Alexandria City Tour — Citadel, Catacombs & Library

Overview

Alexandria reads differently from the rest of Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great and shaped by Greeks, Romans and later Ottomans, it faces the Mediterranean rather than the desert, and this full day follows that layered history around the city. You go underground at the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, a second-century burial complex that spirals three levels down, where Egyptian gods and Roman dress share the same carved walls. Nearby stands Pompey's Pillar, a single red granite column left from a great temple of Serapis, with two granite sphinxes at its base. On the seafront you reach Qaitbay Citadel, the fifteenth-century fort built on the exact spot where the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood, using some of its fallen stone. The day ends at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the striking modern library that revives the name of the ancient one, its reading room tilted toward the sea. A licensed guide connects the Greco-Roman, Coptic and modern threads, and the Corniche drive between sites keeps the harbour and the open water in view most of the way. Entrance tickets and transport are arranged so the day keeps moving rather than queuing.

Highlights

• ✦Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, three levels underground
• ✦Pompey's Pillar and the Serapeum grounds
• ✦Qaitbay Citadel on the site of the ancient Lighthouse
• ✦Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library
• ✦Corniche drive along the Mediterranean seafront
• ✦Licensed Egyptologist guide

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1
   Hotel pickup

   Meet your guide at your Alexandria hotel and set off for the first site.

2. 2
   Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

   Descend the spiral staircase into this Roman-era necropolis, where funerary carvings blend Egyptian gods with Greco-Roman dress.

3. 3
   Pompey's Pillar

   A short drive away, stand beneath the towering granite column that survives from the temple of Serapis, flanked by two sphinxes.

4. 4
   Qaitbay Citadel

   On the tip of the eastern harbour, explore the medieval fort raised where the Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood, with the sea on three sides.

5. 5
   Corniche & harbour drive

   Follow the curving Corniche past the fishing harbour and old seafront cafes toward the new library.

6. 6
   Bibliotheca Alexandrina

   Finish at the vast contemporary library, its slanted glass roof facing the Mediterranean, before your hotel drop-off.

Meeting point

📍 Hotel pickup included, or meet at the operator's downtown office.

Frequently asked questions

How long is this experience?

Full day

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes — you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before it starts.

Where does it start?

Hotel pickup included, or meet at the operator's downtown office.

Will I get instant confirmation?

Yes — your confirmation arrives on your phone right after booking.

What's included?

Licensed Egyptologist guide · Hotel pickup and drop-off in Alexandria · Air-conditioned transport between sites · All entrance fees to the sites listed · Bottled water