Rosetta is the sort of place that people skip and then remember. It does not have the crowds of Giza or the scale of Karnak. It has a small river town, a fort, some old houses and a feeling of being far from the main tourist routes.
The name matters because of a single object. The Rosetta Stone carries the same decree in three scripts, and it gave scholars the key to reading Egyptian hieroglyphs. It was found here, at the Fort of Qaitbay, which the French called Fort Julien, in 1799.
Getting there
The drive from Alexandria takes about 1.5 hours along the coast. The road passes farmland, small towns and stretches of sea. Our trip is private, so you have your own air-conditioned car and an Egyptologist guide who explains the story on the way.
The whole day lasts about seven hours. That leaves room for a relaxed walk through the old town and a break by the river.
The old town
Rosetta's main attraction is its collection of Ottoman merchant houses. They are built of brick and wood, with carved wooden screens on the upper floors, and some have been restored. Walking inside gives a sense of how merchants lived when the town was a busy trading port.
You also visit the Abu Shahin mill and the Azouz hammam. The mill shows how grain was ground by animal power. The hammam is an old public bath, and your guide explains how bathing worked in Ottoman towns.
The fort and the river
The Fort of Qaitbay stands near the mouth of the Nile. Like its namesake in Alexandria, it was built by the Mamluk sultan Qaitbay in the 15th century. Today it is a quiet place with views over the water.
Soldiers building defenses during the French campaign found the stone in 1799. After the French surrender, the stone passed to the British, and it has been in the British Museum since. Your guide tells the story, but the real object is in London.
- Ottoman merchant houses – brick and wood with carved screens
- Abu Shahin mill – animal-powered grain mill
- Azouz hammam – old public bath
- Fort of Qaitbay – where the stone was found, with river views
Who it suits
Rosetta suits travelers who like small places and stories, and who have already seen the big sights. It is also a good choice for families and older visitors, because the walking is easy. If you want grand monuments, choose the full-day Alexandria tour instead.
The story of the stone
The Rosetta Stone is a slab of dark rock carved with the same decree in hieroglyphs, a later Egyptian script and Greek. Because scholars could read the Greek, they could work out the other two. This step opened the way to reading ancient Egyptian writing.
After the French surrender in 1801, the stone passed into British hands, and it has been in the British Museum in London ever since. Egypt has asked for its return, so it is a topic of some debate. Your guide can explain the arguments on both sides.
Knowing this story before you go makes the fort more than a pretty view. It becomes the place where a small discovery changed what we know about an entire civilization.
Discovery Tours Egypt has offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh, and our guides know the north coast as well as the Nile valley. If you are combining Alexandria with other parts of Egypt, we can help plan the route.
Rosetta is best seen unhurried. Allow time to sit by the river, drink tea and watch the boats. The slower you go, the more the town reveals.
Plan with us
Rosetta from Alexandria: what to expect
About 1.5 hours east of Alexandria, Rosetta has Ottoman houses, an old mill and the fort where the Rosetta Stone was found. What to expect.