Alexandria Half-Day Private Tour – Qaitbay Citadel, Roman Theatre & Bibliotheca Alexandrina
5 hours, your own car and Egyptologist, tickets included, pick-up from your Alexandria hotel or cruise port.
The short answer
A 5-hour private half-day tour of Alexandria with an Egyptologist and your own car: the Citadel of Qaitbay, the Roman Theatre at Kom el-Dikka and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, with entrance tickets included.
- New
- Private
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Alexandria · Citadel of Qaitbay · Kom el-Dikka Roman Theatre · 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 Citadel of Qaitbay, the Roman Theatre at Kom el-Dikka and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina · Bottled water
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
October to April is mild. In summer the morning start avoids the worst heat.
- 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 5-hour tour of central Alexandria, leaving your hotel or the cruise port at 09:00. Your Egyptologist guide takes you to the Citadel of Qaitbay, the only Roman theater of its kind in Egypt at Kom el-Dikka, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The stops are close together, so you spend your time looking rather than driving. It is a good choice if you have a short port call, a free morning before a late flight or a wish to see the city's highlights without a full day. You are back at your hotel or the port at about 14:00.
Background
The facts
Alexandria's Eastern Harbor, Kom el-Dikka and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina are all within a short drive of each other in the city center, which makes a half-day tour practical.
Named in this entry
Alexandria·Citadel of Qaitbay·Kom el-Dikka·Villa of the Birds·Bibliotheca Alexandrina·Eastern Harbor
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Cruise passengers and short-stay visitors who want Alexandria's highlights in a morning.
Maybe not, if
- Not for those who want Roman tombs and Pompey's Pillar, which are on the full-day tour, or who cannot manage steps.
What lingers
- 01A private car, driver and English-speaking Egyptologist for your party only
- 02The Citadel of Qaitbay and its view over the Eastern Harbor
- 03The Roman Theatre at Kom el-Dikka and the mosaics of the Villa of the Birds
- 04The reading hall and antiquities museum of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- 05Back at your hotel or the port by early afternoon
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Short, compact route
- Private guide and car
- Easy to fit around a ship or flight
Things to Consider
- Lunch is not included
- Does not cover the Catacombs or Pompey's Pillar
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
Your driver and guide meet you at 09:00 at your Alexandria hotel or the cruise port. If you are on a ship, tell us the all-aboard time when you book and we will plan a safe margin.
- 2
The 15th-century fort stands on the tip of the Eastern Harbor, on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse. You can walk the walls and the courtyard, and your guide explains how the lighthouse fell and how the fort was built from its stones. It is windy at the sea edge.
- 3
The white marble seating of this small Roman theater sits in the middle of the city. Next to it, the Villa of the Birds has floor mosaics of birds that give the house its name. There are steps and uneven paving, so wear sturdy shoes.
- 4
The modern library opened in 2002 as a nod to the ancient Library of Alexandria. You see the great reading hall and the antiquities museum. Your guide explains what is known of the first library and how this one was built.
- 5
A short drive along the Corniche gives you a last look at the seafront. The car then returns you to your hotel or the port at about 14:00. Lunch is not included, and your guide can suggest a place near your hotel.
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 Citadel of Qaitbay, the Roman Theatre at Kom el-Dikka and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- Bottled water
Not included
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Tell us your all-aboard time when booking
- 02
Wear sturdy shoes for the stone steps at the Roman Theatre
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 short route and close stops make it one of the easier days for school-age children, though the sites have steps.
Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On the ground
Where it is
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How is this private tour priced?
The price is per person and goes down as your group gets bigger, because the car, driver and guide are shared among you. It covers the transfers, the Egyptologist and the three entrance tickets. Children's prices are set from the ages you give in your request. Prices are provisional until our team confirms.02Will we be back in time for our ship?
The tour is planned to end at about 14:00. Give us your ship's all-aboard time when you book, and we will confirm it fits. Your driver watches the clock, and the guide can shorten a stop if needed.03Is lunch included?
No. The tour ends in early afternoon, so lunch is up to you. Your guide can suggest a restaurant near the Corniche or your hotel, and you pay for the meal directly.04What should we wear and bring?
Wear comfortable walking shoes and light clothes, with a light jacket in winter for the sea wind. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a little cash for tips. You do not need your passport.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.06Is this tour private, or will others join us?
It is private. Only your own party travels in the car, and the Egyptologist guides only you. The maximum party size is 12, and the pace is yours to set.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Continue reading
From the archives
Last updated Product ID: EXC-ALX-313284
At a glance
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