Español
Français
Italiano
Português
Deutsch
Pусский
العربي
Magyar
Polski
Nederlands
简体中文
Norsk
Suomi
Svenska
Dansk
Alexandria Egypt has a very impressive and storied past, beginning with its founding by Alexander the Great around 331 B.C. Nicknamed the Pearl of the Mediterranean and affectionately referred to as Alex by locals, Alexandria is a Mediterranean port city and the second largest city in Egypt.
During the Hellenistic period, it was home to both the legendary Great Library of Alexandria and the Pharos, a lighthouse ranking among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Alexandria was the setting for the stormy love story between Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marc Antony as well as a cosmopolitan gathering spot for intellectuals in the early twentieth century.
The city has definitely lost some of the grandeur of its past and today’s Alexandria is filled with concrete apartment buildings, office buildings, and traffic-filled streets. However, with a bit of searching travelers can still find bits of Alexandria’s glorious past.
These includeGreco-Roman monuments, beautiful gardens, the 15th century Qaitbay Citadel, palaces, Old-World cafés, the Alexandria Opera House, and even sunken treasure. Visitors can also seek knowledge at several museums, explore the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, relax at one of the city’s many beaches, and visit several important religious sites.
Many people visit Alexandria as a cruise stop or as a day trip from Cairo (as we did), but it can also be a great place to base for a few days. We share practical tips on getting to and getting around Alexandria, top things to do in Alexandria, and how to put together your own perfect itinerary for Alexandria Egypt.
Getting to Alexandria from Cairo
Most travelers are heading to Alexandria from Cairo or vice versa, and travelers have a lot of options in traveling between the two cities. You have the option to take a domestic flight, train, bus, or taxi. You can also join a guided tour, hire a private car service, or rent a car.
A guided tour is a great way to do a day trip to Alexandria from Cairo as you’ll have your transport covered and a guide who can help take you to all the highlights in the city.
If you want to travel independently, I’d consider the train. For those who want the least hassle, consider joining a day tour or hiring a private car service. Those on a tight budget should consider a bus, although train tickets are also quite reasonably priced.
Where should I go if I only have one day in Alexandria?
There are a number of things to do in Alexandria Egypt, and it is really going to depend on your interests (e.g., shopping, diving, Roman history, kid-friendly, jewelry) and I would build an itinerary based on what you most enjoy from the list of highlights. But if I were giving a someone a very general itinerary for a day trip or one full day in Alexandria, I would recommend visiting the following (in order):
- Visit Pompey’s Pillar and Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (within walking distance of each other),
- See the Citadel of Qaitbay (outside only)
- Walk around the harbor area near the citadel and have lunch at a local seafood restaurant
- Drive/travel east along the Corniche and visit the Alexandria National Museum and Bibliotheca Alexandrina (it is a 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive between these two sites)
- Continue the drive along the Corniche towards the Montaza Gardens for a passing view of the Stanley Bridge
- Finally, head to the Montaza Gardens to see the Al-Haramlik Palace (exterior) and visit the gardens.
If you are interested, you can also add a view of the beautiful Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque to the above as it is only a 15 minute walk from the citadel or a short drive away from this route.
Note that the above is a packed day requiring an early start (especially if you are coming from Cairo!) as although the distances between these sites are not that great, you could spend over an hour getting from the library to Montaza Palace if traffic is bad.
The above is also easier to accomplish in terms of time with some form of private transportation (driver, tour, rental car) although possible with public transportation although it will likely take longer to get from place to place.
