- DurationApprox. 12–13 hours
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsPickup from your Cairo or Giza hotel
- PriceFrom $92 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This private Alexandria day trip from Cairo takes you to the Mediterranean city founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, with your own guide, driver and air-conditioned vehicle. The drive along the desert highway takes about three hours each way, and the day covers the city’s main sights from its Greco-Roman past to its modern library, with a seafood lunch by the sea.
Alexandria feels very different from Cairo: a long seafront Corniche, faded Belle Époque buildings, sea breezes and fish restaurants. Your guide brings to life the story of the Ptolemies, Cleopatra, the lost Lighthouse and the great ancient library, and shows you how much of that history survives underground and along the harbour.
It is a full day, but the visits themselves are relaxed and mostly on level ground, with steps down into the catacombs and some uneven paths at the citadel. Because the tour is private, the order and pace can change to suit you, and extra stops such as the Roman Amphitheatre can be added.
Highlights
- Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa, where Egyptian and Roman art meet
- Pompey’s Pillar, the tallest ancient column in Alexandria
- Qaitbay Citadel on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Pharos
- The modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina and its vast reading hall
- Seafood lunch near the Mediterranean and a drive along the Corniche
- Private Egyptologist guide and air-conditioned vehicle all day
Itinerary
07:00 – Pickup in Cairo
Your guide and driver collect you from your hotel in Cairo or Giza. The drive north on the Cairo–Alexandria desert road takes around three hours, with a coffee stop on the way. Your guide uses the time to introduce Alexander, the Ptolemaic dynasty and how the city became the cultural capital of the ancient Mediterranean.
10:00 – Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa
Start underground at the catacombs, a second-century AD burial complex cut into the rock over three levels. A spiral staircase leads down to the main tomb, where Egyptian gods appear in Roman dress, a striking mix of styles you will not see anywhere else in Egypt. Photography rules inside can change, so ask your guide.
11:00 – Pompey’s Pillar and the Serapeum
A short drive brings you to Pompey’s Pillar, a single red granite column almost 27 metres high, raised for the emperor Diocletian. Around it lie the remains of the Serapeum temple, sphinxes and underground galleries once linked to the ancient library’s daughter collection.
12:00 – Qaitbay Citadel
Drive along the Eastern Harbour to the Citadel of Qaitbay, built in the 1470s on the spot where the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, once stood. Walk the walls for views of the sea and fishing boats, and see blocks from the lighthouse reused in the fort.
13:30 – Seafood lunch
Lunch is at a local fish restaurant near the sea, usually with grilled or fried fish, prawns or calamari, rice, salads and bread. Meat or vegetarian dishes are available if you do not eat seafood. Drinks other than water are paid locally.
Meals: Lunch
15:00 – Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Corniche
Visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, opened in 2002 as a tribute to the ancient library, with its tilted disc roof and a reading room that seats around 2,000 people. Then drive along the Corniche past Stanley Bridge and Montaza before heading back to Cairo, arriving at your hotel around 19:30 to 20:00.
Good to know: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is closed on some public holidays and may close early on Fridays; if so, your guide will swap in the Roman Amphitheatre at Kom el-Dikka.
What’s Included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your Cairo or Giza hotel
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees: Kom el-Shuqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- Seafood (or meat/vegetarian) lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water
Not included
- Drinks with lunch
- Graeco-Roman Museum or other extra sites (on request)
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Personal expenses
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $275 |
| 2 travellers | $160 |
| 3–5 travellers | $120 |
| 6+ travellers | $92 |
Per person in USD. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the drive from Cairo to Alexandria?
About three hours each way on the desert highway, depending on traffic leaving Cairo. With around six hours of sightseeing and lunch, the full day lasts 12 to 13 hours. Leaving early helps you avoid the worst of the city traffic in both directions.
Can we visit the Graeco-Roman Museum instead?
Yes. The Graeco-Roman Museum has reopened after a long restoration and holds excellent statues, mosaics and coins. Because the tour is private, we can swap it for the library or add it if time allows. Tell us when booking so we can adjust the ticket and timing.
Is lunch included and can it be vegetarian?
Yes, lunch is included at a local seafood restaurant. If you do not eat fish, the restaurant also serves grilled chicken, meat and vegetarian dishes such as salads, rice and vegetable tagines. Please let us know about allergies or dietary needs in advance.
Can I end the tour in Alexandria instead of returning to Cairo?
Yes. Many travellers stay a night in Alexandria or continue to the North Coast. We can drop you at an Alexandria hotel or Borg El Arab airport instead of driving back to Cairo. The price is usually similar; ask us for a quote.
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Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
