- DurationApprox. 7–8 hours
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsPickup from your Alexandria hotel
- PriceFrom $72 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This private Alexandria city tour covers the five sites that tell the city’s story best, from its founding by Alexander the Great in 331 BC to the modern library that revives its reputation for learning. You travel with your own guide and driver, so the route is planned around traffic and opening times, and you can linger wherever you like.
The morning is Greco-Roman Alexandria: the underground Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa, the 27-metre granite Pompey’s Pillar and the marble seats of the Roman theatre at Kom el-Dikka. After a fish lunch near the Eastern Harbour, you walk the walls of the 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel and finish at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Entrance fees, lunch and water are all included in the price.
Highlights
- Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa, where Egyptian and Roman art meet
- Pompey’s Pillar and the site of the Serapeum
- Roman theatre and lecture halls at Kom el-Dikka
- Qaitbay Citadel on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library by the sea
- Private guide, entrance fees and a fish lunch included
Itinerary
09:00 – Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa
After pickup, start underground. A spiral staircase leads down into a 2nd-century AD burial complex carved from the rock, where Egyptian gods appear in Roman armour and Greek motifs frame the tomb doors. Your guide explains the mix of beliefs that shaped this multicultural city. The stairs are steep but well lit.
10:15 – Pompey’s Pillar and the Serapeum
A short drive away stands the tallest ancient column in Alexandria, a single shaft of Aswan granite raised for Emperor Diocletian around 297 AD, despite its later name. Walk among the sphinxes and the underground galleries of the Serapeum, once home to the daughter library of the great Library of Alexandria.
11:15 – Roman theatre at Kom el-Dikka
In the city centre, the only Roman theatre found in Egypt has 13 rows of white marble seats, still crisp after 1,600 years. Around it, archaeologists have uncovered lecture halls, baths and mosaic floors, evidence of a busy academic quarter in late Roman times.
12:30 – Lunch near the Eastern Harbour
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, typically fresh fish or seafood with rice, salads and dips, with grilled chicken or vegetarian dishes available. The restaurant overlooks the harbour or is a short walk from it, depending on the day.
Meals: Lunch
13:45 – Qaitbay Citadel
Sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay built this fortress in 1477 on the spot where the Pharos lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders, once stood, reusing some of its fallen stone. Climb through the halls and onto the walls for wide views of the Mediterranean and the curve of the corniche.
15:00 – Bibliotheca Alexandrina and return
Finish at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, opened in 2002 with a tilted disc-shaped roof and a granite wall carved with scripts from around the world. Visit the vast reading room and the main library spaces before your driver takes you back to your hotel around 16:00 to 16:30.
Good to know: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is closed on Fridays; on a Friday we replace it with the Montaza Palace gardens or extra time at the corniche.
What’s Included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your Alexandria hotel or Alexandria Port
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to the catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar, Kom el-Dikka, Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina main library
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water and all taxes
Not included
- Drinks with lunch
- Library museums and special exhibitions (combined ticket, about $3 extra)
- Personal expenses
- Tips for the guide and driver
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $175 |
| 2 travellers | $109 |
| 3–5 travellers | $85 |
| 6+ travellers | $72 |
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
Can I take this tour from the cruise port?
Yes. We can meet you at the passenger terminal of Alexandria Port instead of a hotel, at the same price. Tell us your ship’s name and all-aboard time and we will plan the order of visits so you are back at the terminal with time to spare.
Are the catacombs suitable for children or older travellers?
Most visitors manage well, but the catacombs are reached by a steep spiral staircase of around 100 steps and can feel humid underground. If stairs are a problem, your guide can skip the lower levels or replace the visit with the Graeco-Roman Museum, which has level access.
Is the tour private?
Yes. The vehicle, driver and guide are for your party only, whether you are one person or a family of eight. That means you can change the order, spend longer at a site you love, or ask for a coffee break at one of Alexandria’s old cafés.
Can I add the Graeco-Roman Museum?
Yes, the restored Graeco-Roman Museum is a good addition for history lovers and adds about an hour. We would drop Kom el-Dikka or shorten lunch to keep the day to around eight hours. Ask for a quote when you book; the ticket costs about $8 per adult.
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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.
