Things to do in Alexandria: must-see attractions

Visiting Alexandria

As Egypt's second-largest metropolis, Alexandria balances energetic urban grit with coastal elegance. Its story kicks off with Alexander the Great in 331 BC, and the conqueror who envisioned a prosperous capital would likely approve of how it turned out today. Operating as a major industrial center, university hub, and seaport that has weathered wars and earthquakes without missing a beat, this urban sphinx in the northwest of the Nile Delta refuses to be kept down. Alexandria has seen Roman and Byzantine emperors, served as a stronghold of early Christianity, and answered to both Caliph Omar and General Bonaparte, eventually fueling its modern economic comeback through the Suez Canal. That layered history makes it a top-tier stop on any Egyptian itinerary. Ancient ruins sit right alongside Islamic heritage, and Greco-Roman treasures match the city's sheer momentum step for step.

A Waterfront with Endless Landmarks

A simple walk along the Corniche gets you oriented right away, serving as both the easiest starting point and one of the most scenic stretches in town. By day, fishermen and local merchants set up shop along the water. Once the sun goes down, the whole avenue comes alive with locals out for an evening stroll. Down at the port, the fishing boats put on a daily show, and while the legendary ancient lighthouse was lost in the earthquake of 1303, you can still catch echoes of that wonder of the ancient world at Qaitbay Citadel, built right on the old foundations using stones salvaged from the original structure. This defensive fortress dating to 1477 is a textbook example of medieval military architecture. Between the vaulted ceilings, carved stone gates, and the Mediterranean crashing in the background, this landmark is hard to beat. Underwater archaeological finds like sphinx statues and stone columns are on display nearby at the local Naval Museum. Right around the corner, Abu el-Abbas el-Mursi Mosque catches the eye with its domes and its soaring minaret.

In the same neighborhood, the Royal Jewelry Museum occupies the former palace of Princess Fatma al-Zahra, featuring striking stained glass and Renaissance-style interiors that house a massive collection of royal jewels dating back to the 19th century. Further down the coast, the ultra-modern, half-sphere architecture of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina comes into view, holding the world's largest reading room behind its granite walls, shelf space for eight million volumes and a museum wing filled with ancient manuscripts. Finally, the striking Stanley Bridge spans the water along the Corniche, acting as a grand link between eras and elements that lights up dramatically at night and ranks as one of the best spots to catch the sunset.

A Journey Through the Centuries

Alexandria's biggest surviving ancient monument is Pompey's Pillar, standing 30 meters high to give you a sense of the scale of the immense Temple of Serapis that once occupied the site, the pillar itself raised in the early 4th century. Three pink granite sphinxes guard the area, and the archaeological park includes a network of underground galleries. Artifacts recovered here, including a marble head of Serapis and the Apis bull, are housed in the Greco-Roman Museum, where thousands of relics dating back to the 3rd century BC make it one of the most important collections of its kind in the world. Over on the eastern side of the city in the El Mandara neighborhood, the Montazah Palace, completed in 1932, cuts an imposing figure with its Turkish-Florentine towers and symmetrical arched windows. While the interior is closed, you can wander the 150 hectares of landscaped gardens filled with towering palms and manicured flower beds. Mamoura Beach sits just a short distance away if you are looking for a place to swim.

The waterfront bars and restaurants are ideal for diving into local cuisine, starting with koshary, a carb-heavy mix of brown lentils, rice, pasta, and tomato sauce, alongside seafood specialties like balah el-bahr or garlic-butter clams known as gandofli. Street food stalls dish out fresh falafel and hawawshi, a spiced minced meat stuffed inside a baked pita. Alexandria is a treat from start to finish.

Getting There

There are no direct flights from North America, so you will connect through a hub such as Istanbul, Athens, Frankfurt or Cairo. Since Alexandria's primary international airport has been undergoing renovations, flights route through Borg el Arab Airport, located 48 km (about 30 miles) from downtown, with shuttle buses and taxis handling the final leg. Mediterranean cruises also call at the port. If you are already arriving from Cairo, domestic flights, long-distance buses, and rail lines make the trip straightforward.

When to Go

With average temperatures ranging from 18°C (64°F) in January to 31°C (88°F) in August, the coastal climate stays comfortable year-round, though peak summer heat settles in between May and October.