Alexandria Day Trip: Catacombs, Roman Theater & Citadel

Step inside an ancient Roman catacomb and uncover its hidden stories.

This 11-hour day trip from Cairo takes you to Alexandria's four main archaeological sites: the Roman Amphitheatre at Kom El-Deka, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (a royal necropolis blending Greek, Egyptian and Roman styles), Pompey's Pillar, and the Citadel of Qaitbay overlooking the coast. An Egyptologist guide leads the group, transport and seafood lunch are included, and you return to your Cairo or Giza hotel by evening. Pickup from your hotel starts the day. Entrance fees are included in some options.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Roman Amphitheatre30m
2. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa1h

Explore Alexandria's ancient sites

• Pick up from Cairo or Giza hotel
• Stop for restroom and coffee break
• Visit Roman amphitheater at Kom El-Deka
• Tour Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
• See Pompey's Pillar
• Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
• Photo stop at Library of Alexandria
• Stroll along Qaitbay Citadel
• Return to hotel in Cairo or Giza

The experience

The tour begins with hotel pickup in Cairo or Giza early in the morning, then a drive north to Alexandria with a rest stop for coffee. Once you arrive, the first stop is the Roman Amphitheatre at Kom El-Deka: a marble structure that once held over 800 people, with mosaic-floored Roman baths and a pleasure garden still visible in the ruins. From there you move to the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a sprawling underground necropolis where you walk through chambers carved into rock, seeing how Greek, Egyptian and Roman burial practices merged in a single site.

The itinerary then takes you to Pompey's Pillar, Alexandria's most significant Roman triumphal column, before a seafood lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, a photo stop at the Library of Alexandria precedes a stroll along the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century fortress built on the ruins of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, where you can see the coast and the harbor that made Alexandria a trading hub for millennia. The return drive to Cairo or Giza takes the remainder of the afternoon.

An Egyptologist guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language depending on your booking, and travels with the group throughout the day. The tour runs 11 hours total, including pickup and dropoff time, though traffic in Cairo can shift the schedule. Groups stay small, and the itinerary is fixed: all four sites and lunch happen in sequence, so you don't build the day yourself.

What’s included

• Egyptologist guide in your chosen language.
• air-conditioned car transport from your Cairo or Giza hotel.
• seafood lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• entrance fees to all four archaeological sites (in the Lunch & Ticket and Private options).
• pickup and dropoff from your hotel.

Options for this experience

3 options

Lunch-inclusive shared tourGuide in 5 languages · 07:30Entrance fees are not part of this option; you can pay for them at each attraction by card, or add them to your booking. Pickup is included.

Shared tour with lunch and ticketGuide in 5 languages · 07:30This option covers a shared tour, entrance tickets to the attractions, and lunch. Pickup is included.

Tour from Alexandria, PrivateGuide in 5 languages · 08:00This option covers a private tour with pickup and drop-off at Alexandria Port, an entrance ticket, 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 dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by OceanAir Travels Egypt

Is this one for you?Choose the Shared Tour with Lunch if you want entrance fees included and paid upfront. Pick the Shared Tour without lunch if you prefer to pay at each site instead.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is inside the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa that makes them different from other tombs?

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are a royal necropolis where Greek, Egyptian and Roman burial traditions appear in the same chambers. You see statues, relics and a Roman triclinium (dining room) carved underground, all blended into one site rather than kept separate by culture.

How long is the drive from Cairo to Alexandria, and do we stop along the way?

The drive north takes the morning portion of the 11-hour tour. A rest stop for coffee and restrooms is built into the journey, so you're not sitting in the car for hours without a break.

Is lunch included, and what if I have dietary restrictions?

Seafood lunch at a local restaurant is included in the Shared Tour with Lunch and the Shared Tour + Lunch & Ticket options. Drinks during lunch come with some options but not others. Check your booking details at checkout.

Do I need to book entrance fees separately, or are they part of the tour price?

Entrance fees to the archaeological sites are included in the Shared Tour + Lunch & Ticket option and the Private Tour from Alexandria option. The Shared Tour with Lunch option does not include them, so you'd pay at each site.

What's the Citadel of Qaitbay, and why is it on this tour?

The Citadel of Qaitbay is a 15th-century fortress built directly above the ruins of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The tour includes a stroll along its walls and a photo stop, so you see both the medieval fortress and the coastal setting where the lighthouse once stood.

Can I book this as a private tour instead of a shared group?

Yes, the Private Tour from Alexandria option is available at checkout. It follows the same itinerary and includes the same sites, guide and lunch, but the group is yours alone rather than shared with other travelers.