Alexandria in a Day from Cairo — The Mediterranean Side of Egypt

After the desert and the pharaohs, Alexandria feels like another country. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, it was for centuries one of the great cities of the Mediterranean, home to the Pharos lighthouse and the most famous library of the ancient world. Today it is a lively, breezy city along a long seafront, and an easy day trip from Cairo.

Getting there

Alexandria is about 220 kilometres north-west of Cairo.

• By road, the drive takes around two and a half to three hours each way, depending on traffic. A private tour with a driver is the most comfortable option.
• By train, there are frequent departures from Cairo's main station, taking around two and a half to three hours.

Leave early: it is a long day, but a rewarding one.

The sights worth your time

• The Citadel of Qaitbay. A fifteenth-century fortress at the tip of the harbour, built on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Walk the walls for views of the sea and the city.
• The Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A striking modern library inspired by the ancient one, with its tilted disc of a roof, museums and exhibitions inside.
• The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. An underground burial complex cut into the rock, where Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles mix in a way you will see nowhere else.
• Pompey's Pillar. A single, towering granite column from the Roman period, standing among sphinxes and ruins.
• The Roman Amphitheatre at Kom el-Dikka. A small, elegant theatre of marble seats, discovered by chance in the middle of the city.

The Corniche and the sea

The Corniche runs for kilometres along the Mediterranean, lined with old buildings, cafés and fishing boats. A walk here in the late afternoon, with the sea breeze, is part of the experience. If you have time, the gardens of the Montaza Palace at the eastern end are a green, quiet escape.

Eat fish by the water

Alexandria is famous for its seafood. In the classic restaurants you choose your fish from the display, it is weighed and grilled or fried, and served with salads, rice and bread. Ask the price per kilo before you order.

A sample plan

1. Early start from Cairo.
2. Catacombs and Pompey's Pillar in the morning.
3. Seafood lunch by the harbour.
4. Qaitbay Citadel and a walk on the Corniche.
5. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina before the drive back.

Tips

• Bring a light jacket in winter. Alexandria is cooler and windier than Cairo, and it can rain.
• Go with a guide for the catacombs and history; the city's layers are easy to miss.
• Evening traffic into Cairo can be heavy on the way back; plan for it.

Plan your Alexandria day

Compare the best-rated Alexandria tours and day trips, with real traveller reviews. Spending more time in Cairo? See our plan for the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one day.

Photos: Summering2018 (CC BY-SA 4.0); لا روسا (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.