Alexandria Guided Tour from Cairo: Citadel & Catacombs

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa blend Roman and ancient Egyptian art in three underground levels found nowhere else.

A guided day trip from Cairo to Alexandria with private car pickup, expert guide in English, Spanish or Arabic, and hotel drop-off: covers the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Roman Theatre, Alexandria Library, Citadel of Qaitbay and the waterfront Corniche over roughly 10 hours. The itinerary splits between 4 to 5 hours of sightseeing and 3 hours each way for travel. Entry fees and lunch are optional add-ons at checkout, and the Alexandria Library closes Fridays so photography happens from outside.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa1h
2. Roman Amphitheatre1h
3. Citadel of Qaitbay1h

Guided tour from Cairo to Alexandria

• Pickup from hotel in Cairo or Giza
• Drive to Alexandria (about 2.5 hours)
• Visit Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa
• Visit Roman Theater
• Visit Alexandria Library (photos outside if Friday)
• Visit Qaitbey Citadel and walk Corniche
• Lunch at local restaurant (included)
• Visit El Mursi Abu Elabas Mosque
• Drive back to hotel in Cairo or Giza

The experience

Your guide arrives at your Cairo or Giza hotel at 7:00 AM holding a sign with your name, then drives you 220 km to Alexandria in a private air-conditioned car. The journey takes about 2.5 hours each way. The day centers on four major stops: the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, where Roman stonework sits alongside ancient Egyptian carvings across three distinct levels; the Roman Theatre, built from marble with a large mosaic floor section still intact; the Alexandria Library, the world's second-largest; and the Citadel of Qaitbay overlooking the Mediterranean. Between sites, you get free time to walk the Corniche waterfront.

Lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant falls on you to add at checkout. If you choose it, the meal is included but drinks are not. Entry fees to the monuments are also optional. You pick them when you book. A bottle of water comes with every option. The guide handles all logistics and explains the history and significance of each site as you move through them. Return to your hotel happens around 6:00 PM.

Four purchase options let you build the day to your budget: car and guide only; car, guide, entry fees and lunch together; car, guide and entry fees without lunch; or car with a driver and audio guide instead of a live one. The live guide speaks English, Spanish or Arabic depending on your choice at booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza.
• private air-conditioned car for the full day.
• expert guide in English, Spanish or Arabic (or audio guide on one option).
• lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant (if selected at checkout).
• entry fees to all monuments (if selected at checkout).
• bottle of water.

Options for this experience

4 options

Car with driver and audio guideGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 06:00 and 07:00Car with driver only; pickup is included

Car and tour guide onlyGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 06:00 and 07:00Car and tour guide only; includes pickup

Car, guide and entry feesGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 06:00 and 07:00Car, guide and entry fees; pickup is included

Car, guide, entry fees and lunchGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 06:00 and 07:00Car, guide, entry fees and lunch; includes pickup

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

Before you book

Lasts 10h, runs every day at 06:00 and 07:00, from US$ 30 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 07:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Egypt Tours Online

Is this one for you?Book the car and guide only if you want to move at your own pace and skip the entry fees. You'll still see the exteriors and have time to explore the Corniche. Choose the full package with entry fees and lunch if you prefer everything arranged and want to walk inside the Catacombs, Theatre and Citadel without stopping to figure out tickets or find a restaurant.

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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 (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): 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 is inside the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa that makes it different from other tombs in Alexandria?

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa hold a rare fusion of Roman and ancient Egyptian art in a single underground space, spread across three levels: a design unique to this site. The blend of two artistic traditions in one tomb is what draws most visitors to it.

Can I visit the Alexandria Library on a Friday?

The Alexandria Library closes on Fridays, so you will not be able to enter the building. On those days, you can take photographs from outside instead.

How much time do I actually spend sightseeing versus traveling?

The tour allocates 4 to 5 hours for sightseeing in Alexandria itself, with the remaining time spent on hotel pickup, drop-off and the drive between Cairo and Alexandria: roughly 3 hours each way by car.

Do I have to add lunch and entry fees, or can I book just the car and guide?

You choose at checkout which option suits you: car and guide alone; car, guide, entry fees and lunch together; car, guide and entry fees without lunch; or car with a driver and audio guide. Entry fees and lunch are not automatic. You pick them if you want them included.

What does the Roman Theatre look like, and is it still in good condition?

The Roman Theatre is built from marble stone with a large section of mosaic still visible on the floor. Enough of the original structure remains to see how it was constructed and decorated in Roman times.