This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend excursions, products and tours that I have personally used and purchased myself. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds go to running this blog and your support is truly appreciated! All opinions are my own. Ahh, Egypt. Atop many a traveler’s bucket list. But when one thinks of Egypt, what comes to mind? The beautiful chaos of Cairo. Certainly, images of the ancient pyramids of Giza. Daydreams of a nile river cruise to magical Luxor. Or perhaps visions of the colossal temples of Abu Simbel in Aswan. Often, the beautiful seaside town of Alexandria gets over looked. But let me tell you: you shouldn’t overlook it. Here are 7 spectacular things to do in Alexandria Egypt, that you shouldn’t miss. In case you didn’t know – there are 7 wonders of the Medieval World. Or, alternatively, known as 7 wonders of the Middle Ages. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa is one of them. This is definitely one of things you should do in Alexandria Egypt because… it is so cool. Oh, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, too. Kom El Shoqafa, which literally translates to The Mount of Shards, is significantly old. Like, 2nd century ancient. Upon arrival, you go through a ticket booth area and from there it’s a short walk to the entrance to the Catacombs. An ancient, winding staircase takes you three levels underground. It is widely thought that this Catacomb originally started as a family tomb but over the course of hundreds of years became the final resting place for hundreds more. The catacombs are three levels of mazes, passageways, statues and ornate decorations. Visiting the remains of the Ancient Roman Amphitheater, baths and villa is a must do thing in Alexandria Egypt. My favorite part of this historical landmark was the intricate, beautiful mosaics that are still in tact after hundreds and hundreds of years. What used to go on here, you may ask? Musical concerts. Theater shows. Artistic Events. Our guide actually asked me to sing in the center of the amphitheater so we could hear the amazing acoustics that still remain in the space until this day. I graciously obliged and the acoustics are astounding! Founded by ‘Alexander the Great,’ the Library of Alexandria was at one time the largest library in the entire world. It housed many historical scripts, scrolls and works from some of the greatest thinkers and writers from the ancient world. Until it tragically burned down in a fire… all of the magnificent knowledge and works, lost. What’s rather interesting is that apparently no archaeological finds or architectural remains have ever been found or recovered. It’s led some to question… did the Library of Alexandria ever really exist? In any case, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina that stands today is a modern interpretation of what once, established in 2002. One of my favorite meals I had in Egypt was in Alexandria. Our guide took us for a walk in the Corniche, which is Alexandria’s bustling waterfront promenade. This area channels a bit of the Cairo hustle and bustle, but with fresh air in a beautiful seaport setting. There is a lot of traffic, like Cairo, except the traffic here has a gorgeous view of boats floating across the Mediterranean Sea. The waterfront restaurant our guide took us to had a mesmerizing view of the water and delicious traditional Egyptian fare. The popular restaurant along the water’s edge, Fish Market Marina, sits perched above the shoreline. If you take the tour I took, lunch is included in your ticket price, excluding beverages. On a small area of land that extends out into Alexandria’s harbor, sits an ancient fortress known as Fort Qaitbey. Named after the sultan that had this magnificent structure built, Fort Qaitbey is not entirely in its original form. It’s undergone lots of reconstruction after many earthquakes. As majestic as this medieval fortress is, the real significance of this area is that it is where the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood. Sometimes referred to as the Pharos of Alexandria. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Despite surviving many conflicts and standing tall for hundreds and hundreds of years, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed it. In 1994, divers found the remains of the lighthouse on the sea floor of the Alexandria harbor. There has been mention of turning its remains into an underwater museum. Would you go see this? I definitely would! Out of the fleet of attractions I saw while in Alexandria, I did find Pompey’s Pillar to be a bit underwhelming, albeit pleasant to visit. But when you understand that this towering pillar made of red granite from Aswan is thousands of years old and weights 285 tons, it’s fascinating. Today, the significance of the Pillar is the land it sits on. It marks the site of what was once a grand and elaborate temple. There are still some tunnels that remain for tourist viewing and exploration. At this time, to see the incredible sunken palace of Cleopatra you must be a certified diver. Despite being a PADI certified advanced open water diver, I wasn’t able to see this extraordinary site. Not a lot of dive companies were operating at the time and I wasn’t able to find a guide to take me. This will have to remain on the dive bucket list! How did Cleopatra’s Palace end up at the bottom of the sea? Similar to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, a disastrous earthquake caused the island it sat on to sink into the ocean, destroying the palace and scattering it throughout the bay. If you’d like to see the remains for yourself, it is only about 10 meters or just a little over 30 feet down in the harbor. But be advised that the waters have been reported to often be murky, cold with limited visibility. Despite this, I consider this to be one of the most unique and interesting things to do in Alexandria Egypt and next time I’m in there, I am in! Firstly, like anywhere else in Egypt, I absolutely recommend having a guide and a driver. Egypt is not an easy place to get around; there is lots of traffic, potential for getting ripped off, a language barrier in certain instances and not enough context for attractions without a guide. I would not recommend traveling to sites without at least a driver, but it would enhance your experience to have a guide as well. If you take the tour I took, you will have a professional driver, English speaking Egyptologist tour guide and it includes an Egyptian lunch (no beverages). All of the sites listed above will be visited sans Cleopatra’s Sunken Palace. You can book the Guided Tour to Alexandria from Cairo here! Tip: I recommend reviewing all the sites that will be visited and deciding which attractions you are the most interested in. Due to this being a day tour (although a long day, indeed), you’ll want to make sure you have enough time at the places you’re passionate about. Communicate to your guide at the start of your day which sites are a priority to you. Will Alexandria make your itinerary? Please feel free to leave any questions you have in the comments, below! Check out these posts: Discover Amazing Things to Do in EGYPT โ Cairo Edition The Fairmont Nile City Hotel Cairo โ a GREAT Place to Stay How to See Magical Luxor in One Day Going – I have been subscribed to Going (formerly, beloved, Scott’s Cheap Flights) awhile now and it’s an amazing resource for finding… did you guess cheap flights? Yes, you can set your preferences from airports to flight class and get destination deals right to your inbox. It’s fab! I use the Premium paid version, but they have a FREE version too. So what are you waiting for?! Let’s get Going! Booking.com – the majority, if not almost all of my stays are booked on Booking.com. It’s a reliable site to book and manage your reservations. It’s a great way to find boutique stays and unique accommodations at the best rates! You can also easily communicate with your accommodation through the app! Expedia – If I am looking for a flight to a specific destination for specific dates, I find myself booking the majority of my flights on Expedia. It’s user friendly and straight forward. I often can find the most cost effective rates, while earning points for every flight I book (in tandem with the points I receive from the credit cards I pay with). Viator – most of the activities, tours and excursions I book for my trips are booked through Viator. Whether you’re seeking a guide for the day, a group tour, a cooking class, Viator has you covered! Get Your Guide – this is another great marketplace to find tours, excursions and activities to book for your upcoming trip. 7 Spectacular Things to do in Alexandria Egypt
1) Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa – a Must of Things to do in Alexandria Egypt
2) Visit the Ancient Roman Amphitheater
3) Peruse the Bibliotheca Alexandrina – The Library of Alexandria
4) Enjoy Lunch by the Water near Fort Qaitbey
5) Stroll the Cornish and Citadel of Fort Qaitbey
6) Check out Pompey’s Pillar
7) Dive to Cleopatra’s Underwater Palace
Seeing the Best Things to do in Alexandria Egypt With Limited Time
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Everything looks so beautiful! Egypt is on my bucket list so Iโm so glad I found this
Alexandria is definitely one of the more relaxing and scenic places I visited in Egypt. But everything in Egypt is so bucket list worthy. Let me know when you plan to visit, I have many more recommendations!
I LOVE EGYPT! I unfortunately didn’t go out to Alexandria, but this is making me want to book another trip there!
Hi Ali! I really liked Alexandria… but I also need to return to Egypt to visit Aswan and some other places I missed last year!
My grandmother has traveled to Egypt multiple times and always mentions how amazing many of these locations are – you paint them in such a vibrant and interesting way!
Thank you so much, Hannah! That’s so incredible that your grandma has been to Egypt several times. I’d love to return and explore the parts of Egypt I didn’t get to like Aswan or Sharm el-Sheikh.
Very Good๏ผไธ้ๅ๏ผ
Thank you. I hope you enjoy your visit to Alexandria!