Alexandria City Highlights Day Tour

Schedule: Daily Departures

Duration: Approximately 5 to 6 Hours

Pickup Time: 09:00 AM (Customizable upon request)

Pickup & Drop-off: Alexandria Hotels or Cruise Ship Terminal (Private Round-Trip Transfer)

Tour Type: Private Chauffeured & Egyptologist-Guided Sightseeing Excursion

Tour Highlights

Discover the Mediterranean essence and timeless heritage of Alexandria on a private, comprehensive day tour. Tracing the legacy of Alexander the Great along Egypt’s northern coast, this excursion blends world-class modern architecture, classical Roman antiquities, vibrant traditional market districts, and peaceful royal estates overlooking the sea.

• Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Marvel at the exterior disc architecture, open sun-drenched granite plaza, and submerged statues of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy I salvaged from the Eastern Harbor.
• Roman Amphitheatre at Kom El Dikka: Tour Egypt’s only preserved Roman amphitheatre, featuring white marble seating tiers, ancient lecture halls, and open-air displays of sunken pharaonic artifacts.
• Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral: Visit the historical episcopal seat of the Coptic Pope and the oldest established Christian church foundation in Africa.
• Old Town & Historic Mansheya Souks: Walk the lively narrow lanes of Zan'et El Setat (the Women's Market) and the traditional gold souk, surrounded by European colonial, baroque, and Italian-style facades.
• Citadel of Qaitbay (Exterior): Photograph the imposing 15th-century Mamluk fortress erected directly over the fallen ruins of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Montaza Palace Royal Gardens: Stroll through 150 acres of lush pine groves and palm trees once favored by King Farouk, walking across the bridge to Tea Island.
• Stanley Bridge & Corniche Drive: Take in panoramic coastal views of Alexandria’s Mediterranean shoreline, pausing at Stanley Bridge before returning to your hotel.

Detailed Tour Itinerary

09:00 AM: Hotel or Cruise Port Pickup

• Your private Ramasside Tours Egyptologist guide and driver greet you in your Alexandria hotel lobby or at the passenger terminal of Alexandria Port holding a personalized name sign.
• Settle into your modern, air-conditioned vehicle as your guide provides an overview of Alexandria's founding in 331 BC and its golden age as the intellectual crossroads of the ancient Mediterranean.

Stop 1: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Plaza & Architecture)

• Arrive at the iconic Bibliotheca Alexandrina, designed to honor the ancient library that once housed antiquity's greatest scrolls.
• Walk through the expansive open granite plaza to inspect inscriptions in world scripts and view monumental submerged statues of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy I, raised by maritime archaeologists from the seabed of the Eastern Harbor.
• Learn about the library's modern architecture, international research complexes, and specialized exhibitions.
• (Note: Bibliotheca Alexandrina is closed on Fridays and public holidays; entry to the main reading hall requires an additional on-site ticket).

Stop 2: Kom El Dikka Roman Amphitheatre

• Continue to Kom El Dikka in central Alexandria to tour Egypt's sole surviving Roman performance arena.
• Walk among the 13 U-shaped tiers of white marble seating, ancient acoustic mosaics, and Roman bathhouse brickwork.
• Explore the open-air courtyard displaying colossal pharaonic sphinxes, column bases, and inscribed granite blocks salvaged from the Eastern Harbor.

Stop 3: Saint Mark's Cathedral & Historic Old Town Walk

• Visit Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, founded by the Apostle Mark in AD 68, representing the foundational root of Christianity in Africa.
• Take a guided stroll through Alexandria’s historic downtown streets, admiring ornate 19th- and early 20th-century European facades showcasing French baroque, Italian neo-Renaissance, and Mediterranean architecture.
• Walk the narrow lanes of Zan'et El Setat and the historic gold market in the Mansheya quarter.

Optional Lunch: Local Seafood or Mohamed Ahmed

• Pause for an optional dining break at a waterfront Mediterranean fish restaurant, or visit the historic Mohamed Ahmed restaurant to sample authentic Alexandrian falafel (Ta'ameya), ful mudammas, and local dips favored by visiting dignitaries and royalty.
• (Optional 2-minute quick stop): Stop at "Mango King" to sample freshly squeezed seasonal mango or sugarcane juice, enjoyed roadside in authentic Alexandrian fashion.

Stop 4: Abbo Elabbas Mosque, Eastern Harbor & Citadel of Qaitbay

• Pass the grand white-domed Mosque of Abu El Abbas El Mursi, noted for its intricate stone filigree and the vintage fairground in the outer square.
• Stop along the seawall of the ancient Eastern Harbor to photograph wooden fishing vessels, traditional net weavers, and sweeping harbor views.
• Continue to the Citadel of Qaitbay, the 15th-century maritime fortress built atop the exact foundations of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse. Capture photos of the fortress against the sea.

Stop 5: Montaza Palace Royal Gardens & Stanley Bridge

• Drive 25 kilometers east along the Mediterranean coastline past the Unknown Soldier Memorial to Montaza Palace.
• Explore the lush 150-acre royal gardens, admire the Moorish and Florentine architecture of the Salamlek and Haramlek palaces, and walk across the ornate stone bridge out to Tea Island.
• On the return drive, stop atop Stanley Bridge for photos of the rocky Mediterranean cove before transferring comfortably back to your hotel or cruise ship dock.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

• Private door-to-door transportation in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide throughout the tour
• All entrance tickets to scheduled attractions (Roman Amphitheatre and Montaza Palace Gardens)
• Chilled bottled mineral water inside the vehicle throughout the day
• All local road tolls, parking fees, service charges, and municipal taxes

Exclusions

• Entry visa to Egypt
• Bibliotheca Alexandrina main reading hall interior ticket
• Meals and beverages (Optional seafood lunch available for $15 per person)
• Professional vacation photographer add-on
• Personal shopping, souvenirs, and discretionary tipping

Tour Add-ons & Travel Notes

Executive Luxury Van Upgrade

Upgrade your city road transit to an executive luxury van featuring extra legroom, plush reclining leather captain chairs, dual-zone climate control, onboard Wi-Fi, and cold refreshments.

Professional Vacation Photographer

Hire a dedicated vacation photographer to capture your visit across the Roman Amphitheatre, Fort Qaitbay, and Montaza Gardens for $50 per day.

Footwear & Accessibility Advice

Comfortable, flat-soled, closed-toe walking shoes are strongly recommended for walking across stone amphitheatre steps, historic street cobblestones, and garden pathways.

Shore Excursion Assurance

For cruise ship passengers docking at Alexandria Port, this tour features guaranteed terminal gate pickup and return timed safely ahead of your vessel's departure.

Child Policy

• 0 – 1.99 years: Free of charge
• 2 – 11.99 years: 50% of adult tour rate
• 12+ years: Full adult rate

For bookings, customized departure schedules, and private VIP upgrades, contact us at: [email protected]