Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo: Catacombs, Citadel & Library

Cross 210 kilometers to see Alexandria's layered history in a single day

A full-day tour from Cairo to Alexandria by private air-conditioned vehicle, with a guide in your choice of language, visiting the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Hotel pickup and return, lunch at a local restaurant, and bottled water are included. Entrance fees are separate. An Egyptologist guide is available as an add-on.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo

• Pick up from hotel in Cairo
• Drive to Alexandria City
• Visit Pompey's Pillar
• Visit Catacombs of Alexandria
• Visit Qaitbay Citadel
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina
• Visit Roman amphitheatre and monuments

The Experience

Your hotel pickup in Cairo starts the 210-kilometer drive to Alexandria, Egypt's second-largest city on the Mediterranean coast. The journey itself frames what you're about to see: a place layered with Roman, medieval and modern history, each era built on top of the last. A guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of six other languages travels with you, narrating the route and the sites as you approach them.

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, carved three levels deep into the rock. What began as a private family tomb in the 2nd century became a public burial ground, and you descend through chambers that mix Egyptian and Greco-Roman styles: a physical record of cultural collision. Pompey's Pillar, a 27-meter granite column from the 3rd century, stands nearby as a remnant of the temple of Serapis. The Qaitbay Citadel, built in the 15th century on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), commands the harbor from a high hill. The fortress was a cornerstone of Alexandria's medieval defenses and still dominates the waterfront. After lunch at a local restaurant, you visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern reincarnation of the ancient library that once held the world's largest manuscript collection before burning in the 3rd century. The new library holds 8 million books and sits on the site of the original Pharos.

The full day runs about 12 hours from pickup to return. You travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water provided. All surfaces and transportation are wheelchair accessible, and the tour suits all fitness levels. Entrance fees to each site are paid separately at the gate.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return to your Cairo accommodation.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• bottled water during the trip.
• lunch at a local restaurant in Alexandria.
• a guide fluent in your choice of language.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Ancient Egypt Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the multilingual guide option if you want flexibility in language, or the English-speaking guide if you prefer a fixed departure. The private vehicle means your group travels together without stops for other passengers, so the pace stays steady and the 12-hour day fits without rushing between sites.

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Top questions

How far is Alexandria from Cairo, and how long is the drive?

Alexandria lies 210 kilometers north of Cairo. The drive takes several hours each way, so the full tour spans about 12 hours including stops at each site and lunch.

What are the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, and how deep do they go?

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, carved three levels deep into the rock. They began as a private family tomb in the 2nd century and later became a public burial ground, mixing Egyptian and Greco-Roman burial styles.

Is the Qaitbay Citadel connected to the ancient lighthouse?

The Qaitbay Citadel was built in the 15th century on the exact site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The fortress still overlooks the harbor from a high hill on the Mediterranean coast.

What languages does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and six additional languages, so you can choose the one that suits you at checkout.

Are entrance fees to the sites included in the tour price?

Entrance fees to the Catacombs, Citadel, Bibliotheca Alexandrina and other sites are not included and are paid separately at each location. Hotel pickup, return transport, lunch and bottled water are included.

Can I add an Egyptologist guide to this tour?

Yes, an expert Egyptologist guide is available as an optional add-on at checkout, providing deeper historical context at each site.