Alexandria day trip from Cairo: Catacombs, castle & lunch

Walk three levels of Roman tombs, then stand on a castle roof above the sea

This guided day trip from Cairo takes you to Alexandria's major sites in a single afternoon, with an Egyptologist guide, transport and hotel pickup included. You descend into the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, carved three levels deep into rock), then move through the Roman Amphitheater, Pompey's Pillar, the Alexandria Library, and end at Quaitbay Castle, where you climb to the roof for a panoramic view of the city and Mediterranean coast. Lunch at a seaview restaurant is part of the day. The tour runs seven to eight hours. Entry tickets are optional at checkout, and a live English or German-speaking guide leads the group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa1h · entry included
2. Roman Amphitheatre1h · entry included
3. Montazah Palace Gardens1h · entry included

Explore Alexandria's historic landmarks

• Meet guide at Alexandria Port
• Visit Catacombs of Kom El Shokafa
• Tour Roman Amphitheater of Alexandria
• Photo stop at Pompey’s Pillar
• Visit Alexandria Library and museums
• Visit St. Mark’s Church
• Photo stop at Abbo Elabbas Mosque
• Visit Quaitbay Castle and rooftop
• Visit Montaza Palace Gardens
• Stop at Stanley Bridge on return

The experience

You're picked up from your Cairo or Giza hotel and driven to Alexandria, about two hours north. Your Egyptologist guide meets you and stays with you throughout the day, talking through the sites as you travel and answering questions. The first stop is the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. You walk inside the largest Roman cemetery ever built in Egypt, descending through three levels carved directly into the rock. The tombs blend Egyptian burial customs with Greco-Roman design, a visible collision of two worlds that shaped the city two thousand years ago.

From there the day moves through Alexandria's layered history. You see the Roman Amphitheater and the sunken monuments recovered from the harbor floor. You stop for photos at Pompey's Pillar, a 68-foot column built in the 4th century. The Alexandria Library comes next. The modern building holds eight million books now, and you walk the open courtyard where statues of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy I stand. You pass the Church of St. Mark, Africa's oldest church, and the Abbo Elabbas Mosque, then drive along the corniche past the old harbor where traditional fishermen still work. Lunch happens at a seaview restaurant, a break in the middle of the afternoon.

The final major stop is Quaitbay Castle, built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria: one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. You walk through the castle's interior rooms and climb to the roof for a view across the whole city and the Mediterranean. On the way back to Cairo, you pass through Montaza Palace Gardens, the royal estate of King Farouk with its famous bridge and tea palace, and cross the Stanley Bridge, a modern landmark. The drive back to your hotel takes the late afternoon and early evening.

What’s included

• Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from your Cairo or Giza hotel.
• a qualified Egyptologist guide speaking English or German.
• lunch at a seaview restaurant.
• entrance tickets to the major sites (if you select that option at checkout).

Options for this experience

4 options

Audio with interactiveGuide in 6 languages · Available from 24 Jan 2027Audio guide only; includes pickup

Shared tour, entry tickets not includedGuide in 6 languages · 07:00Without tickets; includes pickup

Shared tour without tickets or lunchGuide in 6 languages · 07:00Without tickets or lunch; pickup is included

Shared tour including entry ticketsGuide in 6 languages · 07:00Includes tickets and lunch; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Bangla, Burmese, Cantonese, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, Greek, Gujarati, Hakka Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Javanese, Korean, Kurdish, MNP, Malay, Malayalam, Marathi, Norwegian, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Wu Chinese and Xiang Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ramasside Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Cairo with a free afternoon or a day between flights and want to see Alexandria's major sites without arranging transport or a guide yourself. The fixed itinerary and included pickup mean the day holds together. You don't build it piece by piece. If you prefer to skip lunch or entry tickets, you can adjust your choice at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is inside the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa?

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, with three levels of burial chambers carved into the rock. The tombs show a blend of Egyptian and Greco-Roman styles. You walk through the chambers and see how two cultures shaped the burial practices and designs.

Do I need to buy entry tickets to all the sites, or are they included?

Entry tickets are optional. You choose at checkout whether to add them or not. If you select the option with tickets, they cover entry to the major sites. The Alexandria Library requires a separate ticket to enter the reading area if you want to go inside.

How long is the drive from Cairo to Alexandria?

The drive is approximately two hours each way. The full tour runs seven to eight hours total, including all the stops, lunch and travel time.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Yes, lunch at a seaview restaurant is part of the day. One purchase option includes both the tour and lunch. Another option is the tour without lunch if you prefer to eat elsewhere.

Can I visit Quaitbay Castle and go up to the roof?

Yes. Quaitbay Castle is one of the main stops, and you walk through the interior rooms and climb to the roof to see a panoramic view of the city and the Mediterranean coastline.