Chapter One

A City of Eternal Reinvention

A
lexandria is not merely a city — it is a whispered promise from the Mediterranean Sea. Founded in 331 BCE by Alexander the Great, Egypt’s glittering second capital has spent more than two millennia reinventing itself: from the luminous intellectual heart of the ancient world, home to the legendary Lighthouse of Pharos and the mythic Great Library, to today’s breezy, cosmopolitan coastal metropolis of more than five million souls. The things to do in Alexandria are as layered as the bedrock beneath its streets.

Unlike the relentless energy of Cairo or the temple-dense gravity of Luxor, Alexandria moves to a softer rhythm. Sea salt mingles with the scent of fresh-baked fiteer. Calèche horses clop along the 20-kilometer Corniche. Fishermen cast lines beneath ramparts built from the stones of an ancient wonder. For travelers seeking cinematic sunsets, Greco-Roman ruins, fresh seafood feasts, and a genuine Mediterranean escape in North Africa, this pearl delivers.

The Mediterranean blush of Alexandria’s Eastern Harbor at golden hour.

01 — Modern Tribute to Ancient Wisdom

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Opened in 2002 as a luminous homage to Alexandria’s lost Great Library, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is one of the most poetic modern landmarks in the Mediterranean. Its tilted circular roof rises like a second sun over the sea, and its colossal granite exterior is inscribed with 120 scripts from around the world — a quiet, defiant celebration of human knowledge.

Step inside and the main reading hall steals your breath: a cascading, multi-tiered cathedral of study flooded with natural light, capable of housing millions of volumes. Beyond books, the complex is a constellation of experiences — specialized libraries (for children, the visually impaired, and rare manuscripts), four museums (Antiquities, Manuscripts, Science, Sadat), art galleries, a planetarium, and an exhibition hall that hosts everything from underwater archaeological finds to international contemporary art.

02 — Fortress on the Site of a Wonder

Citadel of Qaitbay

Perched dramatically at the mouth of the Eastern Harbor, the Citadel of Qaitbay stands on the very spot where the Lighthouse of Pharos — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — once cast its flame across the sea for sailors. Built in 1477 CE by Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay, the fortress was raised partly from the lighthouse’s fallen stones, making the walls themselves a conversation between wonder and warrior.

Square, sturdy, and softly honey-coloured, the citadel hides small maritime museums inside its towers, displaying weapons, naval artifacts, and exhibits on Mamluk and Ottoman sea power. But the true treasure is simply climbing to the ramparts: crashing turquoise waves on one side, the bustling harbor skyline on the other, and a feeling that you are standing at the intersection of myth and salt air.

03 — Underground Fusion of Civilizations

Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

Among the most surreal things to do in Alexandria is descending into the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa. Carved 35 metres into bedrock in the 2nd century CE, these three-tiered tombs were only rediscovered in 1900 — when a donkey reportedly plunged through a concealed opening and vanished from history’s surface.

Inside, Alexandria’s multicultural DNA is carved in stone. A spiral staircase winds past a rotunda, a triclinium banquet hall where the living once dined with the dead, and the haunting Hall of Caracalla where horse and human remains were discovered. You’ll see Anubis dressed as a Roman legionary, Medusa peering from a pediment, and pharaonic motifs standing shoulder to shoulder with Hellenistic flourishes.

04 — Monolith of the Serapeum

Pompey’s Pillar & the Serapeum Ruins

Soaring 25 metres into the Alexandrian sky, Pompey’s Pillar is one of the largest intact ancient monoliths on earth — a single column of polished red Aswan granite erected in the late 3rd century CE for Emperor Diocletian (not Pompey, despite the romantic misnomer given by medieval crusaders).

The pillar once crowned the Serapeum, a vast religious complex devoted to the syncretic deity Serapis. Today you can wander among sphinxes, collapsed temple walls, and underground galleries on a site that feels refreshingly uncrowded — a quiet hillside where cats nap on ruins and the city’s noise fades into historical reverence.

05 — Everyday Life of Ancient Alexandria

Kom el-Dikka: The Roman Theater

In the heart of downtown, Kom el-Dikka — literally “the Mound of Rubble” — unfolds into an astonishingly preserved Roman odeon. Thirteen tiers of pale marble step down to a small stage where students once debated, musicians performed, and civic life hummed.

Polish archaeologists later uncovered neighbouring bath complexes, residential quarters, and grand lecture halls — turning this compact site into one of the clearest windows into daily life in Roman Alexandria. A small on-site museum provides beautifully presented context.

06 — Museums & Cultural Institutions

Alexandria National Museum & Beyond

Housed inside an elegant Italianate palace, the Alexandria National Museum arranges over 1,800 artefacts in a pleasingly chronological sweep — from Pharaonic through Greco-Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras. Underwater archaeological finds steal the show, along with delicately labelled mummies and jewellery that hint at the city’s lavish past.

Beyond it, the literary ghosts of Constantine Cavafy and Lawrence Durrell still haunt downtown cafes and bookshops. The Cavafy Museum — the poet’s preserved apartment — is an intimate pilgrimage for lovers of his verse. The Alexandria Opera House stages concerts, ballets, and Arabic classical performances in a gilded 19th-century hall.

07 — The Soul of the City

The Corniche & Coastal Life

No visit is complete — indeed, no understanding of Alexandria is possible — without hours spent on the Corniche. This 20-kilometre ribbon of promenade hugs the Eastern Harbor, carrying generations of lovers, families, grandfathers with newspapers, and children chasing gulls.

Rent a bicycle, hail a calèche, or simply walk. Pause at cafes for mint tea and backgammon. Watch Stanley Bridge’s famous arches frame the setting sun. At night the waves grow inky and the promenade glitters with lamplight and laughter — an intoxicating slice of Mediterranean life you will not forget.

08 — Sand, Palaces & Royal Gardens

Beaches & Montaza Palace Gardens

In summer, Alexandria transforms into Egypt’s beloved beach capital. At its crown sits the sprawling Montaza Palace and Gardens — 150 acres of royal greenery where the Haramlek and Salamlek palaces rise like illustrations from a fairy tale. Wander whimsical bridges, botanical paths lined with exotic trees, and private crescents of sand.

Mamoura Beach offers softer sand and organised facilities, while Stanley Beach provides the best photo ops beneath its iconic bridge. Water can be lively — always check conditions and prefer shoulder seasons (late spring, early autumn) to avoid summer’s crowds of Egyptian vacationers.

09 — A Seafood Lover’s Dream

Food Scene: Seafood Heaven & Local Flavours

Alexandria’s cuisine is poetry written in olive oil and salt. Centuries of Greek, Italian, Lebanese, and Ottoman influence have mingled with Egyptian soul, and the Mediterranean delivers the rest. Pick your fish whole from a bed of crushed ice — sea bass, bouri, shrimp, calamari, blue crab — and watch it return, blistered and perfect, beside tahini, fattoush, and warm bread.

Must-try experiences

• Anfushi waterfront grills — the freshest catch, the most authentic atmosphere.
• Fish Market restaurant — upscale harbor views and polished service.
• Egyptian classics: molokhia, koshary, stuffed pigeon, ful, ta’ameya.
• Corniche sweets: golden kunafa and locally celebrated ice cream.
• Traditional ahwas: shisha, mint tea, backgammon clicks in the background.

10 — Beyond the Guidebook

Hidden Gems & Off-the-Beaten-Path

For those who want to go deeper, Alexandria rewards the curious with a treasure-map of secret places — a different layer of the best things to do in Alexandria.

11 — After Dark

Nightlife, Culture & Modern Experiences

Alexandria doesn’t sleep — it simply dims to gold. The Corniche glimmers, seafood restaurants fill with laughter, and musicians play oud and tabla in candlelit corners. Attend a performance at the Opera House or a lecture at the Bibliotheca. Wander from traditional souks — jewellery, spices, handwoven textiles — to glossy modern malls like San Stefano.

During Ramadan, the city becomes almost cinematic: lanterns sway above the streets, the air hums with prayer and sugar, and cafes stretch conversations until dawn.

12 — Beyond the City Limits

Day Trips from Alexandria

13 — Know Before You Go

Practical Travel Tips for 2026

Best Time to Visit

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal, with mild temperatures and sparser crowds. Summer is hot and filled with Egyptian holidaymakers; winter is cool but atmospheric, with dramatic Mediterranean storms.

Getting There

Train from Cairo (2–3 hours and wonderfully scenic), inter-city bus, or a short domestic flight. Within the city, Uber and Careem are reliable; the vintage tram network is charming if slow; a private driver is the most efficient option for a packed itinerary.

Suggested Itineraries

What to Bring

• Light, breathable clothing; a scarf for mosques and sea breezes.
• Comfortable walking shoes for catacombs and cobblestones.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, a wide-brim hat.
• Reusable water bottle (drink bottled water only).
• Small bills for baksheesh (tipping is customary and appreciated).

Why Travel Alexandria with Us

Frequently Asked

Alexandria Travel Questions

Related Excursions You’ll Love

Until We Meet on the Corniche

Alexandria captivates through contrasts: ancient ruins lapped by modern waves, chaotic markets beside serene palace gardens, the enduring romance of a city once ruled by pharaohs, Greeks, Romans, Copts, Arabs, and Ottomans. The sea air, the easy smiles of locals, the sense that time itself moves differently here — all of it creates memories that outlast the journey.

Stroll the Corniche as the Mediterranean turns molten. Taste perfectly grilled fish with lemon and tahini. Stand where the Great Library once hummed with scrolls. Feel the pulse of a legend that refuses to fade. Whether you are tracing Cleopatra’s footsteps or simply seeking a breeze and a bowl of good soup, Alexandria delivers an experience unlike anywhere else in Egypt.

Pack light clothes, a camera, boundless curiosity, and a very healthy appetite. This pearl of the Mediterranean has been waiting two thousand years to welcome you. Let’s write the next chapter together.

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