With historic sites, a scenic coastline, and a celebrated modern library, Alexandria is an ancient cultural center and a fascinating day trip from Cairo. Get a personalized introduction to Egypt’s second-largest city on a full-day, private tour from Cairo that includes round-trip transport, all entrance fees, and a seafood lunch (Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required).
Your chosen hotel in Cairo or Giza
At 07:00 AM
Breakfast at the hotel, and then travel to Alexandria in an air-conditioned minivan. Get a briefing on your day’s itinerary along the way, and take in views of the scenery on the drive towards the Mediterranean coast.
Make your first stop at the Alexandria National Museum, where a series of exhibits illustrate Alexandria’s grand past, from Graeco-Roman times to the pharaohs, Byzantine empire, and the arrival of Islam. Continue to the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, three tiers of underground burial chambers that blend Roman, Greek, and Egyptian styles. Painted figures and statues bring the ancient world to life in an underground funereal banquet hall, burial chambers, and passageways sunk into solid rock. Visit Pompey’s Pillar, a monolithic triumphal column that celebrates Emperor Diocletian in solid red Aswan granite.
Pause for a seafood lunch at a local restaurant (Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required)
and then a Panoramic visit to the Citadel of Qaietbay, later visit the Library of Alexandria, a modern facility that pays tribute to the city’s ancient library. The elegant building makes room for 20 million books, and the granite exterior is inscribed with characters from 120 different writing systems. After visiting the library make the return trip to Cairo, where this tour concludes with a drop-off at your hotel.