Last updated on November 14th, 2026 at 09:48 am
At a glance
| Where | Karmouz district, central Alexandria, near Pompey’s Pillar |
| Built | Mostly 2nd century AD, Roman period |
| Found | 1900, when a donkey fell through the ground into a shaft |
| What to see | A spiral staircase, three levels of tombs, and art that mixes Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles |
| Time needed | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Good to know | Steep steps and damp lower levels; the bottom level can be flooded |
The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are a Roman-era burial complex in Alexandria, cut into the rock around the 1st and 2nd centuries AD and famous for mixing Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles. Allow about an hour, bring a light jacket, and check tickets and hours before you go.
The catacombs are a multi-level tomb cut into the rock, reached by a spiral staircase. Inside are a round hall, a banquet room for funeral meals and a main burial chamber with carved figures that combine Egyptian gods with Greek and Roman dress.
The tomb was begun in the 1st century AD as a family burial place and grew over the next century into a larger complex. It was found by chance in 1900 when a donkey fell into a shaft. Its name means Mound of Shards, from the broken pottery left by visitors who brought food to the dead.
It is the best place in Alexandria to see how Egyptian, Greek and Roman beliefs blended in the Roman period. It is quiet, small and quick to visit.
The site is in the Karmouz area of Alexandria, near Pompey Pillar, inland from the seafront.
Go in the morning when it is cooler and less busy. October to April is the most comfortable; the underground site stays cooler in summer.
Take a taxi or ride app from central Alexandria, usually 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. From Cairo it is part of a day trip: see the Cairo to Alexandria day trip.
About 45 to 60 minutes, or an hour and a half if you also visit Pompey Pillar.
Comfortable shoes with grip for the steps, light clothes and a light layer, since it is cooler below.
Yes. Watch your step on the stairs and in the damp passages, and avoid it if you are claustrophobic.
Not required, but a guide explains the mixed symbols and the tomb layout, which are hard to follow alone.
The site usually opens in the morning and closes in the afternoon. Hours change by season, so check at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
Tickets are paid at the gate and the price changes, so check the current price at egymonuments.gov.eg or the ticket office.
Kom El Shoqafa is Alexandria best underground sight: compact, strange and easy to pair with Pompey Pillar nearby. Go in the morning and take a guide if you want the symbols explained.
Book a nearby tour: Cairo to Alexandria day trip from $60.
Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa – A Complete Guide for New Visitors
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