Alexandria Day Tour: Quaitbay Castle & Catacombs Visit

Walk through millennia of Alexandria's history, from Greco-Roman tombs to a medieval fortress overlooking the Mediterranean.

A private guided day tour from Cairo to Alexandria with a local guide born in the city, covering the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Quaitbay Castle, the Roman Amphitheater, St. Mark's Church, the Alexandria Library and the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Cairo, entry fees (depending on your option), lunch at a seafood restaurant, and an air-conditioned vehicle for the two-hour drive each way. Your guide will suggest additional landmarks if time allows and share stories about Alexandria from the era of Alexander the Great through the modern city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Roman Amphitheatre1h · entry included
2. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa2h · entry included

Full day Alexandria sightseeing tour

• Pick up from Cairo hotel
• Drive to Alexandria with coffee break
• Visit the Library of Alexandria
• Visit the Church of St. Mark and explore markets
• Visit the Roman Amphitheater
• Visit the Quaitbay Castle
• Lunch with Mediterranean sea view
• Visit the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
• Visit Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque
• Visit Stanley Bridge and enjoy ice cream
• Return drive to Cairo with break
• Drop off at Cairo hotel

The experience

The driver picks you up at your Cairo hotel and handles the two-hour drive to Alexandria, stopping once so you can stretch, grab coffee or use facilities without losing time. You arrive with a guide who grew up in Alexandria and knows the city's layered history: the Greco-Roman period, the Islamic centuries, the colonial architecture, the modern waterfront. This is not a bus full of strangers. It's a private tour built around your pace and interests.

The day moves through the major sites. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa sit underground, blending ancient Egyptian burial traditions with Greco-Roman design: a physical record of how two civilizations collided in this port city. The Roman Amphitheater still holds its ancient stone seating and statues. Quaitbay Castle stands on the spot where the ancient lighthouse once guided merchant ships. From the ramparts you see the Mediterranean and the whole sweep of the modern harbor. St. Mark's Church, one of Africa's oldest, reopened recently and holds centuries of Christian history in its icons and statues. The Alexandria Library, one of the world's largest, houses over 8 million books and a museum of Egypt's modern political history. The Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, prominent in the old quarter, shows the architectural beauty that defines Islamic Alexandria. Your guide will walk you through the ancient markets and narrow streets, pointing out buildings whose design reaches back hundreds of years and explaining the customs and stories of the residents who live there now.

Lunch happens at a seafood restaurant with a view of the Mediterranean: included in most options, though you can skip it if you prefer. Before the drive back to Cairo, there's time at Stanley Bridge, a modern landmark where you can walk, take photos and grab ice cream. The whole day runs ten to eleven hours door-to-door. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the guide speaks English, Spanish or Arabic depending on what you need.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cairo.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• a private guide who speaks English, Spanish or Arabic.
• entry fees to the Catacombs, Quaitbay Castle, Roman Amphitheater, St. Mark's Church, Alexandria Library and the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque (depending on your option).
• lunch at a seafood restaurant with Mediterranean views (depending on your option).

Options for this experience

2 options

Budget Shared TourGuide in English or Arabic · 07:00, 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30This option includes a shared tour with an English guide and pickup from Cairo or Giza; entry fees (tickets) are excluded, while lunch and pickup are included

All-inclusive VIP trip, luxury levelGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 07:00, 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30Private tour with English guide, pickup from Cairo or Giza, in a private vehicle; entry fees (tickets) and lunch are included, and 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 07:00, 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30

AgesAdult (13 to 88 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Narmer Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the All Inclusive Luxury VIP option if you want entry fees and lunch handled without deciding at each stop; pick the Alexandria tour with Driver if you'd rather arrange your own meals and entries but still want the transport and guide; the Budget Shared Tour works if you're comfortable joining other travelers and prefer a lower price point.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

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 is the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa and why is it worth seeing?

The Catacombs are an underground burial site that blends ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman traditions, making them one of Egypt's most significant monuments because they show how two civilizations merged in Alexandria's history.

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

The drive takes about two hours each direction. The driver stops once during the journey so you can have coffee, use facilities or stretch without losing time to the tour itself.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will we eat?

Lunch at a seafood restaurant with Mediterranean views is included in most options. You can choose to skip it if you prefer, and the guide will suggest the best spot based on the day's timing.

What is Quaitbay Castle, and what can you see from there?

Quaitbay Castle stands on the site of Alexandria's ancient lighthouse and has a design that lets you see the whole harbor and Mediterranean in panorama. It's one of the best spots for photos in the city.