Alexandria Egypt Day Trip – Complete Guide to the Pearl of the Mediterranean

Egypt’s Second City – The Pearl of the Mediterranean

Alexandria was once the greatest city in the world — the intellectual capital of antiquity, home to the legendary Library of Alexandria, the Pharos Lighthouse (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) and the great Cleopatra. Today, this Mediterranean city of 5 million retains much of its cosmopolitan character, art deco architecture and legendary seafood, making it one of Egypt’s most rewarding day trips.

The Pure Coastal offers day trips to Alexandria from Cairo and the North Coast, as well as dedicated Alexandria city tours for visitors staying in the city.

Top Things to See in Alexandria

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The modern successor to the ancient Library of Alexandria — a stunning piece of contemporary architecture housing 8 million books, multiple museums, a planetarium and galleries. The library faces the sea on the same approximate site as the ancient original. A must-visit for any culturally curious traveller.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

One of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages — a remarkable underground necropolis combining Egyptian, Greek and Roman art styles in a way found nowhere else on earth. Dating from the 2nd century AD, the three-level burial complex descends 35 metres below ground.

The Citadel of Qaitbay

Built in 1477 on the exact site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse (once 137 metres tall), this medieval fortress guards the entrance to Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour. The sea views from the ramparts are spectacular, and the location — on a peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean — is magnificent.

Montaza Palace & Gardens

The summer palace of Egypt’s last royal family, set in 150 acres of beautiful gardens on the Mediterranean seafront. A perfect place to stroll, relax and enjoy the sea breeze.

Stanley Bridge & Corniche

Alexandria’s beautiful seafront Corniche — a wide promenade stretching 20 km along the Mediterranean — is at its most photogenic at the iconic Stanley Bridge, an arched causeway leading to a small island. Perfect for an evening stroll.

Alexandria National Museum

Housed in a beautifully restored Italian palazzo, the Alexandria National Museum holds over 1,800 artefacts spanning Alexandria’s Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic eras — including spectacular underwater archaeology finds from the sunken royal quarter of Cleopatra’s Alexandria.

Alexandria Day Trip Packages

• Alexandria Full-Day Cultural Tour (from Cairo) — Library, Catacombs, Citadel, National Museum, seafood lunch. From $75 per person
• Alexandria City Tour — Half-day or full-day local guided tours. From $40 per person
• Alexandria City Tour from the North Coast — For visitors staying at North Coast resorts. From $35 per person
• Private Yacht Cruise from Alexandria Marina — Luxury half-day on the Mediterranean. From $180 per person
• Sunset Dinner Cruise in Alexandria — Evening cruise along the Corniche with dinner. From $70 per person

The El Alamein Memorial – History Day Trip

An hour west of Alexandria lies El Alamein — site of the pivotal 1942 battles that turned the tide of World War II in North Africa. The Commonwealth War Cemetery and El Alamein Museum are profoundly moving memorials to the 80,000+ soldiers who died in the desert campaigns. A deeply significant historical excursion.

• El Alamein World War II Heritage Tour — from $70 per person

Alexandria’s Famous Seafood

No visit to Alexandria is complete without lunch at one of the city’s legendary seafood restaurants along the Corniche or in the old fishing quarter. Choose your fish by weight from the ice displays — sea bass, sea bream, red mullet, calamari, shrimp — grilled fresh and served with tahini, salad and Egyptian bread. This is some of the finest seafood in the Mediterranean world.

Book your Alexandria day trip with The Pure Coastal and discover the city that shaped the ancient world.