A first weekend in Alexandria: harbour, ruins and the Bibliotheca

Day one morning: Qaitbay and the working harbour

Start at Qaitbay Citadel. Look at its rounded corner towers before going inside; from the waterfront, the fishing boats give the fort a very different setting from the courtyard view. Buy the appropriate entrance ticket and keep the exterior harbour stroll separate from paid entry.

The fortress occupies the lighthouse site, but the ancient lighthouse is no longer standing. Keep the approach short if wind or heat makes lingering uncomfortable; the fort is the anchor for this morning, not the beginning of a walk along the whole Corniche.

Mobile data for your trip. Check what your current plan includes for roaming. If you need another option for maps, messages and booking details, compare NXTL eSIM coverage and rates. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, and check coverage for every stop. Download important maps and confirmations for offline use too.

Day one lunch and afternoon: Downtown at a slower pace

Take a transfer towards Raml, then we recommend Mohamed Ahmed for ful and taameya. The bean dishes make a useful meal break before more walking; check the current menu and tell staff about dietary requirements rather than assuming every accompaniment suits you.

After lunch, use Saad Zaghloul Square and the waterfront as a small loop. Look back towards the harbour, then leave time for a rest. If you want Stanley’s bridge views, take a separate car journey later; it is a different stretch of coast, not the next door attraction.

Day two morning: the modern library

Visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina, checking the official admission and tour schedule first. Join a tour in a language you understand to make sense of the building and its role. This is a modern working library, not a surviving room of the ancient one.

A Main Library ticket covers its guided tours and specified exhibitions; confirm separate museum tickets before adding more. Swap the days if your visit falls on a Friday or public holiday, and check age rules for children. An exterior photo stop is not an equivalent indoor visit.

Day two afternoon: one Roman-history outing

After lunch and a rest, choose Kom el-Dikka Roman Theatre for theatre seating, columns and the remains of a Roman urban quarter. Follow the marked visitor path; do not enter excavations to reach a photograph.

For an underground-history focus, replace that outing with Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, optionally adding the separately ticketed Serapeum. Do not cram both areas into a hot afternoon. Bring shoes with grip and check stair access if mobility is a concern.

A guided alternative and what to carry

If arranging transfers feels like too much, replace the independent second day with a guided city circuit. It covers more ground than the relaxed plan above, so confirm the exact stops and leave your evening free.

Carry water, sun protection and a secure small bag; winter needs a rain layer and jumper. Raml tram works mean old transport itineraries need checking. Religious stops require suitable coverage and respect for worship access.

For an organised alternative, Compare the guided Alexandria city circuit. Choose the Alexandria-start option and confirm pickup, language and duration. Entrance fees and lunch are extra; the library is omitted on Fridays and public holidays. The Cairo-start option adds a long road transfer.