Half-Day Guided Tour Alexandria: Fort Qait Bey & Catacombs

Walk through two thousand years of Alexandria's layered history in one morning

A half-day guided tour of Alexandria covers six major sites across three to five hours with a live English-speaking guide and hotel pickup. You start at the Stanly Bridge for views and photographs, then descend a circular staircase into the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Roman-era tombs carved into bedrock during the 2nd century AD. The tour includes Fort Qait Bey, a 1480s fortress built on the site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse; the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern cylindrical library housing eight million volumes near the original library's location; Saint Mark's Church, Alexandria's oldest; and one of three historic mosques. Entrance fees are separate and total around $7 per person (card payment only at entry).

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa1h 20m
2. Citadel of Qaitbay50m

Explore Alexandria's historic landmarks

• Visit the Stanly bridge
• Explore Kom al-Shoqafa Catacombs
• Tour Fort Qait Bey
• Visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina
• See the oldest church, Saint Mark's
• Visit the oldest mosque

The experience

The tour opens at the Stanly Bridge, where you walk across the water and take in the views: the operator notes it's a good spot for photographs and fresh air. From there the guide leads you to the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, where an ancient circular staircase descends into tombs tunneled into bedrock during the reign of the Antonine emperors in the 2nd century AD. The scale and engineering of the underground chambers give a tangible sense of how Alexandria's Roman residents prepared for the afterlife.

Fort Qait Bey comes next: a fortress that resembles an imposing castle, built in the 1480s by Sultan Qaitbey directly on the site of the Pharos Lighthouse to defend the city from crusaders attacking by sea. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina sits near the ancient library's original location: an eleven-story cylindrical building with a giant sun disk presiding over the waterfront Corniche. Inside, a vast reading room holds eight million volumes, and below the main library are curated exhibitions including the Manuscript Museum with ancient texts and scrolls. The tour wraps with stops at Saint Mark's Church, Alexandria's oldest, and one of three historic mosques in the city.

Your guide speaks English throughout and offers advice on purchases and what to see. Hotel pickup is included in the booking. Entrance fees to the sites are not included and run about $7 per person total, payable by card at each location. The pace suits all fitness levels, and infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Live English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup.
• program identification and guidance on purchases at local shops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by feby tour guide

Is this one for you?The tour covers ground on foot and includes descending stairs into the catacombs, so it suits anyone comfortable with moderate walking and a few hours of standing. The pace works for all fitness levels, and the three- to five-hour span fits a morning or early afternoon without eating into evening plans.

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Top questions

What exactly is inside the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa?

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are Roman-era tombs carved into bedrock during the 2nd century AD, reached by descending an ancient circular staircase. The underground chambers show how Alexandria's residents of that period prepared burial spaces in the rock.

Is Fort Qait Bey the same as the Pharos Lighthouse?

Fort Qait Bey is not the lighthouse itself but a fortress built in the 1480s by Sultan Qaitbey on the exact site where the ancient Pharos Lighthouse once stood. The fortress was constructed to protect Alexandria from crusader attacks coming by sea.

What is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and why visit it?

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a modern library and cultural center built near the site of Alexandria's ancient Great Library. It is an eleven-story cylindrical building shaped like a giant sun disk that houses over eight million books, museums, and exhibitions including the Manuscript Museum with ancient texts and scrolls.

Do I need to pay entrance fees on top of the tour price?

Yes, entrance fees to the sites are not included in the tour price. They total around $7 per person and must be paid by card at each location when you arrive.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English throughout the tour and provides advice on what to see and recommendations for purchases.