Alexandria walking tour & city guide

The Corniche

The Corniche curves along the Eastern Harbor for kilometers. At its end, the Citadel of Qaitbay stands on the site of the ancient Lighthouse. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern library, honors the ancient one.

History

The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa mix Egyptian and Roman styles, and Pompey's Pillar is a giant Roman column. Historic cafés recall the city's cosmopolitan past.

A day in Alexandria

Walk along the Corniche from the Qaitbay Citadel, built on the site of the ancient lighthouse, to the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Visit the Roman amphitheater, the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa and Pompey's Pillar.

Good to know

Alexandria has a Mediterranean feel and cooler summers than Cairo. It is about three hours from Cairo by train.

Fish restaurants near the harbor let you choose your fish by weight.

The Mediterranean city

Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was once the greatest city of the ancient world, famous for its library and its lighthouse. Little of that remains above ground, but the city still has a cosmopolitan feel, with old cafés and patisseries from the time when Greek, Italian and Armenian communities lived here. Sitting in one of these historic cafés, or watching the sunset along the Corniche, is the best way to feel the city's character. Montaza Palace gardens are a green escape to the east.