Swap the desert for the Mediterranean for a day. Your guide and driver pick you up in Cairo or Giza, drive you about three hours north to Alexandria, the city founded by Alexander the Great, and bring you back in the evening.
In one day you see the Roman and Greek side of Egypt that you won’t find in Cairo: underground catacombs, a granite column taller than a seven-storey building, a Roman theatre, the modern library that revives the ancient one, and the fortress on the site of the famous lighthouse.
Your driver and guide meet you early in the morning at your hotel or address in Cairo or Giza, then drive about three hours north on the Desert Road.
Walk down the spiral staircase into the largest Roman burial site in Egypt, where Egyptian gods are carved in Roman dress.
See the granite column raised for Emperor Diocletian around AD 300 above the ruins of the Serapeum temple.
Sit on the marble tiers of the Roman theatre and see the mosaics and baths found around it.
Lunch with fresh fish and seafood at a local restaurant near the sea.
Visit the modern library that opened in 2002 near the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria.
Photo stop at the 15th-century fortress built on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, then drive back to Cairo.
The numbered pins follow the order of the day. Tap a pin to see the stop.
Alexandria feels like a different country from Cairo: sea air, a long seafront, cafés and a history that is more Greek and Roman than Pharaonic. Here is what you will see on the day, how the trip works and how to enjoy it most.
Alexander the Great founded the city in 331 BC, and for almost a thousand years it was the capital of Egypt and one of the great cities of the ancient world, home to the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the famous library. Most of the ancient city now lies under the modern one and under the sea, so a day here is about the places that survived: Roman tombs, a Roman theatre, a single giant column and a medieval fortress, with the Mediterranean always close by.
The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa were found by chance in 1900 and are the largest Roman burial site in Egypt. A spiral staircase leads down into tomb chambers cut into the rock, where the decoration mixes Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles: Egyptian gods appear dressed as Roman soldiers. The lowest level is flooded, and the steps are steep, so take your time.
Despite the name, the column has nothing to do with Pompey. It was raised for the Roman emperor Diocletian around AD 300, cut from a single piece of red granite from Aswan and standing about 27 metres high. It rises above the ruins of the Serapeum, a temple that once held part of the city’s library collection, with two granite sphinxes nearby.
Workers found the theatre in 1960 while clearing land for a new building. Its white marble tiers are the only Roman theatre of this kind found in Egypt, and the site around it includes Roman baths, villas with mosaic floors and lecture halls where students once gathered.
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina opened in 2002 near the site of the ancient library. Its tilted disc-shaped roof faces the sea, and the outer wall is carved with letters from scripts around the world. Inside you see the huge reading hall and the library’s museums.
The Citadel of Qaitbay was built in the 1470s by the Mamluk sultan Qaitbay on the spot where the Lighthouse of Alexandria stood until earthquakes brought it down. The drive along the Corniche, the city’s long seafront road, gives you views of the Eastern Harbour, the fishing boats and Stanley Bridge on the way.
The trip runs every day. From October to May the weather is mild and the sea views are at their best. In July and August Alexandria is busy with Egyptian holidaymakers and the air is humid, so start early and drink plenty of water. Winter can bring rain and wind off the sea, so pack a light jacket.
Price per person in US dollars. Car and driver is the vehicle only; each option adds more. For 7 or more people, ask us on WhatsApp for a group price.
| 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 6 people | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car and driver | $115 | $60 | $40 | $25 |
| Car and guide | $170 | $85 | $60 | $35 |
| Car, guide and tickets | $190 | $105 | $75 | $55 |
| All inclusive: guide, tickets, lunch and Wi-Fi | $210 | $120 | $90 | $70 |
Prices start from $60 per person for 2 people with a car and driver. With a guide, entry tickets, lunch and Wi-Fi it is $120 per person. See the full price table on this page.
About three hours each way on the Desert Road, depending on traffic. The whole day takes around 12 hours.
Yes. Lunch is at a seafood restaurant near the sea.
From your hotel or any address in Cairo or Giza. Send us the address when you book.
Yes. Your group travels in a private air-conditioned vehicle with your own guide.
Local guides and hotel pickup on every tour.
