Alexandria is the easiest sea escape from Cairo. A day trip from Cairo to Alexandria takes about 2.5 to 3 hours each way by road or train, so you need an early start. This guide gives a full-day plan with six stops, how to get there, the best time to go and practical tips. For the full list of sights, see our Alexandria attractions guide.
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria mixes Greek, Roman and Islamic history with a Mediterranean seafront. It feels cooler and more relaxed than Cairo.
Alexandria was the capital of Egypt for almost a thousand years, home of the Great Library and the Pharos lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It is also where Cleopatra ruled and where Greek, Egyptian and Roman cultures mixed, which you can see in the catacombs. Today it is Egypt’s second city, with a 20 km Corniche along the sea, old cafes and some of the best seafood in the country.
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. In summer the city is busy and humid, and winter can bring rain and wind. Weekdays are quieter than weekends.
The most pleasant months are March to May and October to November, with mild days around 20 to 28 °C. July and August are hot and humid and the beaches are crowded with Egyptian holidaymakers. From December to February it is cool and can be rainy and windy, but it is also quiet. Fridays are busy on the Corniche; Monday to Thursday is calmer.
Yes, if you start early and keep the plan simple. If you want to see the sights slowly, stay one night.
It is worth it if you want a change from Cairo’s pharaonic sites: Alexandria shows the Greek and Roman side of Egypt. Expect about 6 hours of driving in total and 5 to 6 hours of sightseeing. Choose 4 or 5 stops rather than trying to see everything.
By road it is about 220 km from Cairo. A private driver or a tour is the most flexible option for several stops. Trains run from Cairo’s main station, but you will need a taxi between the sights. Journey times depend on traffic.
Start at the modern library on the harbour. See the Bibliotheca Alexandrina guide.
The library, opened in 2002, can hold millions of books and has a huge sloping reading room, several museums and a planetarium. Allow about 1.5 hours and bring your passport for the entrance.
A 15th-century sea fort at the tip of the harbour, with views over the sea.
Sultan Qaitbay built the fort in the 1470s on the site, and partly from the stones, of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, which had been destroyed by earthquakes. Walk the walls for sea views; allow about an hour.
A tall granite column from the Roman period. Read the Pompey’s Pillar guide.
The 27 m column was put up around AD 297 for the Roman emperor Diocletian, not for Pompey, despite its name. It stands on the hill of the ancient Serapeum temple; the site is small, so 30 minutes is enough.
A royal estate with gardens by the sea. See the Montaza Palace guide.
The gardens stretch along the eastern end of the Corniche and are a good place for a walk or a seaside picnic. The palace buildings are usually closed to visitors, so treat this as a garden stop.
A Roman-era burial site cut into the rock. See the Catacombs guide.
Discovered in 1900, the catacombs go down three levels by a spiral staircase. Look for the main tomb, where Egyptian gods such as Anubis are dressed in Roman armour. It is cool but damp underground; allow 45 minutes.
End at the seafront mosque and have dinner by the sea before the drive back. See the mosque guide.
Plan the return so that you leave Alexandria before the evening traffic.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 6:30 to 7:00 | Leave Cairo; about 3 hours on the desert road (roughly 220 km) |
| 10:00 | Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa and Pompey’s Pillar |
| 12:00 | Qaitbay Citadel and the Eastern Harbour; Al-Mursi Abu al-Abbas Mosque nearby |
| 13:30 | Seafood lunch by the harbour |
| 15:00 | Bibliotheca Alexandrina or Montaza gardens |
| 17:00 | Drive back to Cairo, arriving around 20:00 to 21:00 |
Times are a guide; traffic leaving Cairo can add an hour. Read our guides to the Catacombs, the Bibliotheca, Montaza Palace and the Al-Mursi Abu al-Abbas Mosque.
| How | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private car or tour | About 3 hours each way | Most flexible; door to door between sites |
| Train from Ramses Station | About 2.5 to 3 hours | Comfortable; taxis needed in Alexandria |
| Bus | About 3 to 3.5 hours | Cheapest; less comfortable |
A day trip is a good taster. Keep to the catacombs, the library and the sea fort if you are short of time, and stay overnight for the rest.
Book this experience: Day Trip to Alexandria from Cairo from $60.
About 2.5 to 3 hours each way, depending on traffic and transport.
Yes, the main sights fit in a long day.
A tour saves time on transport and gives context at each site.
Light, modest clothes and comfortable shoes.
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