Alexandria Day Tour from Cairo: Pompey's Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel & Catacombs
Step into Egypt's legendary Mediterranean city and trace three millennia of history in a single day.
This Alexandria day tour from Cairo takes you along Egypt's northern coast to discover one of the ancient world's most storied cities, from towering Roman monuments to a fortress that guards the memory of the lost Lighthouse of Alexandria. A professional guide leads the way in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle throughout the full journey.
Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE and quickly became the intellectual capital of the ancient Mediterranean world. Today, the city's layered heritage is visible at every turn, where Roman engineering stands alongside Ptolemaic catacombs and Ottoman-era fortifications.
The tour covers the city's most significant landmarks at a relaxed pace suited to all fitness levels. Each site is presented in historical context, offering a coherent picture of how Alexandria evolved from a Hellenistic powerhouse into a cosmopolitan Egyptian city.
Round-trip transportation from Cairo is included, making this a practical and rewarding way to explore a destination that many visitors overlook in favor of Luxor or Aswan.
Tour Highlights
Stand beside Pompey's Pillar, a 25-meter red granite column and one of the last remains of the ancient Temple of Serapis.
See Qaitbay Citadel from outside, built directly on the legendary site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria.
Descend into the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the largest Roman cemetery in Alexandria, carved from solid rock.
Visit Montazah Palace and its sweeping Mediterranean gardens, a former royal retreat on the city's eastern edge.
Travel with a qualified Egyptologist guide who provides historical context at every stop throughout the day.
Enjoy comfortable round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle from your Cairo hotel or airport.
Itinerary
Your guide collects you from your Cairo hotel or airport in an air-conditioned vehicle. The drive to Alexandria follows the desert highway and typically takes approximately two to two and a half hours.
Your first stop is the iconic Pompey's Pillar, a single red granite column standing 25 meters tall and dating to the 3rd century CE. It remains one of the most significant surviving remnants of the once-grand Temple of Serapis complex.
The tour continues to Qaitbay Citadel, a 15th-century fortress positioned at the mouth of Alexandria's eastern harbor. The structure was built on the precise site where the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Explore the remarkable underground burial complex known as the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, dating to the 2nd century CE. The chambers combine Roman architectural forms with Egyptian decorative motifs, reflecting the multicultural character of ancient Alexandria.
The final stop is Montazah Palace, a late 19th-century royal residence set within extensive landscaped gardens overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The grounds offer a calm and scenic close to the day's explorations.
After the final visit, your driver takes you back along the highway to Cairo. You will be dropped off at your hotel upon arrival.
What's Included and Excluded
Included
- Round-trip transportation from Cairo hotel or airport
- Professional licensed Egyptologist tour guide
- Air-conditioned private vehicle
- Visits to Pompey's Pillar area, Qaitbay Citadel, Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, and Montazah Palace
Excluded
- Entry tickets to monuments and sites
- Meals and beverages
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Personal travel insurance
Important Information
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Secure your place on this guided day tour and explore the ancient Mediterranean heritage of Alexandria with an expert at your side.
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