Alexandria Day Trip from Cairo: Citadel, Catacombs & Lunch

Summary

Private Alexandria tour from Cairo with catacombs, Roman ruins and lunch

You’ll travel from Cairo to Alexandria with a local guide, exploring places like Qaitbay Citadel by the sea and wandering through ancient catacombs underground. Expect real moments—sticky salt air, laughter over lunch, stories that stick with you long after heading home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full-day private tour to Alexandria

• Pickup from hotel in Cairo
• Drive 2.5 hours to Alexandria
• Visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina
• Explore Qaitbay Citadel
• Tour the Roman Theatre
• Explore Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
• Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Pompey's Pillar
• Return 2 hours to Cairo hotel

Top questions

How long is the drive from Cairo to Alexandria?

The drive takes about 2.5 hours each way by private vehicle.

Is lunch included in this Alexandria day trip?

Yes, a traditional Egyptian lunch at a local restaurant is included.

What main sites do we visit on this tour?

You’ll see Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qaitbay Citadel, Roman Theatre, Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, and Pompey’s Pillar.

Are entry tickets included?

Entry fees are included if you select that ticket option during booking.

Is hotel pickup available in Cairo?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo are provided.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options and most sites are wheelchair accessible.

Can infants join this day trip?

Infants can join; they must sit on an adult’s lap or use a stroller/pram.

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo, all site entry fees if selected when booking, bottled water throughout the journey, a traditional Egyptian lunch at a local spot near Pompey’s Pillar (with plenty of koshari), plus guidance from a professional local expert before returning to your hotel in the evening.

What’s the experience like?

The drive out of Cairo started with us missing our first turn—our driver just grinned and said, “Welcome to Egyptian traffic!” It was honestly kind of comforting to see even locals get lost sometimes. The road opened up after that, sand and sky stretching for miles until the Mediterranean haze finally showed up. Our guide, Hossam, pointed out the old port cranes as we rolled into Alexandria—he said they looked like dinosaurs. I saw it too.

First stop was the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. I’ll admit I thought it’d just be a library, but the light inside was unreal—like being underwater but warm. There were students everywhere, laughing in Arabic and French. Hossam explained how it’s meant to echo the ancient library’s spirit (he kept saying “spirit” instead of “history,” which stuck with me). Then we wandered along the sea wall toward Qaitbay Citadel. The salt air hit hard; my hair felt sticky in minutes. Kids were fishing off the rocks and an old man tried to sell us tea from a battered kettle—should’ve said yes.

I still think about the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. It’s cooler underground, almost damp, and you can smell stone dust and something metallic. The carvings are weirdly familiar—Roman helmets next to Egyptian gods—and Hossam told us stories about funerals mixing Greek and Egyptian rituals. It felt quiet down there in a way that makes you whisper without meaning to.

Lunch was loud—a tiny place near Pompey’s Pillar where we squeezed in between families. The bread was hot enough to burn your fingers if you weren’t careful. We tried koshari (Hossam insisted) and I probably ate too much chili sauce; my nose ran for half an hour after that. By the time we got back in the car for Cairo, my shirt smelled like cumin and sea air. Not sure I’ll ever wash it out completely.