Alexandria Day Trip from CairoCatacombs, Citadel & Library
A private day on the Mediterranean in Alexandria, the city founded by Alexander the Great.
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Your party
- Private, 2-8 guests
- Starts
- Your hotel in Cairo
This Alexandria Day Trip from Cairo takes you to the Mediterranean city founded by Alexander the Great and ruled by Cleopatra.
The drive is about three hours each way in a private car. Your Egyptologist begins underground at the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a Roman-era tomb where Egyptian and Greek art meet. Nearby stands Pompey's Pillar, a single granite column raised for the emperor Diocletian.
After a seafood lunch overlooking the harbour, you visit the Citadel of Qaitbay, built in the 15th century on the site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The day ends at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library built in honour of the great library of antiquity, before the drive back to Cairo.
Alexandria: Catacombs, Qaitbay Citadel & Library
Leave Cairo early with your Egyptologist for the drive north to Alexandria. Visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa and Pompey's Pillar, then enjoy a seafood lunch by the sea. In the afternoon, explore the Citadel of Qaitbay on the site of the Pharos Lighthouse and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, then drive along the Corniche, the long seafront promenade that curves around the Eastern Harbour. Return to your hotel in Cairo in the evening.
- 1
Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
A Roman-era tomb where Egyptian and Greek art meet.
- 2
Pompey's Pillar
A single granite column raised for the emperor Diocletian.
- 3
Citadel of Qaitbay
A 15th-century fort on the site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse.
- 4
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The modern library built in honour of the great library of antiquity.
Included
- Private hotel pickup and return in Cairo or Giza
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Entrance tickets to the sites in the itinerary
- Bottled water on board
- All taxes and service charges
- Seafood lunch at a restaurant by the sea
Not included
- Gratuities
- Drinks with meals
- Optional tickets not listed, such as inside the Great Pyramid
- Personal expenses
Before you go
How long is the drive on the Alexandria Day Trip from Cairo?
About three hours each way, depending on traffic, in a private air-conditioned car.
Can we take photos in the catacombs?
Photography rules inside the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa change from time to time. Your guide will advise on the day.
Is it possible to stay overnight in Alexandria?
Yes. We can turn this into a two-day trip with a night at a historic hotel on the Corniche.
