Can I do Alexandria as a day trip from Cairo?

Yes – Alexandria is about three hours from Cairo by road, so a long full-day private tour comfortably takes in the Citadel of Qaitbay, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, returning to Cairo the same evening. An overnight stay lets you slow the pace.

What is Alexandria known for?

Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria is Egypt's Mediterranean city – once home to the ancient Lighthouse and the Great Library, two wonders of the classical world. Today it blends Greco-Roman ruins, the seafront Qaitbay fortress, belle-époque palaces and the striking modern library.

How much does a Alexandria day tour cost?

Private day tours in Alexandria start from $116 per person, with the exact rate depending on the itinerary, group size and season. Every Discovery Tours Egypt day tour is private and all-inclusive: a licensed Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all listed entry fees. There are no hidden add-ons at the sites.

Are your Alexandria day tours private?

Yes. Every day tour we run is fully private – just your party, your own Egyptologist guide and your own driver. Nothing is shared with strangers, and the pace, stops and timing are tailored to you on the day.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your Alexandria hotel (or Nile cruise dock, where relevant) are included at no extra cost. Your guide meets you in the lobby; if your plans change, the local office that arranged the day tour can adjust it on the day.

When is the best time to visit Alexandria?

October to April is the most comfortable season, with warm days and cool evenings ideal for sightseeing. May to September is hotter, so day tours start early to beat the midday heat – and you'll often find fewer crowds and lower prices. We run day tours in Alexandria year-round.

Is it safe, and are families welcome?

Yes on both counts. We've operated in Egypt since 1988 from offices nationwide, with 24/7 in-country support, and day tours run with our own vetted guides and drivers. Families are very welcome – guides adjust the pace and content for children, and we can arrange car seats and shorter itineraries.

Day tours to Alexandria

Alexandria Day Tours

Catacombs, Citadel of Qaitbay, Bibliotheca Alexandrina & the Corniche

LengthFull & half day

From$75 / person

PickupHotel included

GuideEgyptologist

By the Discovery Tours Egypt desk

Alexandria rewards curiosity over spectacle. The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa are one of the ancient world's great surprises – three tiers of tombs where Roman and Egyptian styles collide underground. The Citadel of Qaitbay stands where the ancient lighthouse once rose. And the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern revival of antiquity's greatest library, is worth an hour of anyone's afternoon.

The best day tour in Alexandria is the one you don't have to organize yourself. We've been arranging them, in this country, since 1988.

Discovery Tours Egypt · since 1988

What you'll see

Alexandria, in the order that makes sense

A full day comfortably covers two or three of the stops below – your guide tailors the mix to your pace, interests and the season.

Citadel of Qaitbay

A 15th-century fortress on the Mediterranean, built on the exact spot – and partly from the fallen stones – of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders. The sea air, the ramparts and the harbor views make it Alexandria's signature stop.

~1.5 hrsEastern Harbor

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The modern reincarnation of the ancient Library of Alexandria – a vast sun-disc of a building tilted toward the sea, opened in 2002. Inside: the main reading room, museums and changing exhibitions. A striking counterpoint to the city's ancient layers.

~1.5 hrsClosed Fridays am

Montaza Palace Gardens

The royal gardens of Egypt's last dynasty, sprawling along the coast with the Florentine-style Al-Haramlik palace at their center. A green, breezy place to walk between the historic sites – and a glimpse of Alexandria's belle-époque heyday.

~1 hrCoastal gardens

Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

A three-level Roman necropolis spiralling underground, where Egyptian, Greek and Roman funerary art fuse like nowhere else – one of the medieval world's 'Seven Wonders' of the Middle Ages. Cool, atmospheric, and a complete change of register from the seafront.

~1 hrUnderground · cool

Pompey's Pillar

A single 27-meter column of red Aswan granite, raised around 298 AD – the largest of its kind ever erected outside the imperial capitals – beside the ruins of the Serapeum temple and two granite sphinxes. A quick, photogenic stop with deep Roman-Egypt history.

~40 minRoman Alexandria

Every Alexandria day tours

Ways to spend the day

Every private, fully-guided day tour we run here – hotel or Nile-cruise pickup included. The price you see is the all-in rate.

Alexandria 2 Nights from Cairo – Wadi El Natrun, Pompey's Pillar, Catacombs

Two nights from Cairo visiting Wadi El Natrun and Alexandria: Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Graeco-Roman Museum. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator; our driver meets you in Cairo arrivals or your hotel with a name card. Unlike one-day coach tours, we overnight so you can start early in Wadi El Natrun and spend meaningful time inside the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Catacombs. Standard site entrance fees are included. Expect two long drives (Cairo–Alexandria about 225 km, roughly 2.5–3 hours each way) and walking on uneven ancient stone at several sites.

From $251

Alexandria Overnight Tour from Cairo

We transfer you from Cairo to Alexandria by private car, include one hotel night, and guided visits to Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Qaitbay Citadel. The drive is about 220 km (roughly 2.5–3 hours) depending on Cairo traffic. Unlike rushed single-day coach tours, our overnight schedule lets you visit the library at opening and see Kom el-Dikka and Kom el-Shoqafa without a late return to Cairo. Our Egyptologist accompanies the visits; our driver meets you in Cairo and handles transfers and luggage. Standard site entrance fees are included; optional extras or special-permit access are charged separately. Trade-offs: an early departure and roughly 220 km of driving each way.

From $2482 Days

Alexandria Day Tour, incl. Wadi Natrun Monasteries

A full-day private tour from Cairo visiting Alexandria’s major sites and two Coptic monasteries in Wadi Natrun. We travel by private vehicle with one Egyptologist for the whole day; we do not run coach-bus group schedules. Unlike cruise-shore excursions that start from the port, this itinerary begins and ends in Cairo so you avoid port transfers. Expect a long day with significant driving: Alexandria is about 220 km (≈3 hours) from central Cairo and Wadi Natrun is about 90 km (≈1.5 hours). Moderate walking on uneven ancient stone and monastery courtyards is required.

From $116

A few more Alexandria day tours.

Classic Private Day Trip To Alexandria From Cairo By Car • Discovery Tours DMC Egypt

From $70

Know before you go

The practical bits

What to wear

Cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches. Closed, comfortable shoes – you'll cross uneven stone and sand.

Tipping

Around $2–4 a day for your guide is standard, and a little for the driver. Never obligatory – your day tour price is complete.

Heat & water

Carry 1.5L minimum. Sites are in full sun by 10am – the early start isn't just about crowds, it's about comfort.

Cameras & fees

A few sites charge a separate camera fee at the gate; some interiors are extra. Standard site entry is always included.

Questions we hear most