Alexandria was once the capital of Egypt, and it still feels different from Cairo or Luxor. The air is salty, the buildings face the sea, and much of what made the city famous lies under the harbor or under later streets. What remains above ground is spread out, so the order of the day matters.
The plan below follows the way our full-day private tour runs. It covers the main stops in about eight hours without rushing, and it keeps the long indoor and air-conditioned parts for the afternoon.
Morning: the Catacombs and the Serapeum
Begin at the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa. A spiral stair leads down to a set of tombs from the Roman era, with carvings that blend Egyptian and Greek styles. It is cool below ground, which is a relief on warm days.
Next is Pompey's Pillar, a tall column of red granite standing among the remains of the Serapeum, the temple of Serapis. The name is a mistake from the Middle Ages. The column was raised in honor of the Roman emperor Diocletian, not Pompey. Your guide can point out what is left of the temple around it.
Midday: the Citadel and lunch
Drive along the coast to the Citadel of Qaitbay. It was built in the 15th century on the site of the Pharos lighthouse, one of the ancient wonders of the world. The lighthouse itself is gone, but the fort sits on the same spot, and the view across the Eastern Harbor is the best in the city.
Lunch comes next, at a seafront fish restaurant. Order what the guide recommends, usually grilled or fried fish with salad and bread. It is a slow, relaxed meal, and it breaks up the day well.
Afternoon: the library
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina opened in 2002 as a modern echo of the ancient library. The reading hall is vast and bright, with terraces of desks under a sloping glass roof. The complex also holds museums, including an antiquities collection.
Spend about an hour and a half here. You do not need to read anything to enjoy it. The building itself is the reason to go.
- Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa – Roman-era rock-cut tombs
- Pompey's Pillar and the Serapeum – red granite column and temple remains
- Citadel of Qaitbay – harbor fort on the lighthouse site
- Seafront fish lunch
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina – reading hall and museums
What to skip if time is short
If your day shrinks to five hours, drop the Catacombs and the pillar and keep the citadel, the Roman Theatre at Kom el-Dikka and the library. That is the shape of our half-day tour, and it works well for a ship call or a morning before onward travel.
Whichever version you choose, a private guide helps. Alexandria's sights are not signposted as clearly as the big sites in Luxor, and the drive between them is easier with someone who knows the traffic.
Practical points for the day
Wear comfortable shoes and light layers. Alexandria is breezy near the water and warm inland, and you will step in and out of cool buildings and bright sun several times. A hat and sunglasses are worth carrying in every season.
Our private tour includes entrance tickets for the Catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, the Citadel of Qaitbay and the library, plus lunch and bottled water. You only need to bring money for tips, small purchases and any extra drinks.
If you are staying overnight, ask about the food walk for the same evening. A day of sights followed by an evening of street food is a very full and very satisfying way to know the city.
Plan with us
Alexandria in one day: what to see
A realistic one-day plan for Alexandria: the Catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and the library, with lunch by the sea.