Alexandria Full Day Private Tour: Catacombs, Citadel & Lunch

Eleven hours through Alexandria's layers: tombs, fortress, harbor lunch, and a modern library

A full-day private tour from Cairo to Alexandria combines five major sites (the underground Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, the Roman Amphitheatre, the 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and a Mediterranean seafood lunch) in a single air-conditioned vehicle with a local guide. Entrance fees to attractions are optional and paid separately at each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa45m
2. Citadel of Qaitbay1h

Explore Alexandria's historic landmarks

• Drive from Cairo to Alexandria
• Descend into the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
• Visit the Roman Amphitheatre
• Stop at Stanley Bridge for photos
• Enjoy Mediterranean seafood lunch
• Explore the Citadel of Qaitbay
• Visit the Library of Alexandria
• Return to Cairo by private vehicle

The experience

Eleven hours in a private air-conditioned car means you move between Alexandria's landmarks without waiting for a group or managing your own transport. The driver picks you up from your Cairo hotel and handles the two-hour drive each way, leaving you free to rest or ask questions. A live guide fluent in English, Spanish, French, German or another language travels with you the entire day and explains what you're standing in front of, not just the names, but the layers of history underneath.

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa sit underground, a funerary complex where Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman art styles blend in chambers carved into the rock. You descend into them, see the marble seating and mosaics of Egypt's only Roman Amphitheatre, then stop at Stanley Bridge for photos of the Mediterranean coast. Lunch is fresh seafood with harbor views: a real break in the middle of the day, not a rushed checkpoint. The Qaitbay Citadel, a 15th-century fortress built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, gives you panoramic views and the chance to stand where one of the Seven Wonders once stood. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern cultural center inspired by the ancient library, closes out the afternoon before the drive back to Cairo.

Bottled water is included throughout the day. Entrance fees to each attraction are not included in the tour price and are paid on-site as you arrive. The pace is built to avoid rushing. You spend real time at each stop instead of checking boxes. Families with small children can bring a pram or stroller. Infants ride on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• The tour includes private air-conditioned vehicle transport from your Cairo hotel and back.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, French, German or another language.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• and a Mediterranean seafood lunch with harbor views.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 08:00

AgesAdult (6 to 70 years) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 17

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by EG Traveo

Is this one for you?The private vehicle and fixed itinerary let you see five major sites without managing transport or waiting for a group to move: ideal if you want to cover Alexandria's history in one day without the logistics. Entrance fees are paid separately at each site, so budget accordingly when you arrive.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is inside the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa?

The Catacombs are an underground funerary complex where chambers blend Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman art styles in a unique archaeological site. You descend into the tombs and see how three cultures left their mark on the same burial chambers.

Do I need to pay for entry to the attractions, or is it included?

Entrance fees to all the sites (the Catacombs, the Amphitheatre, the Citadel, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina) are not included in the tour price. You pay them separately at each location as you arrive.

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

Lunch is included and consists of fresh Mediterranean seafood with views of the harbor. It's a sit-down meal in the middle of the day, not a quick stop.

How long is the drive from Cairo to Alexandria?

The drive from Cairo to Alexandria takes about two hours each way. You travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide, so the time includes conversation and rest before and after the day's stops.

What is the Qaitbay Citadel, and why is it important?

The Qaitbay Citadel is a 15th-century fortress built on the original site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It offers panoramic views of the sea and is one of the day's main photo stops.