Top Cairo to Alexandria Tours | Best Day Trips
Alexandria Full-Day Trip from Cairo with Guide
Description
The Alexandria day trip from Cairo heads north to Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, combining Greco-Roman history, sea views and modern culture in a well-paced day out. Alexandria is about 220 km from Cairo, and the drive takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours each way in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle. An early pickup makes better use of the day and helps you avoid the hottest part of the afternoon on the open Corniche.
With our team, you travel with a professional guide who puts each site into context rather than leaving you with disconnected displays to read. The route follows a practical order, starting with the city’s underground monuments before moving through its later history and waterfront landmarks. There is time to listen, take photographs and pause between visits instead of hurrying from one stop to the next.
- See the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa and their Egyptian, Greek and Roman decoration.
- Visit Pompey's Pillar, one of Alexandria’s best-known surviving ancient monuments.
- Explore the new Library of Alexandria and its modern cultural setting.
- Walk or pause along the Corniche before visiting the Citadel of Qaitbay.
The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are a particularly distinctive stop. This underground funerary complex has carved chambers and reliefs that combine Egyptian traditions with Greek and Roman details. Your guide points out the different artistic influences and explains how the catacombs were used. The steps and enclosed spaces can be difficult for travellers with limited mobility, so tell us in advance if anyone in your group needs a more accessible plan.
Pompey's Pillar comes next, rising from the remains of the ancient Serapeum. Despite its name, the column was not built for Pompey; it was erected in honour of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The surrounding ruins give you a clearer sense of ancient Alexandria’s scale and age, while the open site offers a useful contrast after the catacombs.
The new Library of Alexandria brings the city’s intellectual history into the present. Its broad, angled building faces the sea and contains library, exhibition and cultural spaces. Depending on opening arrangements, your visit may focus on the building and its exterior setting or include access to available public areas. We plan this stop around the day’s visiting conditions and allow time for photographs without reducing the visit to a hurried walk-through.
At the Citadel of Qaitbay, also commonly written as the Citadel of Qeitbay, you reach one of Alexandria’s most recognisable coastal landmarks. The fortress was built in the fifteenth century on the site associated with the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. Sea air, stone walls and views across the harbour give this stop a different feel from the inland archaeological sites. A break along the Corniche gives you time to enjoy the waterfront at a slower pace.
This Cairo to Alexandria tour suits travellers who want a full day of history without changing hotels or arranging intercity transport themselves. It works well for couples, families with older children and first-time visitors who prefer a guide and private vehicle. The journey is long for one day, however, and the tour is less suitable for anyone seeking a relaxed beach day or a slow, extended stay in Alexandria. Pickup and drop-off at your Cairo accommodation keep the logistics simple, while the air-conditioned vehicle makes the return drive more comfortable.
Meals, entrance arrangements and the exact order of stops can vary with the day’s operating conditions and your chosen booking option. Wear shoes with a firm grip, bring sun protection and carry water; some sites include uneven ground, steps or exposed areas. Our team can also advise on mobility needs before travel, so the itinerary is clear before you leave Cairo.
Included
Professional English-speaking guide
Private or shared tour service according to the selected booking option
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo
Transport in a modern air-conditioned vehicle
Excluded
Lunch and drinks
Personal expenses
Any services not listed under inclusions
Entrance fees to the listed sites unless included in the selected booking option
Tipping
Don't forget
Your passport or valid identification if required for entry
Water for the journey and site visits
Cash for entrance fees, meals or personal expenses where applicable
A light layer for the air-conditioned vehicle
Comfortable walking shoes with a firm grip
Sun protection, including a hat and sunscreen
Frequently Asked Questions
The Alexandria day trip from Cairo includes hotel pickup in Cairo, a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, and the services of a professional guide during the sightseeing programme. The route covers the Catacombs Kom el Shoqafa, Pompey Pillar, the Citadel of Sultan Qeitbay, and the new Library of Alexandria.
Entrance fees, meals, and personal expenses depend on the booking option selected, so please check the inclusions shown with your chosen tour before booking.
The Cairo to Alexandria day trip takes a full day, with around 2.5 to 3 hours of driving each way and several hours for guided sightseeing in Alexandria. The pace is steady and practical, allowing time for the main historical sites, Mediterranean views, and a break along the Corniche.
Road conditions can affect the journey time. Our team plans the route in a way that keeps the day comfortable while covering the principal sights.
Pickup for the Alexandria tour is arranged from your hotel in Cairo, followed by a direct transfer in a modern air-conditioned vehicle to Alexandria. After the visits, including Pompey Pillar and the Citadel of Sultan Qeitbay, we drive you back to your Cairo accommodation.
Please provide your hotel details when booking so our team can confirm the pickup arrangements. Exact pickup time depends on your location and the day’s schedule.
The Alexandria day trip is suitable for children and reasonably active travellers, but some visits involve walking, steps, and uneven surfaces. The Catacombs Kom el Shoqafa may be difficult for travellers with limited mobility, while the outdoor areas around the new Library of Alexandria and the Corniche are generally easier to explore.
Tell us about any mobility needs before booking. We can explain the expected walking conditions and discuss practical arrangements with you.
For a day trip to Alexandria, wear comfortable walking shoes, light layers, and clothing suitable for visiting cultural sites. Bring sun protection, a hat, water, any personal medication, and a small bag for essentials, as the itinerary includes outdoor stops and time beside the Mediterranean.
Conditions can change during the day, so an extra layer is useful outside the warmer months. A camera or phone is welcome, subject to photography rules at individual sites.
You can book the Alexandria day trip by selecting your preferred date, adding your Cairo pickup details, and reviewing the listed inclusions and cancellation terms before confirming. Our team can also help clarify the itinerary, entrance arrangements, or suitability for your group.
Cancellation and amendment conditions depend on the booking terms shown at checkout. Contact us as early as possible if your plans change, so we can explain the available options.
Reviews
Why travelers choose A1Toureg
- Transparent pricing with no unexpected fees.
- Reserve today and pay on the day of your tour on most excursions.
- Free cancellation on selected tours.
- Organized with trusted licensed Egyptian partners.
- Fast confirmation and personal assistance.
- Comfortable transportation for every journey.
- Support in English, German, French, Italian, Russian & more.
- We're with you every step of the way.
Your unforgettable Egypt journey starts with a booking you can trust.
* Available on selected tours. Flights, cruises and special bookings may have different cancellation policies.
Keep things flexible!
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
Ways You Can Pay!
If you choose to pay online, a secure payment link can be provided after booking. For assistance or alternative payment options, please contact us via WhatsApp.
Your Itinerary
Our team picks you up from your hotel in Cairo in the early morning for the drive north to Alexandria. The journey covers roughly 220 km and usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic and the pickup location. You travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle with your guide, leaving the busy capital behind as the landscape changes from city streets to agricultural areas.
There is time to settle in, ask questions about the day, and rest during the transfer. Your guide will explain the order of the visits and the practical details for each stop before you arrive. Alexandria sits on the Mediterranean coast, so the pace changes once you reach the city: expect sea air, broad roads, and a mixture of modern neighbourhoods and historic sites. After arrival, the first visit begins in the city’s eastern necropolis area.
Your first Alexandria visit is to The Catacombs Kom el Shoqafa, an underground necropolis dating from the Roman period. You enter through a circular stairway and descend into chambers cut into the rock. The layout combines burial spaces with decorative details influenced by Egyptian, Greek, and Roman traditions, showing how Alexandria’s communities and artistic styles came together.
Your guide explains the symbols, reliefs, and funeral customs as you move through the lower levels. The steps can be uneven and the passages are enclosed, so comfortable shoes and care on the stairs are useful. Conditions underground are cooler and dimmer than outside, with limited space in some sections. Allow around 45 minutes to an hour for the visit, including time to listen to the explanation and take in the carved details before returning to the vehicle.
Continue to Pompey Pillar, a tall red-granite column in the archaeological area of the ancient Serapeum. Despite its traditional name, the column was not built for Pompey. It was erected in honour of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and is one of the most recognisable surviving monuments from Roman Alexandria.
The site also contains traces of the wider temple complex, including underground galleries and scattered architectural remains. Your guide sets the monument within the history of the city, explaining how Alexandria remained an important religious, political, and trading centre under Roman rule. This is a straightforward outdoor visit, though the ground can be dusty or uneven. You will have time for photographs around the column before rejoining the vehicle for the short transfer towards the waterfront and the next historic stop.
At the eastern harbour, visit the Citadel of Sultan Qeitbay, a 15th-century fortress built on the site associated with the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. The stone walls, towers, and harbour-facing position show how the city was defended during the Mamluk period. Inside, you can explore the main areas of the fortress and look across the Mediterranean from its elevated viewpoints.
Your guide points out the relationship between the citadel and the old harbour before you take a break for lunch at a local restaurant. The meal is a chance to sit down after the morning’s walking; local seafood and Egyptian dishes are commonly available, with alternatives depending on the restaurant and dietary needs. After lunch, there is a little time to enjoy the Corniche atmosphere and sea views before the vehicle continues west along the waterfront.
The afternoon visit is to the new Library of Alexandria, known locally as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Its circular building slopes towards the Mediterranean and carries a vast granite wall engraved with letters and scripts from across the world. Inside, the main reading hall has broad terraces and carefully controlled natural light, creating a very different setting from the city’s older archaeological sites.
Your guide explains how the modern library recalls Alexandria’s ancient centre of learning while serving as a contemporary cultural complex. Depending on access and the day’s operating arrangements, you may see the main library spaces and selected exhibitions or museums within the complex. Allow time for photographs outside and a relaxed walk near the waterfront. The visit usually lasts around an hour, after which you return to the vehicle for the drive back to Cairo.
After the Bibliotheca Alexandrina visit, begin the return transfer to Cairo in the same air-conditioned vehicle. The drive usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, although traffic at the entrance to Cairo can affect the final arrival time. Your guide remains available during the journey and can help review the day’s sights or answer questions about Alexandria’s history.
The route follows the main road away from the coast, giving you time to rest after a full day of walking and sightseeing. Our team arranges the drop-off at your Cairo hotel or the agreed central location. Keep personal items with you when leaving the vehicle, particularly phones, cameras, and travel documents. The tour ends after drop-off, with no further activities scheduled.