Alexandria Day Trip from Cairo: Private Tour, 5 Landmarks, Lunch

See Alexandria's Roman layers and medieval fortress in one day from Cairo

A full-day private guided tour from Cairo to Alexandria covers five major landmarks spanning Roman, Islamic and modern eras. Your Egyptologist guide meets you at your hotel and stays with you through the day, explaining the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (a three-level Roman cemetery carved into rock), Pompey's Pillar, the Citadel of Qaitbay (built where the ancient Pharos Lighthouse stood), Abu al-Abbas Mosque, and the modern Library of Alexandria. The tour ends with lunch at a seafood restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa1h · entry included
2. Citadel of Qaitbay1h · entry included

Explore Alexandria's historic sites and lunch

• Pickup from Cairo hotel
• Visit Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
• Stop at Pompey's pillar for photos
• Visit Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi
• Tour Citadel of Qaitbay
• Explore Library of Alexandria
• Enjoy seafood lunch with sea view

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle and a drive north from Cairo to Alexandria, where your guide joins you for the full itinerary. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are the first stop: the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, with three levels cut into the rock and a mix of Pharaonic and Roman art that shows how the two cultures blended during the occupation. From there you move to Pompey's Pillar, a Roman triumphal column built in the 4th century to honor Emperor Diocletian, where you stop to photograph the monument and the surrounding city.

The Citadel of Qaitbay occupies the site where the Pharos Lighthouse once stood, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built in 1477 by Sultan Al-Ashraf Qa'it Bay as a fortress to defend Alexandria from Ottoman advances, it remains one of the most important medieval forts on the Mediterranean coast. You'll also visit Abu al-Abbas Mosque, the largest and most beautiful mosque in the city, and the modern Library of Alexandria, which opened in 2002 as a tribute to the ancient library and now houses millions of books, manuscripts and digital resources alongside galleries and a planetarium.

Lunch comes at the end of the tour at one of Alexandria's best seafood restaurants, where you eat fresh catches with a view of the Mediterranean from your table. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Arabic depending on your preference, and the tour runs 10 to 12 hours total. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in the Downtown and Pyramids areas of Cairo.

What’s included

• Private tour with an Egyptologist guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off (for hotels in Downtown and Pyramids areas).
• entrance tickets to all five landmarks.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• and lunch by the sea at a local Alexandria restaurant.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (5 to 14 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kemet Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want one guide with you all day to trace how Roman, Islamic, and modern Alexandria built on top of each other. The layering makes sense when someone connects the dots between sites.

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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 (5 to 14 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly is inside the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa?

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, carved three levels deep into the rock. The tombs show a blend of Pharaonic and Roman funeral architecture and art, reflecting how Egyptian and Roman cultures mixed during the Roman occupation.

Where was the Citadel of Qaitbay built and why does it matter?

The Citadel of Qaitbay stands on the exact spot where the Pharos Lighthouse once stood: one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built in 1477 as a fortress to defend the city, it is now one of the most important medieval forts on the Mediterranean coast and a major landmark of Alexandria.

How long is the drive from Cairo to Alexandria?

The tour runs 10 to 12 hours total, which includes the drive north from Cairo, time at each of the five landmarks, and lunch. The drive itself takes several hours, so you'll spend the full day traveling and sightseeing.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, lunch is included at a seafood restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean. You'll eat fresh catches with a view of the sea from your table.