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Alexandria day tours — Egypt’s Mediterranean second city

The Pharos Lighthouse site, the Bibliotheca, and the Greco-Roman Catacombs — on 100% private day tours from Cairo with a Ministry-licensed local guide.

Browse Alexandria tours See the essential sites
  • $60Full-day tours from / person
  • 220kmFrom Cairo, 2.5–3 hours
  • 2012Guiding Alexandria since
  • 60+Verified reviews
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Why Alexandria

A different Egypt by the sea

Alexandria doesn’t look like the rest of Egypt, and that’s the point. Founded by Alexander the Great, it was for centuries the intellectual capital of the ancient world — home to the greatest library ever assembled and one of the Seven Wonders, the Pharos Lighthouse. What remains today is a Mediterranean city of Greco-Roman ruins, Ottoman-era streets, and a 15km seafront promenade built for evening walks and long seafood lunches.

Alexandria is the ideal day trip from Cairo — 220km via the desert highway, 2.5–3 hours each way by private car, or by train from Ramses Station. One long day (10–12 hours including travel) comfortably covers Qaitbay Citadel, the Bibliotheca, the Catacombs and Pompey’s Pillar, with a seafood lunch on the Corniche. Every tour is 100% private, with a Ministry-licensed local guide.

Prefer to slow down? An overnight stay turns the day trip into something closer to a genuine seaside break.

Maro Saeed — Tour Consultant & Travel Advisor
“Guests expect pyramids and temples, then step off the car in Alexandria and ask why nobody told them Egypt had a Mediterranean side. That reaction, every time, is why we always suggest adding the day.”
Maro Saeed · Tour Consultant & Travel Advisor · with the team since 2013
Alexandria tours

A day trip, or an overnight escape

The most-booked shapes — every one fully customisable.

The best of Alexandria

Eight essential Alexandria experiences

What your Ministry-licensed guide can show you at each — context and timing no self-guided visit replicates.

Citadel of Qaitbay

Built in 1477 CE on the exact site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — using the lighthouse’s fallen stones.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

A modern architectural masterpiece opened in 2002 as a tribute to the ancient Library of Alexandria, with millions of books and a planetarium.

Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa

Three storeys underground, decorated with a unique fusion of Egyptian, Greek and Roman art — one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.

Pompey’s Pillar

A 27-metre red granite column — the largest of its kind outside Rome and Constantinople — standing in the ruins of the ancient Serapeum.

Roman Amphitheatre

The only remaining Roman theatre in Egypt — 13 tiers of white marble seating, with mosaic-floored villas nearby at Kom El-Dikka.

Alexandria Corniche & Seafood

A 15km Mediterranean waterfront lined with legendary seafood restaurants — fresh grilled fish, shrimp and calamari, sea air included.

Alexandria National Museum

Extraordinary underwater archaeological finds from the submerged ancient city, alongside Greco-Roman and pharaonic artefacts.

Montazah Palace Gardens

A 150-acre royal park on the city’s eastern edge — the summer palace of Egypt’s royal family until 1952.

Planning your visit

Practical tips for Alexandria tours

Getting here

By private car220km from Cairo via the desert highway — 2.5–3 hours each way, with comfortable air-conditioned transport from your Cairo hotel.
By train2–3 hours from Cairo’s Ramses Station — a scenic and relaxed alternative to the road.
Timing the dayA full day trip runs 10–12 hours including travel — an early departure from Cairo makes the most of on-site time.

Making it count

Combine with CairoThe most popular pairing: 3 days in Cairo plus 1 Alexandria day trip — a natural add-on to any Cairo-based itinerary.
Stay overnightFor a slower pace, an Alexandria overnight lets you add the Corniche at sunset and a second museum without rushing.
Best seasonSpring and autumn are especially pleasant on the Mediterranean coast; summer brings sea breezes that keep Alexandria cooler than Cairo.
  • 100% private — no strangers, ever
  • Ministry-licensed local guides
  • Cairo hotel pickup included
  • Seafood lunch on the Corniche
60+
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Verified reviews across Google & TripAdvisor — for tours operated by Egypt Planners.

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Traveler stories

What our guests say about traveling local

Genuine reviews from real travelers on our multi-day tours and Nile cruises. Egypt Tours by Locals is operated by Egypt Planners — a licensed operator building complete Egypt travel packages, not just day trips.

★★★★★

"Our guide didn't just show us the Pyramids — she made us feel what it meant to build them. The private morning at the Grand Egyptian Museum with no crowds was extraordinary. A truly local experience, not a tourist conveyor belt."

SL
Sarah & James L.
London, UK · 8-Day Best of Egypt
★★★★★

"Our consultant knew every guard, every way around the crowds, and told us stories not in any guidebook. We've done tours in 30 countries. This was the most engaged we've ever been."

JT
James & Rebecca T.
New York, USA · 6-Day Affordable Tour
★★★★★

"They designed our entire 12-day itinerary personally, then guided us through every day. As history enthusiasts we had very specific requests — they exceeded every one. Their knowledge of Nubian culture in Aswan was extraordinary."

LH
Linda & Mark H.
Toronto, Canada · 12-Day Complete Tour

Answers

Alexandria day tours — questions & answers

What are the best things to do in Alexandria?
The essential experiences: Qaitbay Citadel on the site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar and the Serapeum ruins, the Roman Amphitheatre, and a seafood lunch on the Corniche.
How far is Alexandria from Cairo?
220 kilometres — approximately 2.5–3 hours by private car via the desert highway, with comfortable transport from your Cairo hotel. Alexandria is also accessible by train from Cairo’s Ramses Station, taking about 2–3 hours.
Is Alexandria worth visiting as a day trip?
Yes — Alexandria is the ideal day trip from Cairo. One long day (10–12 hours including travel) is sufficient to visit Qaitbay Citadel, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Catacombs and Pompey’s Pillar, plus a seafood lunch on the Corniche. The Mediterranean, Greco-Roman atmosphere is completely different from the rest of Egypt.
What is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina?
A modern library and cultural centre opened in 2002 as a tribute to the ancient Library of Alexandria — once the greatest repository of knowledge in the ancient world. Designed by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta, it features a distinctive circular building housing millions of books, museums and a planetarium.
What are the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa?
An underground burial complex from the 2nd century CE, descending three storeys into the bedrock — considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. The decoration is unique in the ancient world: Egyptian gods depicted in Greco-Roman artistic style, a genuine fusion of three civilisations.
How much does an Alexandria day tour from Cairo cost?
Private Alexandria day tours from Cairo start from $60 per person, covering a full day at Qaitbay Citadel, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa and Pompey’s Pillar. The price includes your Ministry-licensed local guide, private air-conditioned vehicle and Cairo hotel pickup.
What is included in an Alexandria day trip from Cairo?
A Ministry-licensed local guide for the full day, a private air-conditioned vehicle for the 220km each way from Cairo, entrance tickets to every included site, and Cairo hotel pickup and drop-off. A seafood lunch stop on the Corniche is easy to add and itemised separately.
Can Alexandria be combined with other Egypt destinations?
Yes — Alexandria pairs naturally with any Cairo-based itinerary. The most popular combination is 3 days in Cairo (Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo) plus 1 Alexandria day trip. Some travellers also do it as a standalone overnight, arriving by private car and returning the next day.

Who plans your trip: every Alexandria itinerary is designed by our Cairo-based team led by Maro Saeed, Tour Consultant & Travel Advisor — one contact from first message to departure.

Meet Maro →

Egypt’s other side. By the sea.

Tell us your Cairo dates — we’ll build the Alexandria day (or overnight) around them, fully priced within 24 hours. Free, no obligation.

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