Wondering what is there to do in Alexandria, Egypt? The Mediterranean’s fallen queen plays a different game from Cairo and Luxor: Greco-Roman ruins under a living city, a legendary library reborn, seafood on the corniche, and the melancholy glamour of a city that was once the center of the world. Here is the day — or two — done right.
Quick Answer: The best things to do in Alexandria are the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (the modern great library), the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, the Citadel of Qaitbay on the old lighthouse site, Pompey’s Pillar and the Serapeum, the Roman Amphitheatre at Kom el-Dikka, and a corniche seafood lunch. Most visitors come as a long day trip from Cairo.
The Greatest Hits
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The ancient world’s greatest library, reimagined as a striking granite disc tilting toward the sea — reading rooms for millions of books, museums in the basement, and the intellectual swagger of old Alexandria reborn. An hour minimum; bibliophiles lose whole mornings.
Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa
Spiral down into the strangest tombs in Egypt: three levels of Roman-era burial chambers where pharaonic gods wear Roman armor and Greek hairstyles — the city’s cultural blender carved in stone. The largest Roman burial site in Egypt, and its most atmospheric hour.
Citadel of Qaitbay
The 15th-century fortress stands exactly where the Pharos — the ancient lighthouse and wonder of the world — once burned; its stones are partly recycled lighthouse. Come for ramparts, harbor views and fishermen casting below the walls.
Pompey’s Pillar & the Serapeum
A 27-meter granite column (Aswan granite — floated 1,000 km) marking the ruins of the Serapeum, once the “daughter library” and grandest temple of the Greek city.
Kom el-Dikka
A marble Roman amphitheatre and villa mosaics discovered under a modern neighborhood — Alexandria in miniature: dig anywhere, find an empire.
The Alexandria Rhythm
| Slot | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | Catacombs → Pompey’s Pillar → Kom el-Dikka |
| Lunch | Corniche seafood — choose your fish off the ice |
| Afternoon | Qaitbay ramparts → Bibliotheca |
| Golden hour | Corniche stroll where the ancient palaces sank |
Getting There and Making It Work
Alexandria sits ~2.5–3 hours from Cairo by road or rail, making it the classic long day trip — our Alexandria day trip from Cairo handles the logistics with an Egyptologist who reads the city’s layers. Overnighting buys you the corniche at night and a slower second morning. Weather-wise the city is Egypt’s mildest — sea breezes in summer, actual winter rain; details in our Alexandria weather guide.
FAQs About Alexandria
Is Alexandria worth visiting?
For lovers of Greco-Roman history and sea-city atmosphere, yes — it is Egypt’s most distinct flavor, unlike anywhere on the Nile.
How many days do you need?
One full day covers the essentials; two lets the city breathe.
Can you see the ancient library or lighthouse?
Both are gone — but the Bibliotheca channels the library’s spirit and Qaitbay stands on the lighthouse’s exact footprint with its recycled stones.
Alexandria or Luxor with limited time?
Luxor first for ancient Egypt’s heart; Alexandria as the Mediterranean dessert. See things to do in Egypt for the full map.
Tempted by the sea? WhatsApp us to slot Alexandria into your Cairo days — the road trip is easier than you think.
Further reading: the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
So, What Is There to Do in Alexandria Egypt in One Day?
If someone asks you what is there to do in Alexandria Egypt with limited time, the honest answer is: more than a day can hold. Walk the Corniche at sunrise, spend the morning at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, descend into the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa after lunch, and finish with grilled seafood by Qaitbay Citadel. That single loop answers what is there to do in Alexandria Egypt better than any list — the city itself, Mediterranean and unhurried, is the attraction.
