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Cairo - Alexandria

Alexandria Day Trip from Cairo: Catacombs, Citadel & Bibliotheca

Description

DurationApprox. 10 Hours
PickupYour hotel in Cairo or Giza (Early Morning)
Tour TypePrivate Guided Tour
AvailabilityDaily
PriceFrom 180 USD per person
DestinationsCatacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa – Pompey's Pillar – Citadel of Qaitbay – Bibliotheca Alexandrina

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Overview

This private Alexandria day trip from Cairo trades the desert for the Mediterranean in a single unforgettable day. Founded by Alexander the Great and once ruled by Cleopatra, Egypt's second city rewards a full day with its Greek and Roman layers, its sea breeze, and a long waterfront promenade made for an evening stroll. You will descend into the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, stand beneath Pompey's Pillar, explore the Citadel of Qaitbay on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, and finish at the striking modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Every Alexandria day trip from Cairo we operate is fully private: your own professional Egyptologist guide, a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, all entrance fees, and a fresh seafood lunch by the harbour. It is a relaxed, flexible day shaped entirely around you — no crowded coaches, no rushed stops, and no long queues. Alexandria sits just under three hours from Cairo on the smooth desert highway, which makes it one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips in the whole country. The day begins with an early hotel pickup so you reach the coast with plenty of time to explore. Because the tour is private, the pace bends around your group — spend longer at the catacombs, linger in the library, or add an extra photo stop along the Corniche. Alexandria is typically several degrees cooler than Cairo, so it stays pleasant even in the summer months, and the mix of Roman ruins, medieval fortress and modern architecture gives the day a completely different feel from the pharaonic sites near Cairo. An Alexandria day trip from Cairo is ideal for travellers who have already seen the Pyramids and want something different, for families who enjoy a change of scenery, and for anyone drawn to the sea. Whether your highlight turns out to be the eerie underground tombs, the harbour-front fortress, or simply a plate of grilled fish on the Corniche, the early start is repaid many times over by sunset.

Why Book Your Alexandria Day Trip with Nile Travel Machine

  • Your route, your rhythm — more time where you love it, skip what does not interest you.
  • Your own air-conditioned vehicle — leave when you are ready, with no 40-seat bus hotel rounds.
  • Flexible timing — beat the crowds at opening or linger longer; the day bends around you.
  • Family-friendly — a comfortable pace that works for kids and grandparents alike.
  • Direct local team — one WhatsApp away before, during and after your trip.

Highlights of the Day

  • Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa — the largest Roman burial complex in Egypt, where pharaonic gods appear in Roman armour.
  • Pompey's Pillar & the Serapeum — a towering granite column rising from ancient ruins.
  • Seafood lunch on the harbour — fresh catch grilled Alexandrian style, overlooking the Eastern Harbour.
  • Citadel of Qaitbay — a 15th-century fortress built exactly where the legendary Pharos lighthouse once stood.
  • Bibliotheca Alexandrina & the Corniche — the modern rebirth of the ancient Library, followed by a seafront stroll before the drive home.

Want to pair this with the classics? Combine your Alexandria day trip from Cairo with our Cairo Pyramids day tour for the full picture of ancient and coastal Egypt. You can also learn more about the modern library at the official Bibliotheca Alexandrina website.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Alexandria from Cairo?

About 220 km along the desert highway — roughly 2.5 to 3 hours each way by private car, which is why an Alexandria day trip from Cairo is so comfortable to do in a single day.

Is the Alexandria day trip private?

Yes. This is a fully private tour with your own Egyptologist guide and air-conditioned vehicle — no shared coaches.

What is included in the price?

Private transfers, an expert guide, entrance fees to the main sites, a seafood lunch by the harbour, and bottled water.

What should I bring?

Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, your passport, and some cash for optional extras.

Can the itinerary be customised?

Absolutely. Tell us your interests and we can adjust the stops — for example adding the Roman Amphitheatre or the Montazah Palace gardens.

Why Choose This Tour With Us?
  • Descend into the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa – Egypt's largest Roman burial complex
  • See Pompey's Pillar rising above the ancient Serapeum
  • Explore the Citadel of Qaitbay on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse
  • Visit the striking modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina
  • Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch overlooking the harbour
  • Stroll the Corniche seafront promenade
  • Private Egyptologist guide for the full day
  • Round-trip hotel pickup & drop-off from Cairo or Giza
  • Comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle

Tour Plan

Expand All
Early Departure from Cairo

Your day begins with an early hotel pickup in Cairo or Giza. Settle into your private air-conditioned vehicle for the scenic drive north — around 2.5 to 3 hours along the desert highway to the Mediterranean coast.

Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

Descend a spiral shaft into the largest Roman burial complex in Egypt, where pharaonic gods appear dressed in Roman armour — one of the most remarkable fusions of styles you will see anywhere in the country.

Pompey's Pillar & the Serapeum

A short drive away, the towering granite column of Pompey's Pillar rises from the ruins of the ancient Serapeum, once one of Alexandria's most important temples.

Citadel of Qaitbay & the Corniche

Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch by the harbour, then walk the ramparts of the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, built exactly where the legendary Pharos lighthouse once stood.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina & Return

Finish at the striking Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern rebirth of the ancient Library, with a relaxed stroll along the Corniche before the drive back — arriving in Cairo around 9:00 PM.

Included

-Private round-trip transfers from Cairo/Giza
-Professional Egyptologist guide for the full day
-Entrance fees to the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa and Pompey’s Pillar
-Visit to the Citadel of Qaitbay and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
-Seafood lunch by the harbour
-Air-conditioned private vehicle
-Bottled water on board
-All taxes included

Excluded

-Entrance ticket inside the Bibliotheca Alexandrina reading hall (optional)
-Drinks and personal expenses
-Tips and gratuities
-Anything not mentioned in the Included list
$180
$180.00

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