Alexandria in one day: what to see from the cruise port

Alexandria is Egypt's Mediterranean city, founded by Alexander the Great and once the intellectual capital of the ancient world. For cruise passengers it offers a choice: spend the day in the city itself, or head inland to the Pyramids of Giza. Both are good days. They are just very different ones.

City or Pyramids?

The road from Alexandria to Giza takes roughly 3 hours each way, so a Pyramids day needs a long call, around 12.5 hours or more between arrival and all-aboard. Alexandria's own sights are a short drive from the port, which makes a city day the relaxed choice for shorter calls, slower paces and guests who would rather not spend six hours in a vehicle.

If this is your only chance to see the Pyramids on this voyage, check whether your itinerary also calls at Port Said. The drive from there is similar, and you can then keep Alexandria for the city.

What to see in Alexandria

• The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa: underground tombs where Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles meet. Reached by a spiral staircase.
• Pompey's Pillar: a towering granite column on the site of the ancient Serapeum.
• The Citadel of Qaitbay: a fifteenth-century fortress on the Eastern Harbour, built on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse.
• The Corniche: the long seafront road curving around the harbour, best seen on the drive between sites.
• The Bibliotheca Alexandrina: the striking modern library built to recall the ancient one.

Our Alexandria City Highlights itinerary links these in a logical order, with lunch near the harbour, and it can be shortened for brief calls.

A note on access

Most of Alexandria's sights are at street level, but the catacombs are reached by a spiral staircase and the citadel has uneven stone floors. If you prefer to avoid stairs, we can plan the day without the catacombs.

If you choose Giza

A Giza day from Alexandria usually pairs the Pyramids and the Sphinx with either the Grand Egyptian Museum or historic Cairo. Compare both on the Alexandria port page, and add your ship times to see which fits.