepted in every channel, the booth included, so a foreign card is the easy option. Phone photos are free; keep a few small pounds for toilets and tips.

> **Don’t leave it for sunset in winter** Winter last entry is 17:00, and the walls are worth more than ten minutes. Go in the early afternoon, then watch the sunset from the Corniche outside — the fort itself makes the better photo from across the harbour anyway.

## How to get to the Citadel of Qaitbay

1. Start from Saad Zaghloul Square by Raml Station, on the Eastern Harbour in the city centre.
2. Quickest: Uber, or a taxi west along the Corniche — 10–15 minutes without traffic. Street taxis rarely use the meter, so agree the fare before you get in.
3. On foot: follow the [Corniche](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/alexandria-corniche) round the harbour — about 2 km as the crow flies, 35–45 minutes with the sea beside you all the way.
4. Don’t count on the tram: the lines from Raml Station are closed while they are rebuilt as a modern light-rail service.
5. Pay at the gate with Visa or Mastercard if you haven’t booked online.

## Is the Citadel of Qaitbay worth visiting?

Yes — it is Alexandria’s signature view and the closest you can get to the ancient Pharos. Don’t expect rich museum galleries: you come for the walls, the keep, the sea on three sides and the story of the site. An hour is enough, an hour and a half if you like taking photos.

If you have only a few hours between trains, pair it with the [Bibliotheca Alexandrina](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/bibliotheca-alexandrina) and a Corniche walk. If you are hoping to see the lighthouse itself, you won’t: nothing of it survives above water.

## History: from the Lighthouse of Alexandria to a Mamluk fort

The Pharos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, stood on the tip of Pharos island for over a millennium. Earthquakes battered it, and in 1303 it finally collapsed. Sultan **al-Ashraf Qaitbay** built his fort on the site in 1477–1479 (some sources say by 1480), reusing the fallen stone to guard Alexandria against attack from the sea.

Its later life was military. The French took it in 1798, Muhammad Ali re-armed it with coastal cannon, and the British bombardment of 1882 wrecked the western façade. After 1952 the navy ran a Maritime Museum here; the largest restoration came in 1984. The lighthouse’s remains lie on the floor of the Eastern Harbour.

## What to see inside

- **The keep** in the north-west corner — a three-storey square fort with half-round corner towers and projecting defensive balconies.
- **The small mosque** inside the fortress, part of Qaitbay’s original design.
- **The outer wall** and its towers, closing off the harbour mouth.
- **The inner wall**, lined with rooms once used as barracks and stores.
- **The old cistern** by the keep, which watered soldiers and horses.
- Views over the Eastern Harbour, the curve of the Corniche and the open Mediterranean.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] I’ll be there before last entry — 17:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer
- [ ] Visa or Mastercard, or a ticket booked online
- [ ] Student ID, if I have one — half price
- [ ] Comfortable shoes for stone stairs
- [ ] Water, a hat and sunscreen — little shade in the courtyard
- [ ] Small Egyptian pounds for toilets and tips

## Qaitbay vs Kom el-Shoqafa and Pompey’s Pillar

|  | Qaitbay Citadel | Kom el-Shoqafa | Pompey’s Pillar |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | 15th-century Mamluk fort | Roman-era underground tombs | Ancient column on the Serapeum hill |
| Foreign adult | 200 EGP | 200 EGP | 200 EGP |
| Last entry | 17:00 winter, 19:00 summer | 16:00 | 16:00 |
| From Saad Zaghloul Square | ≈ 2 km straight line | ≈ 2.6 km | ≈ 2.1 km |
| Outdoors | Mostly | No, underground | Yes |

The catacombs and the pillar are about 500 m apart — do them together in the morning. Qaitbay stays open later, so save it for the afternoon.

## Alexandria’s historic sites compared

Every historic site in Alexandria rated by YesGo.

- [Citadel of Qaitbay](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/qaitbay-citadel) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
- [Bibliotheca Alexandrina](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/bibliotheca-alexandrina) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 150 EGP, 300 EGP with museums
- [Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/abu-al-abbas-mosque) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free, between prayer times
- [Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/kom-el-shoqafa) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
- [Roman Amphitheatre (Kom el-Dikka)](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/kom-el-dikka) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
- [Pompey's Pillar](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/pompeys-pillar) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
- [Alexandria National Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/alexandria-national-museum) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 220 EGP, students 110 EGP
- [Royal Jewelry Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/royal-jewelry-museum) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 220 EGP, students 110
- [Montaza Palace and Gardens](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/montaza-palace) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 50 EGP, gardens

## Old Alexandria in half a day

The fort on the point, the Abu al-Abbas Mosque less than a kilometre away, a Corniche walk and the Bibliotheca to finish. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Citadel of Qaitbay](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/qaitbay-citadel) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 200 EGP, students 100 EGP
2. [Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/abu-al-abbas-mosque) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free, between prayer times
3. [Alexandria Corniche](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/alexandria-corniche) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
4. [Bibliotheca Alexandrina](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/bibliotheca-alexandrina) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 150 EGP, 300 EGP with museums

## Not to be confused with

Qaitbay built another fort near Rashid (Rosetta), later renamed Fort Julien by the French — the place where the Rosetta Stone turned up in 1799. Cairo also has the Mosque and Mausoleum of Qaitbay. This page is about the citadel in Alexandria.

## Tips

- Go in the early afternoon: winter last entry is 17:00 and the walls deserve an unhurried hour.
- Walk on to the [Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque](https://yesgo.io/egypt/alexandria/abu-al-abbas-mosque) — it is under a kilometre away.
- The classic photo of the fort is from the Corniche across the harbour, not from inside.
- Wear proper shoes — the keep has steep stone stairs.
- Bring student ID if you are 24 or under: it halves the price.
- Leave the drone at the hotel — flying one needs a Ministry of Defence permit.

## Questions

### How much is the Qaitbay Citadel ticket?

200 EGP for foreign adults, 100 EGP for students aged 24 and under, free for children under 6 — official ministry prices.

### What are the Qaitbay Citadel opening hours?

Daily from 9:00, with last entry at 17:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer and 15:00 in Ramadan. Another ministry page says 9:00–20:00, so don’t cut it fine.

### Is the Citadel of Qaitbay open on Fridays?

Yes — it is open every day of the week.

### How do I get to the Qaitbay Citadel?

From Saad Zaghloul Square, take an Uber or taxi west along the Corniche (10–15 minutes) or walk round the Eastern Harbour in 35–45 minutes.

### Is the Qaitbay Citadel worth visiting?

Yes, for the sea views, the keep and the Pharos story. There are few exhibits inside, so allow about an hour.

### How long do you need at the Citadel of Qaitbay?

About an hour for the courtyard, walls and keep; an hour and a half with photos from the Corniche.

### Was the Qaitbay Citadel built on the Lighthouse of Alexandria?

Yes. The lighthouse collapsed after the 1303 earthquake, and Qaitbay built his fort on the site using its fallen stone.

### Can I pay by card at the Qaitbay Citadel?

Yes. The ministry accepts Visa and Mastercard online and at the ticket office. Carry small pounds for toilets and tips.

### Can you take photos inside?

Phone photography is free. Drones need a permit from Egypt’s Ministry of Defence.

## How we checked

Prices, concessions, hours and last entry come from the ministry’s official ticketing site. Hours conflict: the ministry’s monument page says 9:00–20:00 daily, the ticketing page gives last entry at 17:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer and 15:00 in Ramadan — we lead with the earlier times and mention the other. Construction dates: the ministry and Wikipedia give 1477–1479, the lighthouse article 1480; we use 1477–1479 with a caveat. Walking and taxi times are unofficial and marked “verifying”. Guidebooks still suggest tram 25 from Raml Station, but we don’t: the Raml tram is closed for reconstruction (Global Mass Transit; Wikipedia says the whole network stopped, with the new tram due in 2027–2028); distances are calculated from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap coordinates. We could not confirm what restoration work is under way inside — the source blocks automated reading — so we leave it out.

## Sources

- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egymonuments ticketing: Citadel of Qaitbay — prices, concessions, hours and rules, 03.11.2026
- Egymonuments FAQ — Visa and Mastercard, non-refundable tickets, phone photography, drones
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: Qaitbay Fort — history, layout, hours 9:00–20:00
- English Wikipedia: Citadel of Qaitbay, Lighthouse of Alexandria, Fort Julien; Russian Wikipedia: Кайт-Бей; Wikidata Q1938065
- EgyptToursPlus: Citadel of Qaitbay
- Wikivoyage: Alexandria — taxis, Uber and Careem (unofficial)
- Global Mass Transit, 09.04.2026; English Wikipedia: Trams in Alexandria — closure of the Raml tram

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