2-Day Overnight Tour to Alexandria from Cairo

Duration: 2 Days
Style: Private Tour
From, per person: $240

Alexandria is Egypt's Mediterranean city, founded by Alexander the Great and later the capital of the Ptolemies. This two-day private trip lets you see it at an easy pace, with a night by the sea instead of a long same-day drive.

The first day is for Roman and Greek Alexandria: Pompey's Pillar, the underground tombs of Kom El Shoqafa and a seafood lunch on the corniche. The second day moves to the waterfront, where the Qaitbay Citadel stands on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, followed by the modern Library of Alexandria.

Your Egyptologist guide stays with you throughout and the vehicle is yours alone, so you can pause for photos, ask questions and change the pace. The drive from Cairo takes about two and a half to three hours each way, with a short stop for a hot drink on the road home.

The trip suits couples, families and history lovers who want more than a rushed day out, and anyone who would enjoy an evening walk on the sea front and a taste of local sweets.

Visitors at Kom El Shoqafa in Alexandria

Your itinerary

01

Pompey's Pillar, Kom El Shoqafa Catacombs and a seafood lunch

Your guide meets you at your Cairo hotel in the early morning for the drive to Alexandria, about two and a half hours with a short rest stop. Your guide uses the road to introduce the story of the city.

The first stop is Pompey's Pillar, a tall granite column rising among the ruins of the Serapeum, the temple of the god Serapis; allow about 45 minutes. Next come the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a Roman-era burial complex reached by a spiral staircase and cut into the rock over several levels. Plan roughly an hour here.

Lunch is seafood at a restaurant on the corniche, with a view across the harbor. Afterward you are taken to your Alexandria hotel (the room is booked separately) and have the evening free. If you wish, your guide can join you for a stroll along the sea front.
Lunch
02

Qaitbay Citadel, Library of Alexandria and the drive back to Cairo

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver collect you for the waterfront. The Qaitbay Citadel is a 15th-century fort at the tip of the harbor, built with stone from the fallen Pharos lighthouse. Walk along its walls and look out over the sea; about an hour is enough.

Then visit the Library of Alexandria, the modern library opened in 2002 beside the sea as a tribute to the great library of antiquity. Its curved granite wall is carved with letters from many alphabets. Spend about an hour inside and around the building.

In the afternoon you drive back to Cairo, with a stop on the way for a hot drink, and arrive at your hotel in the evening.

Qaitbay Citadel on the coast in Alexandria

Included

Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for both days
Pick-up in Cairo and drop-off at your Cairo hotel
Private Egyptologist guide in your language
Entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary
Seafood lunch on day 1
Bottled water during the visits
All service charges and taxes

Not included

Drinks with meals
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Tipping (recommended)
Optional extras not in the itinerary
Hotel night in Alexandria (we can book a room for you on request)

Good to know

We confirm your pick-up time on WhatsApp the evening before the trip.
Pick-up areas: Giza, Downtown, Zamalek, Maadi, Heliopolis, New Cairo and Sheikh Zayed.
Private trip: the day is for your group only. Vehicle: a car for up to 3 to 4 guests, a minivan for up to 7 to 8, and two vehicles for larger groups.
A long day on the road. Not recommended for young children or guests who find long drives tiring.
Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, comfortable shoes and modest clothing for temples and religious sites. A light jacket helps in the air-conditioned car.
October to April is more comfortable; summer days in Upper Egypt are very hot.
The price shown is the starting price per person. The final price depends on your dates, group size and hotel area, and we confirm it on WhatsApp before you book.
Children: under 6 travel free, ages 6 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the full price.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick-up, because the trip books a driver for the whole day. After that it is not refundable.

Questions

How far is Alexandria, and how long does the drive take?

The drive takes about two and a half to three hours each way, depending on traffic, including a short rest stop. You travel in a private air-conditioned car, and your guide uses the time on the road to introduce the history of the city before you arrive.

Why stay overnight instead of making it a day trip?

A same-day trip means five or six hours in the car and a rushed visit. With a night in Alexandria you see the Roman sites on the first day, enjoy an evening by the sea and start the second day fresh for the citadel and the library.

Is the visit to the catacombs difficult?

You go down a spiral staircase and walk through narrow passages, so wear comfortable closed shoes. The passages can feel enclosed. If stairs or tight spaces are a concern, tell us when you book and your guide will plan around it.

What happens about the hotel night in Alexandria?

The room is not in the tour price. We can book a hotel in Alexandria for you at the current rate, or you can reserve your own. On the first day your guide takes you to the hotel after lunch and collects you from it the next morning.

What should I pack for one night?

Bring a small overnight bag, comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen. In winter add a light jacket, because Alexandria is often breezier and cooler than Cairo, especially in the evening.