Alexandria Overnight Tour from Cairo
Guided visit to Pompey’s Pillar, Kom El Shoqafa, Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Roman Museum, with hotel pickup, guided tours and overnight in Alexandria.
At a glance
- Length
- 2 days · 1 nights
- Departs
- Daily
The short answer
Alexandria overnight sightseeing tour from Cairo is a 2-day excursion covering Pompey’s Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the Roman Museum in Alexandria, operated by Discovery Tours Egypt.
- Private
- Cultural
- Archaeology & history
- Couples·
- Solo traveller·
- Groups·
- Seniors
Snapshot
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 Days / 1 Night
- Travel style
- Guided Excursion with Overnight in Alexandria
- Accommodation
- Overnight accommodation arranged separately if requested
- Operated by
- Discovery Tours Egypt
- Destinations
- Cairo · Alexandria · Pompey’s Pillar · Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa · Bibliotheca Alexandrina · Roman Museum (Alexandria)
- Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Cairo · Qualified Egyptologist guide on the sightseeing day · Air-conditioned vehicle between Cairo and Alexandria · Lunch on the main sightseeing day · Entrance fees to listed sites
- Best for
- History enthusiasts · Travelers wanting a slower Alexandria visit · Couples and families · Private tour travelers
- Guide languages
- Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish
Best time to go
The best time to visit Alexandria is usually from October to April, when temperatures are milder and sea breezes make outdoor sightseeing more comfortable. Summer months can be humid and warm, though Alexandria is typically cooler than Cairo. During Ramadan and major public holidays, some opening hours and restaurant service patterns may change, so scheduling should be checked in advance.
- Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator
- Class-A licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism
- Member of the Egyptian Travel Agents Association (ETAA #718)
- Egyptologist guide for the sightseeing day
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Cairo
- Air-conditioned vehicle for intercity transport
- Standard site entrance fees included unless stated otherwise
02Overview
A first look
By dawn the Corniche smells of sea and diesel, and Alexandria's low skyline slips into view as we drive along the Mediterranean coast. You will move from salty sea air to the cool, echoing chambers of Kom El Shoqafa, stand beside Pompey’s Pillar, and feel the modern hush of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in the morning light, all paced so the day never feels rushed.
We arrange every transfer and the overnight stay so your time in the city is quiet and usable, not a dash. Our Egyptologists lead the walking sequences and explain the Roman and Hellenistic layers on site; unlike same-day coach trips, this keeps a morning in Alexandria for softer light and fewer crowds.
Background
The facts
Alexandria is Egypt’s main Mediterranean port and was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE. The city lies about 220 km northwest of Cairo, and the drive typically takes around 2.5 to 3.5 hours each way depending on traffic and road conditions. An overnight stay allows visitors to see major sites without compressing all visits into a single same-day return.
Pompey’s Pillar is a free-standing Roman column in the Serapeum area, generally dated to the late 3rd century CE. Nearby, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are one of Alexandria’s best-known Roman-period funerary complexes, with underground chambers that combine Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artistic elements. The Roman Amphitheatre remains and the Roman Museum help explain the city’s Greco-Roman layers through sculpture, mosaics, and architectural fragments.
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a modern cultural landmark on the Corniche, opened in 2002 as a major library and research center. It is not an ancient monument, but it is often included because it represents Alexandria’s contemporary role as a center of learning. Most sightseeing routes in the city combine indoor and outdoor stops, so walking distances are moderate and visits are usually arranged with transport between sites.
An overnight in Alexandria is useful because the city is less congested early in the morning than during midday. It also gives time for a slower sequence of visits along the Corniche and in the central archaeological areas, with lunch commonly scheduled on the main sightseeing day.
Named in this entry
Alexandria·Pompey’s Pillar·Serapeum·Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa·Bibliotheca Alexandrina·Roman Museum·Roman Amphitheatre·Alexander the Great
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This excursion suits adults and older children who are interested in Roman, Hellenistic, and modern Egyptian history. It is a good fit for travelers who prefer a private, guided city itinerary with moderate walking rather than a long, crowded day trip.
What lingers
- 01Private transfer from Cairo to Alexandria – approximately 225 km (about a 3-hour drive) in an air-conditioned car.
- 02Unlike most same-day runs from Cairo, we overnight in Alexandria to visit sites without rushed timings.
- 03Guided visits to Kom El Shoqafa catacombs and Pompey's Pillar; standard site entrance fees are included.
- 04We schedule the Roman Amphitheatre visit in the cooler morning to avoid midday heat and crowds.
- 05Evening promenade at Montaza Gardens with time to walk the late-afternoon corniche before dinner.
- 06Operated by a licensed Egyptian tour operator; your Egyptologist guide provides maps, reading recommendations, and contextual briefings.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Unlike a same-day Alexandria coach tour, this itinerary includes an overnight in the city so the next morning can be used for sightseeing before the return to Cairo. It is also more structured than self-driving, because pickup, transport, and guided site visits are arranged in advance. Compared with larger group excursions, a private format usually allows more control over pacing at each stop.
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
06:30 to 07:00 AM
- 1
Prompt, friendly pickup from your Cairo or Giza hotel lobby, meeting our driver and our private Discovery Tours Egypt Egyptologist who accompanies you for the next two days. Step into a premium, air-conditioned vehicle, take a chilled bottle of mineral water, and enjoy a smooth, scenic drive across the fertile Nile Delta agricultural road.
We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator; unlike large group bus tours, this departure is private and flexible to your pace. You return to your hotel at the end of the excursion.
- 2
Arrive in Alexandria then head straight into the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a three-tier Roman necropolis hewn into the bedrock. With Discovery Tours Egypt pre-arranged ticketing you bypass the normal entrance lines and descend the spiral staircase into the burial chambers.
Your Egyptologist explains the rare fusion of Pharaonic motifs and Greco-Roman sculpture as you move between the banqueting chamber, shaft and funerary niches. Unlike surface-only stops, this visit focuses on the subterranean complex itself.
- 3
A short drive brings you to the ancient township of Rhakotis where you stand beneath Pompey’s Pillar, a 27-meter monolith of solid red Aswan granite. Your Egyptologist explains how this solitary column marks the grand remains of the Serapeum Temple, once the city’s spiritual heart, and points out surviving podiums and carved blocks.
We keep groups small to minimise queueing and allow more time for questions. After about 45 minutes you return to your pickup point.
- 4
You arrive at a premium seafood restaurant perched on the Mediterranean Corniche, steps from Cairo's historic old harbor. Your table faces the water, where traditional fishing boats bob as you sit. You savour the local catch of the day, classic Mediterranean mezze, and chilled local juices while your Egyptologist explains the harbour's role in Cairo's coastal trade.
We schedule the lunch midday to avoid peak sun and evening crowds.
- 5
Drive along the breezy seafront to the harbour entrance, then step inside the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, an imposing Mamluk stone fortress. Your Egyptologist explains how builders reused salvaged blocks from the Pharos Lighthouse, which once stood on this promontory until an earthquake destroyed it. Walk the defensive ramparts and take panoramic, salty-aired views of the open sea.
We arrange morning pickups to avoid the midday heat and larger crowds.
- 6
Our driver meets you at the agreed pickup point and transfers you to your handpicked hotel on the Mediterranean Corniche. Drop your bags, freshen up, then spend the afternoon and evening at your leisure: stroll the Corniche at sunset, sip traditional mint tea at a seaside café, or sample local seafood and street snacks.
We arrange direct hotel transfers rather than shared coach pick-ups, so you arrive privately and relax into the coast-side atmosphere before returning to your hotel.
- 7
After pickup from your hotel, your Egyptologist and driver bring you to Kom El Dikka for a guided walking tour. You explore Egypt's only Roman Amphitheatre, noting the 13 white-marble terraces that once seated over 600 spectators.
Your guide explains the site's late Roman and Byzantine phases, then leads you through the open-air display of sunken monuments rescued from the eastern harbour, with time to photograph the marble fragments and mosaic floors.
- 8
We collect you from central Cairo hotels, then transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to the Grand Alexandria National Museum. Housed in a restored Italianate palace, the museum separates Alexandria’s history across three floors: Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, and Islamic/Modern.
Your Egyptologist explains key objects and the city’s changing role as a Mediterranean trade hub while you follow a curated, chronological layout that makes stylistic and cultural shifts easy to see.
- 9
On arrival your Egyptologist leads you through a separate, pre-arranged entry to bypass the regular queues. You explore the sunlit reading halls designed to evoke the ancient Library of Alexandria, and walk the open courtyards featuring statues of Alexander the Great.
Your guide explains the modern building's archaeological displays, including the manuscript museum and the antiquities gallery, and answers questions about the site's relationship to the ancient center of learning.
- 10
You arrive after an east-coast drive to the Montaza Palace Gardens, a 370-acre royal retreat established at the turn of the 20th century. Your Egyptologist explains the site's history as you take a leisurely, shaded walk beneath Mediterranean pines and date palms.
We arrange travel by air-conditioned vehicle from central Cairo; unlike crowded central sites, the gardens provide wide lawns and seaside viewpoints for final photographs of the palace towers overlooking the private bays.
- 11
We pause for a final, relaxing lunch at a charming local restaurant in Alexandria. After the meal you re-board a premium private vehicle; our Discovery Tours Egypt driver navigates the smooth coastal and desert highway south toward Cairo while you recline and enjoy chilled bottled water. Your Egyptologist is available for final questions during the drive.
Unlike large coach trips, this transfer is private and paced for comfort.
- 12
Your day finishes with a hotel lobby drop-off in Cairo or Giza as the city lights come on. After the shore excursion, our driver and Egyptologist escort you in an air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel; you step out feeling refreshed and enriched, with any luggage handled by our driver.
We schedule the return to avoid peak traffic where possible, so you arrive in the early evening and can relax for the night.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Cairo hotels
- Services of a qualified Egyptologist guide for the sightseeing day
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle between Cairo and Alexandria
- Lunch on the main sightseeing day
- Entrance fees to the listed sites
Not included
- Overnight accommodation in Alexandria if you require a specific hotel upgrade
- Drinks unless specified with meals
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses and optional activities
Tailor it
Make it yours
The excursion can be arranged as a private tour or adapted for small groups depending on availability and budget. Common adjustments include adding a seaside lunch stop, extending time at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, or upgrading the Alexandria overnight accommodation if a specific hotel category is requested. The route can also be adjusted to prioritize more archaeology or more city views.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Minimum age is 5 years for this excursion due to staircases and confined spaces at the Catacombs. Child rates are available for ages 5 to 11; from age 12, full adult price applies. Strollers are not practical at Kom El Shoqafa because of steps and narrow passages; a baby carrier is more useful for infants. High chairs are not guaranteed at the included lunch venue; please tell us in advance if you require one so we can request it.
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Hotel pickup — central Cairo hotelsMap
Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On the ground
Your route
·In summary
This excursion includes hotel pickup and drop-off in central Cairo, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, an Egyptologist guide on the sightseeing day, lunch, and entrance fees to the listed sites. The itinerary covers Pompey’s Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the Roman Museum in Alexandria. Overnight accommodation in Alexandria is arranged separately if a specific hotel upgrade is requested.
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01What is the duration of the Alexandria overnight sightseeing tour?
This is a two-day, one-night excursion from Cairo to Alexandria, allowing for a more relaxed exploration of the city's main sites. You will depart from Cairo on the first morning and return to your Cairo hotel on the second afternoon.02What is included in the tour price?
The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from central Cairo hotels, an Egyptologist guide for the sightseeing day, transport by air-conditioned vehicle, lunch on the main sightseeing day, and entrance fees to all listed sites.03What is not included in the tour price?
Overnight accommodation in Alexandria is not included, allowing you to choose your preferred hotel. Drinks, unless specified with meals, gratuities for guides and drivers, personal expenses, and optional activities are also excluded.04What kind of vehicle is used for transport to Alexandria?
Transport between Cairo and Alexandria is provided in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle. This ensures a comfortable journey for the approximately 2.5-hour drive each way.05Will I have an Egyptologist guide throughout the tour?
Yes, you will have a qualified Egyptologist guide for the main sightseeing day in Alexandria. They will provide insights into the history and significance of each site you visit.06Is lunch provided during the tour?
Lunch is included on the main sightseeing day in Alexandria. This allows you to enjoy a meal without needing to arrange it separately during your exploration.07What are the main sites visited in Alexandria?
The tour visits key Alexandrian landmarks, including Pompey’s Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the Roman Museum. This provides a comprehensive overview of the city's ancient and modern history.08How does this tour differ from a day trip to Alexandria?
Unlike single-day excursions, this overnight tour includes a night in Alexandria. This allows for a more leisurely pace, avoiding the rush of a same-day return to Cairo and providing morning time in the city.09What should I wear for visiting the sites in Alexandria?
We recommend comfortable walking shoes as you will be exploring ancient sites. Modest dress, covering shoulders and knees, is advisable for visiting religious or historical sites out of respect for local customs.10Is this tour suitable for families with children?
This tour involves walking at several historical sites and travel time between cities. While children are welcome, parents should consider if the pace and historical focus align with their children's interests and stamina.
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
Last updated Product ID: EXC-CAI-493110
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