Discovery Tours Egypt
Day TourAlexandria

Alexandria Full-Day Private Tour – Catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel & the Library

8 hours, your own vehicle and Egyptologist, tickets and a fish lunch included, pick-up from your Alexandria hotel or cruise port.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

An 8-hour private Alexandria tour with an Egyptologist and your own vehicle: the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, the Citadel of Qaitbay and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, with a fish lunch and entrance tickets.
  • New
  • Private

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Alexandria · Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa · Pompey's Pillar · Citadel of Qaitbay · Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Includes
Private pick-up and drop-off at your Alexandria hotel or the cruise port · Your own air-conditioned vehicle with a driver · Private Egyptologist guide who speaks English · Entrance tickets for the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, the Citadel of Qaitbay and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina · Lunch at a local fish restaurant
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

October to April has the mildest weather for walking. Summer afternoons are humid, so the morning start helps.

  • Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, an Egyptian tour operator working since 1988 with six offices
  • Travel licence ETAA 718 (Category A); IATA accredited agent

02Overview

A first look

This is a private 8-hour day in Alexandria, starting at your hotel or the cruise port at 08:30. Your Egyptologist guide takes you through the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, the column known as Pompey's Pillar and the Serapeum ruins, then to the Citadel of Qaitbay on the Eastern Harbor. After a fish lunch by the sea you finish at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Because the vehicle and guide are yours alone, you can slow down where something catches your interest. The trip works well for a cruise port call or a free day in the city. Everything starts and ends in Alexandria, so there is no long drive.

Background

The facts

Alexandria sits on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, about three hours from Cairo. Its main sights are close enough to see in one day by car, starting from a city hotel or the cruise port.

Named in this entry

Alexandria·Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa·Pompey's Pillar·Serapeum·Citadel of Qaitbay·Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Cruise passengers and hotel guests who want a full, flexible day of Alexandria's history with a private guide.

Maybe not, if

  • Not for travelers who cannot manage steep stairs, or for those who want only a short stop in the city.

What lingers

  • 01A private vehicle, driver and English-speaking Egyptologist for your party only
  • 02The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, tombs cut deep into the rock in the Roman period
  • 03Pompey's Pillar and the remains of the Serapeum
  • 04The Citadel of Qaitbay, built where the ancient lighthouse once stood
  • 05Lunch at a seafront fish restaurant and time in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Honest assessment

Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.

Highlights

  • Your own guide and vehicle with a flexible pace
  • Tickets and a seafront lunch are included
  • Starts and ends in Alexandria with no long drive

Things to Consider

  • Steep stairs at the Catacombs
  • A full day of walking in sun and sea wind

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

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The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Private pick-up and drop-off at your Alexandria hotel or the cruise port
  • Your own air-conditioned vehicle with a driver
  • Private Egyptologist guide who speaks English
  • Entrance tickets for the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, the Citadel of Qaitbay and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
  • Lunch at a local fish restaurant
  • Bottled water

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Drinks with lunch
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional museums inside the Library

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Wear shoes with a good grip for the Catacombs staircase

  2. 02

    Tell your guide your ship's sailing time early in the day

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

This is a private tour, so children's prices are set from the ages you enter in your request. There is no minimum age. The Catacombs have a steep spiral staircase, so very young children may need to be carried, and a pushchair cannot be used there.

Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01How is this private tour priced?
    The price is per person and goes down as your group gets bigger, because the vehicle, driver and guide are shared among you. It covers the transfers, the Egyptologist, the four entrance tickets and lunch. Children's prices are set from the ages you give in your request. Prices are provisional until our team confirms.
  2. 02Can you pick us up from the cruise port?
    Yes. Pick-up and drop-off at the Alexandria cruise port is included, as is pick-up from your hotel in the city. Give us your ship's arrival and departure times and we will plan the day so you are back well before sailing.
  3. 03Do we go inside the Library museums?
    Your ticket covers the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and its main reading hall. Extra museums inside the Library are optional and paid on the spot. Your guide can tell you which are worth the time on the day.
  4. 04What should we wear and bring?
    Wear comfortable walking shoes and light clothes, with a light jacket in winter for the sea breeze. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a little cash for tips. A passport is not needed for this trip.
  5. 05What is the cancellation policy?
    A cancellation made three days or more ahead is paid back in full. One made inside three days but outside 24 hours is paid back by half. A later one, or a missed pick-up, is not refunded. Tell us early about any change.
  6. 06Is this tour private, or will others join us?
    It is private. Only your own party travels in the vehicle, and the Egyptologist guides only you. The maximum party size is 12, and you can ask for more time at the places you enjoy most.

If plans change

Cancellation and refunds

What you get back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your trip you tell us and the type of trip you book. Read our current cancellation and refund policy

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-ALX-303695

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