“Alexandria is the hymn of age and the beloved of history, I don’t know if I’m the one living in it or if it’s living deep inside my soul.” -Alexander the Great
“The bride of the Mediterranean,” “The pearl of the Mediterranean,” “The first Egyptian harbour,” “The second capital of Egypt,” “The city of Alexander the Great,” “The cosmopolitan city;” all are names given to one majestic city that left a handful of footprints throughout ancient and modern history. It’s Alexandria of Egypt.
Most people who visit Alexandria tend to spend around 2-3 days, sometimes as a trip for Cairenes who are craving some Mediterranean Sea breeze, or foreign tourists who dedicate a couple of days out of their one week trip to Egypt to visit the cosmopolitan city.
Either way, 3 days are totally enough to see a big chunk of Alexandria if you’re smart about it. And while it’s pretty easy to just Google “the best things to do and see in Alexandria,” we’ve decided to take it a step further and divide it geographically for you, so that you’d be spending your time in the best way possible, during your stay in the bride of the Mediterranean Sea.
Local tip: to enjoy Alexandria at its best, it’s better if you visit in Winter to avoid noisy crowds.
So, if you’ve got the budget and you’re all set, let’s get on with it!
DAY 1
Breakfast
Rise and Shine! Since you’re most probably in Alex for the sea and its view, we recommend you start off your day at Delices for some really delicious breakfast of any type you want, whether it’s fuul and falafel, or croissant and scrambled eggs.
Delices is one of Alexandria’s main attractions for the pleasant food and view, and it opens at 8 am, so you don’t need to worry if you’re an early bird.
Sidi Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas Mosque
Duration: one hour
Hop in an Uber or a cab to Sidi Abou al-Abbas al-Moursi Mosque in Bahary area, which is 13 minutes away. This mosque is Alexandria’s largest mosque and one of Egypt’s most beautiful mosques. It is dedicated to the 13th century Murcian Andalusi Sufi saint Abou al Abbas al-Moursi, whose tomb resides there. An annual festival is established to celebrate the birth of Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas.
Later in time, King Farouk built Midan al Masajed, or Mosque Square, around the mosque, which covers about 43,200 square meters, including five other mosques centered around Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas Mosque.
Citadel of Qaitbay
Duration: one hour
Take another Uber for a 5-minute ride, and make your way north towards the sea towards the Citadel of Qaitbay. This Islamic picturesque fortress has stood strong since the 14th century, and was built by the Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay to protect the Mediterranean port from the attacks of the Ottoman Empire.
But even before this most well-known Alexandrian sightseeing was built, on the same grounds stood the world-famous Lighthouse of Alexandria, Pharos, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately though, the lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake in 1303, and so, 150 years later, Sultan Qaitbay used its remains to build the citadel.
Qaitbay Maritime Museum
Duration: less than 30 minutes
Inside the Qaitbay Fort, you will find the Qaitbay Maritime Museum. It’s a museum that has an interesting collection of sea diaphragms and sea creatures, along with several cool artifacts from the wars the citadel has witnessed. Relics from the Roman sea battles, the Napoleonic wars, as well as the British wars are also housed in the museum.
Lunch
Right next to the Water Biology Exhibition is the Greek Yacht Club. Lies on its rooftop one of the most famous and recommended restaurants in Alexandria that’s called Olive Island. It has a view over the Alexandrian harbor, along with excellent food and service. It’s real name is Olive Island Restaurant, but locals refer to it as the Greek Club due to where it is.
The menu there is a mix of seafood and some authentic Greek dishes. And if you want to enjoy the outdoor terrace, we recommend you make a reservation, beforehand.
Alexandria Aquarium
Duration: less than 30 minutes
Just a 2-minute walk from the Greek Club, you’ll find the Alexandria Aquarium on your right, which is one of the most important tourist attractions in the city. The museum was established in 1930 with the purpose of protecting and nurturing sea creatures, which is why it’s also located near the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries.
The aquarium contains different types of marine life, shells and reef, various species of fish; it displays a wonderful collection of marine life from the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Nile River in Egypt. It opens from 9am till 9pm, so don’t worry about taking your time enjoying lunch!
Necropolis of Anfushi
Duration: 45 minutes
Take a 7-minute cab ride to Necropolis of Anfushi. The small cemetery of Anfushi lies to the west of the eastern harbour on the Ras Al Tin peninsular. There you can find five Greek graves that were discovered in the early 20th century. These tombs date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, and each grave has an open courtyard surrounded by chambers for burials and very colourful stairs and decorations of mythological scenes.
But take care because it closes at 5pm!
Dinner
After a long first day exploring the city, and after having a delicious lunch, of course it’s time for some dessert!
A 4-minute walk will take you to the breezy corner cafe of El Sheikh Wafik, at Ras Al Tin area, to relax at where they serve their famous yummy mix of couscous, shredded coconut, nuts, raisins and sugar, topped with hot milk (oh god we’re drooling!!), or rice pudding with nuts. We guarantee you will melt at the taste of it.
Or you can have a 3-minute Uber ride to El Nezamy Ice Cream in Bahary where they serve the best ice cream in town, and one of the most delicious rice pudding.
Couscous or ice cream, it’s your call!
Day 2
Breakfast
We’re starting another day in mid Alexandria in Al Attarin area, and yes, there are many cafes and restaurants where you can get breakfast from, but we recommend you try the city’s best Mostafa Gad restaurant, the one near the Central Bank of Egypt. There you can get fuul, falafel, and the most delicious fried cheese sandwich in town.
The Temple of Serapis & Pompey’s Pillar
Duration: less than 30 minutes
Get in a cab to Pompey’s Pillar, which will be about 16 minutes away. A massive 30 meters column towers over the ruins of the glorious ancient settlement of Rhakotis, the original township from which Alexandria grew.
Surprisingly though, it has been known for centuries as Pompey’s Pillar, but in fact it has nothing to do with Pompey himself. Rather, the column was in honor of the Roman emperor Diocletian.
Underneath the Pillar, resides the rubble of the Temple of Serapis, or the Serapion. It used to be Alexandria’s acropolis dedicated to Serapis, the hybrid Greek and Egyptian god of Alexandria. Legend has it that it was Christians who destroyed the temple and other symbols of paganism when they launched an assault on Alexandria, in 391 AD.
Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
Duration: one hour
A 6-minute walk south of Pompey’s Pillar are the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, which roughly translates to “mound of shards”. These catacombs are a rare collection of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman monuments and architecture. They are considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.
Roman Amphitheatre
Duration: less than 30 minutes
About a 16-minute ride from the catacombs you will find the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, also known as Kom El Dikka. It dates back to the 4th century AD, and it is decorated with beautiful mosaics. The amphitheatre was not only used by the Romans for theatrical performances, but also by the Byzantine and early Muslims for public assemblies and summits. In addition, you will find nearby the ruins of Roman baths and Villa of the Birds.
Lunch
Just a 9-minute walk from the amphitheater you will reach a vintage Italian restaurant called Chez Gaby Au Ritrovo. For some tourists, visiting this old-fashioned bistro is like stepping back in time, but for many locals, it’s as if you got teleported to a small cozy restaurant in the Italian suburbs. We love the bistro’s intimate atmosphere, chequered tablecloths, friendly service and its very well-prepared menu of finely selected items of Italian pasta, pizza and other classics.
Or if you’re more into Italian street style kind of restaurants, you can take a 10-minute walk, instead, from the amphitheater to Focacceria, is also one of the best to serve Italian cuisine, especially pizza, in the whole city.
Cavafy Museum
Duration: 30 minutes
A 2-minute walk from either of the above restaurants, you will reach the Cavafy Museum. This museum is dedicated to the Greek-Alexandrian poet Constantine Peter Cavafy (C.P. Cavafy), who was one of the most distinguished poets of the 20th century. The museum is basically the apartment that Cavafy used to live in, which still holds the poet’s furniture, desk, bed, along with his writings.
Cavafy was so in love with Alexandria that he wrote a poem called “The City” talking about how irreplaceable it is. You really should check it out!
Alexandria National Museum
Duration: 45 minutes
It’s time now to hop in a 13-minute Uber ride to get to the National Museum of Alexandria! This museum is dedicated solely to the city’s great history. It holds various monuments that belong to 6 different ages, and so it has exhibits that are divided chronologically into Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Christian, Islamic and modern. Also, there’s another exhibition for underwater monuments which some still exist till today in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Alexandria.
Please bear in mind that this museum closes at 4:30 pm.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Duration: 1-3 hours
A 7-minute cab ride will take to the one and only the Library of Alexandria. The original library was one of the Ancient World’s wonders, but sadly it was destroyed by the Romans in their conquest of Alexandria around 2,000 years ago. However, in 2002 the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina was built as tribute to the ancient library which still captures the spirit of learning and knowledge.
The Bibliotheca consists of one main library, six specialized libraries, four museums, permanent and temporary exhibitions, a planetarium, twelve academic research centers, and four art galleries.
Lucky you, the library is open until 7 pm!
The Mermaid Monument
Duration: 10 minutes
Right by our beloved Alexandrian Corniche, and in front of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, you will find the Sea Bride Statue of Alexandria, also known as the Mermaid Monument.The statue was created by well-known Egyptian sculptor, Fathi Mahmoud, in 1962 showing the Greek god, Zeus, as a bull embracing Europa, with Europa represented as a woman under sails.
Dinner
Foad Street offers the best variety of food options, from the cozy Italian atmosphere of Basilico, to the street food of Potasta, or the international cuisine of L Passage.
Day 3
Breakfast
Casino El Chatby was once a famous casino founded in 1907, but then its days were over, and now it’s a home for 4 different restaurants: Na3Na3, pronounced as Naa-naa in English (Lebanese cuisine), Crave (international cuisine), Aroma Lounge (cafe), and Opa (Greek cuisine).
Make your choice of one of these four, but we personally recommend you to try out Crave! It has the best breakfast of them all, hands down. So it will be the perfect breakfast with the perfect view.
Chatby Necropolis
Duration: 15 minutes
Right on the other side of the Alexandrian Corniche in Chatby area, and in front of Casino El Chatby, you will find the famous Graeco-Roman tombs of Chatby which was accidentally discovered in 1893.
This is considered the oldest necropolis in the city, since it served as a resting place for the deceased since the 4th century B.C. The rock tombs there are the oldest example of Alexandrian-style burials, and the tombs themselves are designed in a simple, elegant way typical of the Hellenistic period.
Hellenistic Catacombs of Mostafa Kamel
Duration: 15 minutes
A 12-minute cab ride will take you to Mostafa Kamel Necropolis, which is located in El Moaskar El Romani Street, in Roushdy area. The catacombs consist of four subterranean tombs that date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C. These tombs are significant because of their bright colors and inscriptions, which illustrate the everyday life of the dead, in the Hellenistic period.
Royal Jewelry Museum
Duration: 1-2 hours
About a 15-minute Uber ride from the necropolis is the Royal Jewelry Museum. First of all, the palace itself is an architectural gem, and it holds a royal jewelry collection of more than 11,000 pieces, which some date back to the rule of Mohammed Ali Pasha who became Khedive of Egypt in 1805.
Along with jewels, the museum also exhibits centuries-old coins, golden clocks, watches, portraits of the royal family in golden frames, shining crowns and King Farouk’s ebony and gold walking stick.
Lunch
Since it’s almost afternoon, now you will take a 20-minute ride to Zanilli’s El Montazah. Of course, El Montazah may have several other restaurants and cafes, but Zanilli’s is just right there by the sea! The food might not be so good, but we think the view will definitely make up for it.
The Montazah Palace
Duration: 2-5 hours
The Montazah Palace and its royal gardens are located on the Mediterranean Sea on the eastern side of Alexandria. It was used as a summer palace for the former Egyptian monarchy. First, the Salamlik palace was built and was used as a hunting lodge by Khedive Abbas II, in 1892. Then the Haramlik was added by King Foad, in 1932.
Both palaces aren’t open to the public, but you can enjoy the gardens, the sea view, and have a picnic with your family or friends, or simply eat at one of the restaurants in the park.
Dinner
To end your stay in Alexandria so glamorously and in a relaxing way, we advise you to head to the Tea Island Pavilion of King Farouk in Al Montazah.
84 years ago, this Tea Island was used as King Farouk’s Tea Pavilion; it was built during his reign and its design was supervised by Egyptian architect Mustafa Pasha Fahmy, in 1936.
Now it has been officially reopened to the public, since September 2020, and there you can enjoy the luxuriously-decorated pavilion with its classy tables and chairs, while drinking your afternoon tea with some mouthwatering desserts.
Of course, we couldn’t include all the exciting places and restaurants in Alexandria in this itinerary, so if you have already been to all the previously-mentioned places, or if you’re staying for more than 3 days, here’s a list of more spots that are worth mentioning:
Sightseeing
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Graeco-Roman Museum
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Taposiris Magna Temple
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The Cathedral of Saint Mark
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The Commonwealth War Memorial Cemetery
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Museum of Fine Arts
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Alexandria Opera House
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Aaisha Fahmy Palace
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Alexandria Art Centre
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Mahmoud Said Museum
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Latin Catholic Church of Saint Catherine
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The Cathedral of Evangelismos
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Caesareum of Alexandria
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Stanley Beach & Bridge
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Alexandria Unknown Naval Soldier Memorial
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Al Shalalat Park
-
Eliahu Hanavi Synagogue
Restaurants
Vintage (international cuisine):
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Santa Lucia
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Calithea
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Trianon
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Elite
Modern (international cuisine):
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Rooftop at the Windsor Palace (Skyroof)
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Rooftop at Le Metropole Hotel
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Jeeda’s
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L Bay
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Gleem Bay
Seafood:
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Zaphere (El Max zone)
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Farag Fish
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Fish Market
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Sea Gull
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Zephyrion Fish
Grill:
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Hosny Grill (Ras Al Tin Branch)
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Khattab Village
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Hany Village
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Balbaa Village
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Tejano’s Mexican Grill
Asian:
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Nuwa
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Massala Zone
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Ginger
Others:
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Al Qallaa Pies
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Awlad El-Fallah (for stir-fried liver sandwiches)
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Makram Ice Cream (Ras Al Tin Branch)
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El Qobaisy (a.k.a King of Mango)
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La Gourmandise Restaurant (French cuisine)
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Brazilian Coffee Stores (Salah Salem Street Branch)