We have visited Egypt twice together, but Ahmed has been visiting almost yearly since he was a kid to visit family. Ahmed has been to Alexandria many times, and we have been together once, but only for a day. We hope we can provide some insight into things to do while you visit the port city of Alexandria for a day!
Here’s what you’ll find in this guide (click to jump ahead):
- Staying Safe
- When to Visit
- Where to Stay
- Things to Do
- Other Things to Do (that we haven’t done)
- Tour Options
- A map to help you plan your itinerary
- Helpful Planning Tips
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Staying Safe in Alexandria
One recommendation is to keep your wits about you (as you always should while travelling). This means being aware of your surroundings, keep your bags/purses close, and listen to your gut. Many online forums and travel sites will recommend travelling with a guide throughout Egypt. Locals will know which areas to steer clear of and which ones are safe to frequent. Since we have family there, we haven’t used a guide and therefore do not have a specific recommendation for that.
Make sure you educate yourself on local customs and traditions. For example, women will have an easier time if they ensure they are covered to their ankles and don’t wear anything too low cut. As a tall, very pale woman, I stand out anywhere I go (in Cairo, even more so). I did notice a drastic increase in the number of “looks” I got if I was wearing something above ankle-length or walking anywhere on my own (even just to the bathroom). However, I never felt unsafe (though I was always travelling with people who know where is safe and speak the language).
In order to stay connected when we travel, we make sure we buy an e-Sim ahead of time. This ensures we can call accommodations using data (with apps like Whatsapp), access all our confirmation numbers, access our trip plan on Wanderlog, and use Google Maps to figure out transportation. Our favourite e-sim is Airalo, who we’ve used in many countries, including Egypt, with no issues.
When to Visit Alexandria
Like the rest of Egypt, visiting in the spring or fall are your best bet. The weather isn’t as hot, but you don’t have the summer travel crowds. March through May and September through November are good for smaller crowds and nice daytime temperatures. With global warming, we may start seeing those windows of good weather shrink, as when we visited in September it was still much too hot.
The summer is hot (June to August). Avoid coming in the summer if you can. It will be humid, hot, and very crowded with locals trying to escape the heat by the sea. We visited in August, and it was very hot, sticky, and sweaty. You had to plan your day smartly to be able to have reprieve from the heat with air-conditioned activities!
Winter in Alexandria can see rain and be much cooler (cool for Egypt anyways). However, winter in general is high season for tourists to visit Egypt, so you may experience higher prices despite the cooler weather.
Where to Stay in Alexandria
The most convenient area to stay will be the downtown area of Alexandria. From here, you will be able to walk the Corniche, get to the key sights easily, and it is relatively safe. Other neighbourhoods that come recommended are Kafr Abdu, great for cafes and an upscale atmosphere, and Al-Mamurah, a bit quieter and outside of the city center with great beaches.
We haven’t personally stayed overnight in Alexandria, so we do not have a specific hotel to recommend. Highly rated hotels online include the Sofitel Cecil Alexandria, the Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria, and Egypt Hotel.
Explore Alexandria hotel availability below:
If you’re short on time or prefer a quick, easy-to-scan list, I’ve put together a separate post with the best things to do in Alexandria:
Things to Do in Alexandria
A note that often the only way of booking tickets in advance is if you’re doing a day trip from Cairo or doing a walking tour. While we haven’t personally done these in Alexandria, we have had good luck with Get Your Guide in the past! Otherwise, tickets for most attractions are usually purchased on site.
1. Citadel of Qaitbay
Also known as Fort Qaitbay, the citadel is unmissable as you walk along the waterfront downtown. The Citadel of Qaitbay guards the entrance to the Alexandria harbour and was built in the 15th century. You will need tickets to get inside, and you can get some amazing views of the city and the Mediterranean from the top. Inside, you can explore rooms and chambers throughout, as well as museum-like exhibits which talk about the role the citadel played in the city’s defense.
2. Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Also known as the Library of Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina has been rebuilt and is known as one of the city’s most modern landmarks. The original library was burnt to the ground and was said to have housed more books and knowledge than any other city in the ancient world. The modern library is a work of art and is a working library with people reading and studying in every nook. The building itself is shaped like a disc and is covered with languages from around the world. A must see while in Alexandria!
3. Antiquities Museum
Located inside the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the Antiquities Museum. Its collection is from Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. There are many artefacts to see here, and it is often overlooked due to being inside the library. You will see mummies, statues, and get a great account of the city’s history.
4. Stroll the Corniche
Walk along the Alexandria Corniche and take in the Mediterranean Sea on one side with the city on the other. You will be able to see many city landmarks from the Corniche, including the Citadel of Qaitbay, Abu Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, the library, and old hotels. The Corniche starts at the Citadel of Qaitbay (or ends there depending on how you look at it), passes the library, and ends at the Montaza Palace.
5. Montazah Palace & Gardens
A large seaside park with gardens, walking paths, and views of the water. A quieter place to wander if you want a break from the city centre.
6. Cross the Stanley Bridge
You can walk or drive across this 400-meter bridge day or night. We drove across during the day, but apparently it is quite a busy place for people to congregate at night for a walk across the bridge under the stars.
7. Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa
An underground burial site and one of Alexandria’s more unique historical attractions. It’s a short visit, but interesting if you enjoy ancient sites.
8. Eat fish by the ocean
One of the biggest draws to Alexandria is its seafood. Freshly caught, you can enjoy a seafood dinner at many waterfront restaurants. We ate at one right on the beach and watched fisherman catch the fish we ate for our dinner. For a sea view while you dine, check out restaurants at the harbourfront. If you’re not picky about your dinner view, head to the district of Anfushi along the Corniche.
Other Things to Do:
These are things we didn’t get to see due to only spending one day in Alexandria, but come highly recommended by family or are on many “Things to do in Alexandria” lists:
- Kom el-Dikka (Roman theatre)
- Pompey’s Pillar (the Arabic name is Amoud Al Sawari)
- Alexandria National Museum
- Ras el-Tin Palace
- Abu Abbas al-Mursi Mosque
- Royal Jewelry Museum
- St. Mark’s Cathedral
Again, unless you’re part of a tour, tickets for attractions are usually purchased on site.
Tour Options
A note that we haven’t personally done tours in Alexandria, as we have had family show us around. These are some of the more highly rated tours we found to help you with your research.
- Archaeological sites tour, including library, Citadel, Palace, Cathedral, Mosque, & more
- Walking tour of Alexandria (this one’s free!)
- Private tour from Cairo, fewer sites
- Group tour from Cairo, including lunch – this one hits basically all the major sites and is very extensive
- Budget-friendly tour (so does not include the Citadel or Palace)
MAP of Things to do in Alexandria, Egypt:
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at activities I’ve done (or haven’t) or see all of the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.
Helpful Planning Tips
I rely on these tools when planning my trips:
- Get Your Guide – tours around Alexandria or to Alexandria from Cairo
- Airalo eSIM – get Egyptian data instantly on arrival, without roaming charges
- Stay22 – compare hotels across Alexandria at a glance
- Wanderlog – keep track of your trip details, organize your itinerary, and map out your stops
- Bring cash – tips are expected (they love US dollars)
- Bring a photocopy of your passport, as you will need it to get tickets at some sites
- If you’re married to an Egyptian, bring a copy of your marriage certificate – at sites where you tend to pay on-site, you can get in for the Egyptian price!
Thank you for the local insights to visiting Alexandria. I like the idea of staying right downtown, enjoying walking the corniche and visiting the sights, and enjoying the freshly caught seafood.
The Corniche really is beautiful!
Thank you for these recommendations ans the advice. I’d also like to visit Egypt but am aware of safety, but going with a tour operator, at least at the beginning, sounds like a really good plan.
We are so lucky we have “built in tour guides”, but everyone we’ve spoken to who has gone has also said having a good tour guide is what made their trip!