Full-day Alexandria tour from Cairo: Catacombs, Citadel & Palace

Four landmark stops across Alexandria in one guided day

A full-day guided tour from Cairo to Alexandria covers the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Pompay Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and Montaza Palace Gardens, with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle and a guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or another language. The tour runs 10 to 12 hours and includes bottled water and snacks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour to Alexandria from Cairo

• Meet tour guide in Cairo
• Travel to Alexandria
• Visit Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
• See Pompey’s Pillar
• Explore Qaitbay Citadel
• Walk Montaza Palace gardens
• Visit Abo El Abbas Mosque
• Return to Cairo

The experience

Your guide meets you 15 minutes before departure with your name on a sign, then drives you from Cairo to Alexandria in an air-conditioned vehicle. The route covers roughly 225 kilometers round-trip, so most of the morning and early afternoon is spent traveling and moving between sites rather than lingering at any single stop. Bottled water and snacks come along for the ride.

Once in Alexandria, you walk through the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (a burial complex carved into rock with Greek, Roman and Egyptian design mixed together), then move on to Pompay Pillar, a red granite column that stands alone in the city. Qaitbay Citadel, a 15th-century fortress built on the site of an ancient lighthouse, sits on the waterfront and commands views across the harbor. The day ends at Montaza Palace Gardens, a 20th-century royal estate with manicured grounds and sea views where you can walk the landscaped paths before heading back to Cairo.

The pace is steady: you are on your feet moving between attractions, climbing stairs in the catacombs, and crossing open ground at each site. The full itinerary (four stops, travel time, and the distance involved) means this is a morning-to-evening commitment. Return to your hotel or starting point happens once all four sites are done, typically in the early evening.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from your starting point in Cairo.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• a live guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or another language.
• bottled water and snacks throughout the tour.
• return transfer to your hotel or starting point.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Senior (71 and older) · Youth (7 to 11 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Magnificat Tours

Is this one for you?This tour is a full day of travel and walking between four separate sites spread across Alexandria, so it suits travelers who are comfortable with a steady pace and don't mind spending significant time in a vehicle. The early morning pickup and late-afternoon return mean you'll need to keep the entire day free.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 11 years); Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): 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 exactly is inside the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa?

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are an underground burial complex carved into rock, blending Greek, Roman and Egyptian architectural styles and burial practices. You walk through chambers and passages decorated with reliefs and inscriptions that reflect the cultural mix of Alexandria during the Greco-Roman period.

How much walking and climbing is involved in this tour?

You walk between each of the four sites and climb stairs inside the catacombs. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the full 10 to 12 hours includes travel time, movement between attractions and time spent on your feet at each stop.

What's the difference between Pompay Pillar and Qaitbay Citadel?

Pompay Pillar is a single red granite column standing in the city, a remnant of an ancient temple complex. Qaitbay Citadel is a 15th-century fortress built on the harbor, originally constructed on the site of an ancient lighthouse, and you can walk its grounds and take in views across the water.

Does the tour include meals, or just snacks?

The tour includes bottled water and snacks during the day. Meals are not part of the package, so you may want to plan lunch at a restaurant in Alexandria or bring additional food if you prefer.

How long is the drive from Cairo to Alexandria?

The round-trip distance is roughly 225 kilometers. Most of your 10 to 12 hours on tour is spent traveling and moving between the four sites rather than at any single location.