Alexandria is Egypt's second city and its Mediterranean window — founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, capital of the Ptolemaic kingdom that produced Cleopatra, and now a dense, walkable corniche town of about 5.4 million. It sits 225 km northwest of Cairo, reachable in 2.5 hours by car on the Desert Road or 2 hours 10 minutes on the Talgo Express train from Ramses Station. Alexandria's own airport (Borg El Arab, HBE) handles mostly domestic and regional flights — most international travellers arrive via Cairo International (CAI) and connect onward.
Book an airport transfer to Alexandria
Fixed-price private transfers with English-speaking drivers. Meet-and-greet included.
Getting to and around Alexandria
The Corniche is the spine of the city — a 20-kilometre seafront promenade from the old Eastern Harbour, past the Qaitbay Citadel (built on the ruins of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria), to the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina — the UNESCO-designed 2002 reincarnation of the ancient library, with a dramatic tilted-disc roof angled toward the sea. The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa (a Greek-Roman-Egyptian funerary complex, 30 metres below the street), the amphitheatre at Kom al-Dikka, and Pompey's Pillar are the three essential archaeological stops. Stanley Beach and the café scene around San Stefano anchor the Rouchdy/San Stefano upper-middle-class corridor.
Things to see & do in Alexandria
Alexandria's food scene is heavily seafood-led — the fish markets at Anfoushi and the grills at Kadoura near the Citadel are the staples. Try sayadiya (rice with spiced fish), kebda Eskandarani (liver Alexandria-style with peppers and cumin), and ful medames for breakfast. The Greek-influenced Baklava and Ouzo bakeries still hold a handful of corner shops in the old Quartier Grec.
Tours & experiences
Top tours & experiences in Alexandria
Browse Viator’s catalogue of Alexandria tours, day trips, and experiences. Most include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
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Neighborhoods & food in Alexandria
Visit October through April for pleasant 18-25°C days. May-September is hot (30-35°C) with humid coastal air but less extreme than inland Egypt. Most non-GCC passports need a tourist visa — purchase on arrival at CAI for USD 25 or apply via the e-Visa portal. Egypt uses the Egyptian pound (EGP); USD and EUR are widely accepted for large transactions; cards work in hotels and upscale restaurants but the market and taxi economy is cash-only. Uber and Careem both work in Alexandria.