Book Olympic Air Flights to Alexandria

Sightseeing in Alexandria

A favourite place to walk for locals and visitors alike, the Corniche promenade runs for 20 kilometres next to the Mediterranean Sea and is ideal for endless strolling. It was designed in 1870 between the eastern (old) and the western port and along its length you will encounter successive bays, beautiful beaches, casinos, elegant hotels and restaurants, which will transport you to the cosmopolitan Alexandria of old. During your walk you can admire the buildings along the Corniche, the view of the Mediterranean, the historical architectural design, such as the Montaza Palace and Citadel of Qaitbey on the spot of the legendary Lighthouse (or Pharos), as well as the beautiful Stanley Bridge.

Work for the renovation of the most important museum in antiquity was completed in 2002 with the creation of the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This stunning building is made of glass and steel and contains three amazing museums, five special research centres and a seminal art collection comprised of Greek sculptures and rare ancient manuscripts.
Address: Al-Corniche – Chatby, 21526 Alexandria, bibalex.org

The outer façade of the Graeco-Roman Museum of Alexandria resembles an ancient Greek temple and bears the inscription “MOUSEION” in Greek. Inside you will be able to admire one of the largest collections of works from the Greco-Roman period. There are over 40,000 exhibits, dating from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD. Among the highlights of this fine collection are a black granite sculpture of the bull Apis, the statue of Serapis, the clay Tanagra figurines and the beautiful series of Hellenistic sculptures. This amazing museum needs time set aside to be fully appreciated as the unique masterpieces on exhibition fill 27 rooms. Don’t miss the beautiful garden with the sculptures in its forecourt.
Address: 5 Sharia el-Mathaf ar-Romani

Pompey’s Pillar is one of the most important sights in the city. This impressive column of pink granite stands 30 metres above the ruins of glorious Rhakotis, the ancient settlement that stood on the site of Alexandria before Alexander founded the city and which was the cornerstone of Alexandria. Around it, you can see the ruins of the temple of Serapis, which is believed to have been one of the most important centres of learning in the ancient world.
Address: Sharia Amud el-Sawari, Karmuz

A highlight from the city’s Roman past is the excellently preserved marble Roman Amphitheatre of the 2nd century AD, with the beautiful mosaic floors and impressive granite pillars.
Address: Sharia Yousri

The cosmopolitanism of classical Alexandria is apparent in the Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs. This is the largest Roman burial complex in Egypt, dating to the 2nd century AD, which has three levels and a depth of 30 metres. The Catacombs impress in their design and decoration, a rare mixture of Pharaonic and Greco-Roman motifs.
Address: Off Sharia Amud el-Sawari, Karmuz

At the point where the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood, we now find the Citadel of Qaitbey (Fort Qaitbey), which today houses the Maritime Museum. The view from the walls of the citadel is stunning. Inside the citadel, which was built in 1479 by the Mamluk sultan Qaitbey, you will see some of the stones from the Lighthouse as well as red granite columns in the west side of its outer walls.
Address: Eastern Harbour at the end of Corniche

The impressive Montaza Palace, a mix of Ottoman and Florentine architectural styles, was built by Khedive Abbas II as a summer residence. Today, the locals love to escape from the city into its beautiful huge gardens.
Address: Montaza Bay

The Alexandria National Museum is housed in an Italianate villa. Inside you will see over 1,800 exhibits from the time of the Pharaohs and the Greco-Roman era to the Byzantine and Islamic periods. Of particular interest is the room dedicated to the process of mummification.
Address: 110 Sharia Tariq al-Horreyya

The most impressive mosque in all of Alexandria is the Abu al-Abbas al- Mursi Mosque. This is a magnificent octagonal white building, a mixture of ornate Islamic architecture and an Andalusian aesthetic.
Address: Al Berkah, Qesm Al Gomrok

Food and Entertainment

In Alexandria there is plenty of seafood to be enjoyed and a trip to the famous Anfushi Fish Market is a must.

The fresh fish (samak) of Alexandrine cuisine are usually served grilled or baked in the oven with a salty crust. Sample the scallops, shrimps, sea bass, plaice, squid and eel, a local specialty that is enjoyed as an appetizer or even as a snack for the road.

As a genuinely cosmopolitan city, Alexandria is a place where you can find cuisines from all over the world, while excellent gourmet meals can primarily be had in the large hotels.

Among the traditional Egyptian culinary favourites, we can include kebabs and koftas (meat balls), falafel, fuul (fava bean puree), kushari (a mixture of macaroni, rice and lentils with a spicy tomato sauce), humus (chickpea puree), Ful Medames (fava bean stew) and Molokhia (green leaf strew cooked in a meat broth). Almost every dish is accompanied by aish baladi, the flat bread that the Egyptians use to soak up their food.

In the historic patisseries of Alexandria, you will find traditional Egyptian desserts, such as baklava, roz bel laban (rice pudding), kanafeh and Umm Ali (bread pudding).

Coffee (ahwa) is an important part of Egyptian culture. The best coffee is served in the local coffeehouses, always strong and black and usually accompanied by a shisha (hookah) ritual.

The city’s nightlife and its better bars are concentrated in the coastal zone around the Eastern Harbour and the large hotels, where belly dance shows can be seen.

Shopping in Alexandria

A large range of shops selling clothes and accessories can be found in the historic centre of Alexandria. The heart of the city’s shopping district beats in the area behind and to the southwest of the Sofitel Cecil hotel (Al Akbar, Ebadah Ibn Al Samet, Saad Zaghloul).

The traditional shopping district (souq) is to be found on the west side of Tahrir Square. The busiest souq is El Attarine, a maze of narrow roads in which you will mainly find antiques. The Zan ah Al sitat souq (“crowd of ladies” in Arabic) is part of El Attarine. This is the most popular bazaar, selling women’s clothing and accessories, while the Al Khreit specialises in fabrics.

Alexandria today has many large shopping malls in which you will find the stores of large brands, cinemas, restaurants and cafés.

Cultural events

Alexandria is host to many interesting festivals, especially in the summer and autumn, such as:

The Alexandria International Film Festival, every September or October, which takes over the city and attracts primarily Mediterranean productions.https://alexfilmfest.com

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Summer Festival is a music festival held every August, with concerts within the spaces of the Library.

The contemporary dance and performing arts festival Nassim el Raqs (A Breeze of Dance) is held in various public spaces around Alexandria, with local and international artists.

Getting to Alexandria from the airport

Borg El Arab International Airport (HBE) Borg El Arab International Airport (HBE) is situated 50 km from the central el Gondy el Maghool square in Alexandria. To get from the airport to the city, you can take the 24-hour airport bus operated by Egypt Bus airport, which departs hourly from Muharram Bek Stop, 5 kilometres from the city centre. Journey time is one hour. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Muharram Bek stop. Buses operated by Egypt Bus have air conditioning and separate space for your luggage.
For further information on timetables and ticket reservations, visit https://egyptbus.com/schedule_rev

If you choose to travel by taxi then it is recommended that you agree a fare prior to the journey. The journey takes around 40-45 minutes from the centre of Alexandria, depending on the traffic.