Nestled along the tranquil banks of the Nile in southern Egypt, Aswan captivates visitors with its rich tapestry of ancient history, vibrant Nubian culture, and awe-inspiring landscapes, where sun-drenched temples, such as Philae and Abu Simbel, stand as enduring testaments to the grandeur of past civilisations, while the bustling souks, serene felucca rides, and the monumental Aswan High Dam together weave a compelling narrative of timeless beauty and modern ingenuity.
Egypt: Alexandria – “Pearl of the Mediterranean Coast”
Contents
1. About Alexandria
2. Things to do
– Visit the Qaitbay Citadel
– Explore the Catacombs
– Check out the Library of Alexandria
– Wander around the Temple of Serapis
– Experience the calm beauty of the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque
– Discover the history of Kom El Dikka
3. Getting around
4. Vegan dining options
5. Best time to visit
6. Where to stay
About Alexandria
Alexandria, Egypt’s second-largest city and a key Mediterranean port, holds a unique position in both ancient and modern history. Founded in 331 BCE by Alexander the Great, the city quickly rose to prominence as a centre of learning, culture, and commerce during the Hellenistic period. It was home to the legendary Library of Alexandria, considered one of the greatest repositories of knowledge in the ancient world, and the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Under the rule of the Ptolemies, a Greek dynasty that succeeded Alexander, Alexandria became a melting pot of Greek, Egyptian, Jewish, and later Roman influences, giving it a cosmopolitan character that shaped its development for centuries. The city’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa made it a vibrant hub for trade and intellectual exchange throughout antiquity.
Culturally, Alexandria has always been a city of diversity and innovation. Its early population included people of various backgrounds, creating a unique blend of languages, traditions, and beliefs. This pluralism is evident in its architectural styles, from Greco-Roman theatres and catacombs to Islamic mosques and Coptic churches. During the Roman and Byzantine periods, the city maintained its status as a scholarly and religious centre, producing important philosophical and theological works. Later, under Arab rule beginning in the 7th century, Alexandria gradually shifted in character, integrating Islamic culture while retaining elements of its earlier heritage. Today, remnants of its layered past can still be seen in landmarks like the Roman Amphitheatre, the Qaitbay Citadel—built on the site of the ancient lighthouse—and the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, which reflect a fusion of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artistic traditions.
In modern times, Alexandria remains a vital part of Egypt’s identity and economy, with its port playing a central role in trade and industry. The city has also experienced a cultural revival, with institutions like the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern tribute to the ancient library, fostering education, science, and the arts. Its Mediterranean climate and scenic corniche attract both domestic and international tourists, while its literary and cinematic portrayals continue to shape perceptions of its historic grandeur. Despite periods of decline and political turmoil, Alexandria endures as a symbol of cross-cultural interaction and intellectual pursuit. Its long-standing tradition of embracing different cultures has left an indelible mark, making it not just a city of the past, but one of continued significance in Egypt’s evolving narrative.
Things to do
Visit the Qaitbay Citadel
We had been warned that Alexandria does things on its own terms, and the Qaitbay Citadel — sometimes spelt “Quitbay,” because apparently one spelling wasn’t enough of a challenge — proved exactly that. It sits on the very tip of the Pharos Peninsula, staring out across the Mediterranean as if daring it to try something. Which, historically speaking, the sea has done rather a lot.
The site itself carries an almost absurd weight of history. This is the exact spot where the Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood — one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built around 280 BC during the reign of Ptolemy II, and for centuries the tallest man-made structure on earth. It guided ships into one of the ancient world’s busiest and most prosperous ports. Then a series of earthquakes between the 10th and 14th centuries did what time usually does, and by the 1300s there was precious little left. Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qaitbay — a Mamluk ruler who clearly understood the value of a good defensive position — ordered a fortress built on the ruins in 1477. Some accounts suggest he even incorporated stones from the old lighthouse into its walls, which is either brilliantly pragmatic or the architectural equivalent of using your grandmother’s furniture for firewood, depending on how you look at it.
We arrived on a bright morning, which was fortunate, because the building deserves to be seen in proper light. It looms up from the waterfront rather impressively — a solid, honey-coloured mass of stone with crenellated towers and the general air of something that has absolutely no intention of going anywhere. There’s a small causeway leading out to it, with the harbour on one side and the open sea on the other, and fishing boats bobbing about looking thoroughly unbothered by the weight of civilisation surrounding them.
Stepping inside, we were struck immediately by the cool air and the sheer solidity of the place. The walls are several metres thick in parts, which does wonders for the temperature and explains why the citadel has survived rather better than most of what was built alongside it. This is very much a military building — narrow staircases, small windows that once served as lookout positions for soldiers, and modest rooms that housed garrison troops through the Ottoman period, the French occupation under Napoleon in 1798, and eventually the British bombardment of 1882, which left some marks on the exterior that are quietly pointed out on the information boards.
There’s not a great deal in the way of furniture or traditional museum displays, and anyone expecting interpretive panels and gift shop vouchers will be mildly disappointed. But that rather misses the point. The building is the exhibit. We wandered through winding passages, poked our heads into small rooms, and found a central courtyard where the light comes in beautifully in the morning hours — the kind of incidental loveliness that no amount of curating can replicate. A few Arabic inscriptions survive on some of the stonework, and the craftsmanship throughout is genuinely impressive, even to those of us with no architectural training whatsoever.
The steps are steep in places, and we’re glad we wore sensible shoes rather than the sandals we’d briefly considered. We also brought water, which turned out to be a wise decision, as even the sea breeze only does so much when the sun gets going. The higher levels reward the climb considerably. From the top, the view across the harbour is genuinely marvellous — fishing boats, container ships in the distance, the Alexandria waterfront stretching behind you, and ahead of you nothing but open sea all the way to Europe. We stood up there far longer than we’d planned.
The whole place has a quiet dignity to it. Despite its rather violent purpose — it was built specifically to repel the Ottoman Turks, though it eventually fell to them anyway in 1517 — it feels peaceful now. Egyptian families were out in numbers enjoying the sunshine and taking photographs, children racing around the courtyard with the unselfconscious energy that only children in sunlight possess. It’s the kind of place that feels genuinely alive rather than merely preserved.
Outside, a handful of souvenir stalls were doing brisk business, and we picked up a small hand-carved model of the ancient lighthouse — which felt entirely appropriate, given that we were standing approximately where it once did. There’s also a small café nearby where we had a glass of karkadeh, the deep crimson hibiscus drink that seems to be available everywhere in Egypt. It’s tart and slightly floral and really rather good on a warm morning, and considerably more refreshing than the bottled water we’d been nursing all week.
🏺The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
One of the real highlights of our time in Alexandria was a visit to the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa — and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. We’d read about them in the guidebook before setting off, done a bit of dutiful homework the night before, and I still wasn’t fully prepared for what we found. That’s the thing about history — you can read all you like, and it still manages to knock you sideways when you’re standing in the middle of it.
For anyone with even a passing interest in the ancient world and a willingness to go underground, this place is absolutely worth your time. It’s not flashy. There’s no gift shop flogging snow globes. It’s just genuinely, properly extraordinary.
The Catacombs date back to around the 2nd century AD, constructed during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan — a period when Alexandria was one of the most cosmopolitan and culturally chaotic cities in the known world, sitting at the crossroads of Greek, Egyptian, and Roman civilisation. They were originally built as a private family tomb, likely for a wealthy Alexandrian family of means, before being gradually expanded over the following decades to accommodate more burials. By the time they were done expanding, the whole complex had grown into a substantial multi-level necropolis.
And then, rather magnificently, they were completely forgotten about for nearly 1,700 years.
They were rediscovered in 1900 — not through painstaking archaeological endeavour, but because a donkey fell into a hole. An actual donkey. One moment it was going about its donkey business, the next it had disappeared into the earth and inadvertently stumbled upon one of the most significant Roman-era burial sites in Egypt. Archaeology owes that animal a considerable debt. We do wonder what happened to it, but the guidebook was silent on the matter.
You enter through a spiral staircase carved around a large circular shaft, which descends about 35 metres into the rock. It gets noticeably cooler as you go down, which — given that Alexandria in summer can feel like standing next to a very large oven — was something of a relief. Do wear sensible shoes. The steps are uneven in places, occasionally damp, and not especially forgiving if you’ve decided to wear sandals because you thought it would be a quick look round. It’s manageable if you take your time, though we’d note it’s probably not the easiest visit if you have mobility issues. No shame in that — just worth knowing before you commit.
What waits at the bottom is one of the more genuinely strange and beautiful things we’ve encountered in years of poking around old places. The whole site is a remarkable example of what happens when three great cultures collide and then apparently give up trying to agree on anything: the result is a delightfully incoherent blend of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman styles all crammed into the same walls. Some figures are carved wearing Roman togas. Others are unmistakably Egyptian in style, with the distinctive flat, hieroglyph-adjacent aesthetic you’d associate with the walls of a pharaoh’s tomb. And then some are a bit of both — a kind of ancient fusion that no committee would ever have approved, but which somehow works brilliantly.
We were particularly struck by the main burial chamber. It’s guarded by two carved serpent figures — the serpent being a symbol associated with both Egyptian and Greek mythology, which felt appropriately on-brand for the whole confused glory of the place. Spooky, yes. But beautiful with it.
There are three levels in total, though during our visit only the first two were accessible. The lowest level has suffered water damage over the years — Alexandria’s water table being somewhat unruly — and remains closed to the public. We were mildly disappointed, in the way that you’re always mildly disappointed when a sign says “closed.” Still, two levels is more than enough. There are long carved corridors, small side chambers, and — most remarkably — what was once a triclinium, a Roman-style banquet hall where grieving families would gather to eat, drink, and honour their dead. Which, when you think about it, is either deeply touching or deeply peculiar, depending on your outlook. Possibly both.
📚 The Library That Rose From the Ashes — Bibliotheca Alexandrina
We had the genuine pleasure of visiting one of the most remarkable places we’ve ever set foot in — the modern Library of Alexandria, known locally as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Honestly, “library” doesn’t really cover it, but we’ll get to that.
Let’s start with a bit of history, because this place has form. The original Library of Alexandria was founded sometime around 285 BC under Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great’s generals who’d grabbed Egypt for himself after all the unpleasantness of Alexander dying without naming a successor. At its peak, the library held somewhere between 40,000 and 700,000 scrolls — nobody can quite agree — and attracted scholars from across the ancient world. Euclid worked out his geometry there. Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth there, with remarkable accuracy, using a stick and some shadows. It was, in every sense, the intellectual centre of the known world.
Then, as tends to happen with great things, it was destroyed. The precise how and when is hotly debated — Julius Caesar may have accidentally torched part of it in 48 BC, Aurelian’s troops caused damage in 270 AD, and there were several other incidents involving people who clearly hadn’t thought things through. By the 7th century AD, whatever remained was gone. The dream, however, apparently was not.
Fast forward to 1974, when the idea of rebuilding it was first floated by Alexandria University. UNESCO got involved in 1988. Ground was finally broken in 1995, and the finished building opened its doors in October 2002 — a mere 2,000-odd years after the original. Well worth the wait, we think.
The building itself is absolutely stunning — very modern, sleek, and genuinely full of symbolism, which for once doesn’t feel like something an architect made up after the fact. From the outside, it looks like a great tilted disc leaning toward the Mediterranean, designed to represent the rising sun of knowledge. The Norwegian firm Snøhetta won the international design competition in 1989, and they’ve done a remarkable job. The exterior walls are covered in grey Aswan granite, etched with scripts and letters from virtually every writing system on earth — hieroglyphics, Arabic, Latin, Chinese, and dozens more — which rather drives home the point that this is a place for everybody, not just academics with elbow patches.
Inside, the main reading hall is enormous and filled with natural light cascading down through the tilted roof. It spans eleven cascading levels and can seat up to 2,000 readers at once. There’s a kind of peaceful hush about it, even when it’s busy, which is impressive given how many people were milling about when we visited. We loved how spacious it felt — row after row of desks, people quietly reading or working away on laptops. It gave us a bit of a thrill to think that scholars from all over the world come here to study, and there we were, sitting among them, pretending to look scholarly whilst mainly just gawping at the ceiling.
Now, if you think libraries are just about borrowing novels or dusty encyclopaedias, think again. This place is more like a full-blown cultural and educational centre — and we mean that in the best possible way. There are museums inside (yes, museums plural, which we found mildly alarming at first — we’d only expected the one), permanent exhibitions, art galleries, and even a planetarium. We particularly enjoyed the Antiquities Museum, which houses genuine artefacts from ancient Egypt — a good deal of it excavated locally during the construction of the building itself. They dug up the foundations and found history. Only in Egypt. There’s also a science museum, which is brilliant for children and grown-ups alike — we spent quite a while fiddling enthusiastically with the hands-on displays, to the mild amusement of an actual child standing nearby.
One thing that really stood out was how genuinely welcoming the place felt. Entry is very reasonably priced — we only paid the equivalent of a few pounds each — and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful throughout, which frankly put certain British institutions to shame. There are cafés inside too, which was a lovely surprise. After all that exploring, we sat ourselves down with a cup of strong Egyptian coffee and a pastry, watching a pleasingly mixed parade of students, academics, and tourists drift past. It was a wonderful way to simply sit and soak in the atmosphere of a place that, against all odds and most of recorded history, actually managed to come back.
🏛️ Wandering Around the Temple of Serapis
We had no great expectations for this one, if we’re honest. A ruined temple in a residential neighbourhood didn’t exactly scream “must-see attraction.” But we were wrong, and we’re perfectly happy to admit it.
The Temple of Serapis — or the Serapeum, if you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about — was once the grandest temple in the whole of Alexandria. It was dedicated to Serapis, a god who was essentially invented by committee during the early Ptolemaic period, around the 3rd century BC. The idea was to create a deity that both Greeks and Egyptians could get behind — a sort of divine diplomatic compromise. Serapis ended up as a useful all-rounder: god of healing, the underworld, fertility, and abundance. Basically, if you needed something sorted, Serapis was your man. Clever idea, as we said at the time.
The temple sat on a hill in the older Egyptian quarter of the city, and at its peak it was described by ancient writers as one of the most magnificent buildings in the known world. It also served as home to a branch of the Great Library of Alexandria — yes, that Great Library, the one everyone’s heard of and nobody can quite agree on what happened to. This annex, sometimes called the “daughter library,” is thought to have held tens of thousands of scrolls. The main library eventually met its end through a combination of fires, neglect, and general political chaos, and the Serapeum itself was demolished in 391 AD when the Emperor Theodosius banned pagan worship and a rather enthusiastic Christian mob finished the job. The site was partly repurposed, a church was built on the hill, and that was largely that.
What remains today is genuinely fascinating, even if your first impression is “blimey, there’s not much left.” The most famous feature is Pompey’s Pillar — a single enormous column of red Aswan granite standing about 27 metres tall, which dominates the whole site. Here’s the thing, though: it has absolutely nothing to do with Pompey. Medieval European pilgrims assumed that a big Roman column must have something to do with the famous general who died in Egypt in 48 BC, and the name stuck. In fact, it was erected in 297 AD in honour of Emperor Diocletian. The inscription on the base makes this perfectly clear, but a good story has always beaten an inconvenient fact.
We also explored the underground chambers and tunnels beneath the site, which include a small shrine and what’s believed to have been part of the library annex. Standing in a low stone corridor beneath a temple that old, thinking about the scrolls once stored nearby, is one of those moments that makes all the faff of travel worthwhile. Mind your step down there, though — it’s genuinely uneven underfoot in places, and nobody wants to explain a twisted ankle to their travel insurance company.
🕌 Finding Calm at the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque
We arrived in Alexandria on a Friday, which, if you’ve ever tried visiting a mosque on the Islamic holy day, you’ll know adds a layer of logistical faff that nobody really tells you about in the guidebooks. Friday prayers mean crowds, restricted access, and a certain amount of hovering awkwardly near the entrance wondering whether you’re allowed in yet. Fortunately, our guide wasn’t the sort to be put off by minor inconveniences, and he was absolutely insistent that we see the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque — and, as it turned out, he was absolutely right.
We’re not religious. We should make that clear upfront. We’re not going to pretend we understood every nuance of what we were seeing, or that we came away with some profound spiritual awakening. But this mosque — this extraordinary, quietly magnificent building — gave us something genuinely unexpected: a moment of real stillness, and a much deeper appreciation for the remarkable layered history of Alexandria itself.
The mosque is dedicated to Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi, a Sufi saint born in Murcia in what is now Spain, around 1219. He was part of the great tradition of Andalusian Islamic scholarship that flourished under Moorish rule on the Iberian Peninsula — a civilisation of poets, philosophers, and mystics that, frankly, puts most of medieval Europe to shame. Al-Mursi eventually made his way to Alexandria in the 13th century, where he settled, taught, and became one of the most beloved religious figures the city has ever known. He died in 1287 and was buried here, and his tomb remains inside the mosque to this day — still a place of pilgrimage for Muslim visitors from across Egypt and the wider Arab world.
The original shrine above his tomb was constructed in 1307, about twenty years after his death, by a devoted follower. For several centuries it stood in various states of repair and renovation, as shrines tend to do. The grand, gleaming mosque you see today, however, is a much more recent creation — it was substantially rebuilt and expanded in the 1940s, completed in 1943, and manages the rather impressive trick of feeling both ancient and elegant at the same time. It sits in the Anfoushi district, close to the harbour and not far at all from the Citadel of Qaitbay, which means you can sensibly pair both on the same afternoon without wearing yourself completely into the ground.
From the outside, the mosque is a proper statement. The walls are a warm creamy-beige, the colour of good shortbread, topped with a cluster of lovely rounded domes and a single soaring minaret that rises above the surrounding streets with quiet authority. The whole thing reminded us, in a slightly odd way, of something from an illustrated storybook — the kind of idealised Islamic architecture you’d find on a Victorian postcard, except this is entirely real and rather more impressive in person. The exterior stonework is covered in intricate geometric carvings and arabesques that reward a proper close look; the sort of detail that takes decades to execute properly and that nobody really does anymore.
Inside, it is, if anything, even better. You remove your shoes at the entrance — standard practice, and perfectly reasonable — and the floor beneath your socked feet is cool and smooth. Light filters down softly from high windows set into the upper walls, creating that particular quality of illumination you only seem to find in well-designed religious buildings: gentle, diffuse, and somehow rather calming. The ceilings soar upward, painted in delicate geometric patterns in greens and golds that catch the light and draw your eye upward in a way that feels entirely intentional. There’s a lovely hush about the whole place, even with other visitors moving quietly around you.
Discover the history of Kom El Dikka
Kom El Dikka is right in the heart of modern-day Alexandria, surprisingly tucked in amongst apartment blocks, busy roads and the usual city bustle. You wouldn’t necessarily think there’s an ancient site hiding there at first glance—but once you’re through the entrance gate (which is modest and easy to miss), it all opens up beautifully.
The name, we were told, means “Mound of Rubble”, which sounds rather underwhelming—but don’t let that put you off. This place is anything but a pile of old stones. The most striking thing is the Roman amphitheatre. It’s in remarkably good condition considering it’s been around since the 2nd century AD. You can walk right down to the stage area and sit where the audience would have sat nearly 2,000 years ago.
Around the amphitheatre are Roman baths, lecture halls, and a series of old mosaic floors. One called the “Villa of the Birds” still shows birds in lovely detail, despite its age. You really get a sense of how people lived, learned, and entertained themselves back then. It’s not like a museum where everything’s behind glass—you can walk around the ruins freely, which makes it feel much more real and alive.
Getting around Alexandria
🚶♂️ Walking
Alexandria’s corniche (seafront promenade) is perfect for strolling, especially in the cooler months. Many attractions, such as the Citadel of Qaitbay, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and Montaza Palace gardens, are within walkable distance in their respective areas. Pavements can be uneven in places, so sensible footwear is advised.
🚌 Public Buses & Microbuses
Alexandria has an extensive network of public buses and microbuses. These are affordable and travel to most parts of the city, but routes and stops may not always be clearly marked. Microbuses are faster but less predictable—ideal for those familiar with local stops.
🚋 Trams
Alexandria is one of the few cities in the world that still uses trams. The blue and yellow trams are the most common, with the nostalgic double-decker trams occasionally running. They are a scenic, albeit slow, way to travel through the city.
🚕 Taxis
Taxis are widely available, and most still use the classic black-and-yellow colour scheme. It’s best to agree on a fare before setting off, as many taxis do not use metres. Alternatively, ride-hailing apps offer more predictable pricing.
🚗 Ride-Hailing Apps
Apps such as Uber and Careem operate throughout Alexandria. They’re convenient, reliable, and offer the comfort of air-conditioned vehicles. This is a recommended option for visitors unfamiliar with the city or Arabic language.
🚴♀️ Bicycles & E-Scooters
While not as common as in other cities, cycling is gaining popularity, particularly along the Corniche and in larger parks. Keep in mind that traffic can be chaotic, so these are best used for leisure rather than daily commuting.
🚆 Train to/from Alexandria
If you’re coming from Cairo or heading there, trains are a popular and efficient choice. Alexandria’s main railway station, Misr Station, is centrally located and connects with major routes across Egypt.
Eating out for vegans in Alexandria
🥗 Vegan Food in Alexandria, Egypt
While Alexandria may not yet be one of the most vegan-friendly cities globally, it’s becoming increasingly easier to enjoy delicious, high-quality plant-based meals. Here are some of the top spots to explore:
🌿 Vegan Vibes – Roushdy
A tranquil vegan café nestled in Roushdy, celebrated for its homely atmosphere and welcoming staff. The menu features wholesome vegan Egyptian and international favourites such as lentil soup, plant-based burgers, and dairy-free desserts.
📍 Address: 45 Ahmed Yehia Street, Roushdy, Alexandria
🌐 Instagram: @veganvibes.eg
🍜 Green Table – Stanly
This plant-based café in Stanly champions wellness and clean eating. Known for their nutrient-rich bowls, cold-pressed juices, and raw vegan treats, it’s a haven for health-focused diners.
📍 Address: 12 El Geish Road, Stanly, Alexandria
🌐 Website: greentableeg.com
🛒 The Vegan Shop – Online & Delivery in Alexandria
Egypt’s pioneering fully vegan online grocery store also serves Alexandria, offering plant-based meats, cheeses, snacks, and cruelty-free personal care products — perfect for restocking your kitchen.
🌐 Website: theveganshop.store
🍽️ Sea Salt – Corniche, Gleem
While not fully vegan, this stylish seaside restaurant offers several vegan-friendly dishes with fresh, local ingredients. Enjoy plant-based options while taking in breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.
📍 Address: 123 El Geish Road, Gleem, Alexandria
🌐 Website: seasaltalex.com
🧁 Bean & Butter – San Stefano
A popular café offering vegan-friendly baked goods and plant-based milk alternatives. The cosy indoor space and garden patio make it an ideal spot for an afternoon treat.
📍 Address: 8 Mostafa Kamel Street, San Stefano, Alexandria
🌐 Instagram: @beanbutter.alex
🥙 Zooba – Alexandria Branch
This trendy Egyptian street food chain features vegan staples like koshary, taameya (falafel), and ful medames. Dishes are clearly labelled and bursting with flavour.
📍 Address: City Centre Alexandria, Ground Floor Food Court
🌐 Website: zoobaeats.com
🌱 Lychee – Fresh Juices & Snacks
Great for on-the-go smoothies, juices, and light vegan snacks. Several outlets around Alexandria offer quick and refreshing plant-based options.
📍 Various locations in Alexandria
🌐 Website: lycheegroup.com
The best time to visit Alexandria
🌸 Spring (March to May)
Spring is one of the best times to visit Alexandria. The weather is mild and refreshing, with temperatures ranging between 17°C and 24°C. The city’s gardens and coastal areas are in full bloom, offering a picturesque backdrop for sightseeing.
Highlights:
🌼 Comfortable temperatures for walking and exploring
🌊 Ideal for visiting the Corniche and historic sites
🚫 Less crowded than summer
☀️ Summer (June to August)
Summer is peak tourist season in Alexandria. Temperatures can rise to 31°C or more, but the Mediterranean breeze helps moderate the heat. Locals and tourists alike flock to the beaches.
Highlights:
🏖️ Best time for beach lovers
🌅 Beautiful sunsets along the Corniche
🎉 Lively city atmosphere
Things to Consider:
😓 Can get hot and humid
🧳 Book accommodation early due to high demand
🍁 Autumn (September to November)
Autumn brings cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. With averages between 20°C and 27°C, it’s a fantastic time to enjoy the cultural and historical aspects of the city without the hustle of summer.
Highlights:
🎨 Great lighting for photography
🕌 Easier access to attractions
🍂 Calm and peaceful ambience
❄️ Winter (December to February)
Winters in Alexandria are cool and occasionally rainy, with temperatures between 11°C and 18°C. While swimming isn’t ideal, it’s a perfect season for cultural exploration and enjoying the city’s café culture.
Highlights:
📸 Quiet city, perfect for sightseeing
☕ Enjoy warm drinks with sea views
🎭 Winter festivals and events
📋 Summary Table: Best Time to Visit Alexandria
| Season | Avg. Temp (°C) | Best For | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌸 Spring | 17–24 | Sightseeing, walking tours | Slight rise in tourists |
| ☀️ Summer | 25–31+ | Beaches, vibrant city life | Hot, crowded |
| 🍁 Autumn | 20–27 | Culture, calm visits | Shorter daylight hours |
| ❄️ Winter | 11–18 | Cafés, museums, festivals | Occasional rain, cooler |
🌸 Spring (March to May)
Spring is one of the best times to visit Alexandria. The weather is mild and refreshing, with temperatures ranging between 17°C and 24°C. The city’s gardens and coastal areas are in full bloom, offering a picturesque backdrop for sightseeing.
Highlights:
🌼 Comfortable temperatures for walking and exploring
🌊 Ideal for visiting the Corniche and historic sites
🚫 Less crowded than summer
☀️ Summer (June to August)
Summer is peak tourist season in Alexandria. Temperatures can rise to 31°C or more, but the Mediterranean breeze helps moderate the heat. Locals and tourists alike flock to the beaches.
Highlights:
🏖️ Best time for beach lovers
🌅 Beautiful sunsets along the Corniche
🎉 Lively city atmosphere
Things to Consider:
😓 Can get hot and humid
🧳 Book accommodation early due to high demand
🍁 Autumn (September to November)
Autumn brings cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. With averages between 20°C and 27°C, it’s a fantastic time to enjoy the cultural and historical aspects of the city without the hustle of summer.
Highlights:
🎨 Great lighting for photography
🕌 Easier access to attractions
🍂 Calm and peaceful ambience
❄️ Winter (December to February)
Winters in Alexandria are cool and occasionally rainy, with temperatures between 11°C and 18°C. While swimming isn’t ideal, it’s a perfect season for cultural exploration and enjoying the city’s café culture.
Highlights:
📸 Quiet city, perfect for sightseeing
☕ Enjoy warm drinks with sea views
🎭 Winter festivals and events
📋 Summary Table: Best Time to Visit Alexandria
| Season | Avg. Temp (°C) | Best For | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌸 Spring | 17–24 | Sightseeing, walking tours | Slight rise in tourists |
| ☀️ Summer | 25–31+ | Beaches, vibrant city life | Hot, crowded |
| 🍁 Autumn | 20–27 | Culture, calm visits | Shorter daylight hours |
| ❄️ Winter | 11–18 | Cafés, museums, festivals | Occasional rain, cooler |
Where to stay in Alexandria
1. Mid Range: San Giovanni Stanly Hotel
Comfort Sphinx & Pyramids Inn is a cosy and welcoming guesthouse located just a short walk from the Giza Plateau, offering stunning views of the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx right from its rooftop terrace. It’s a popular choice for travellers looking for a more personal, homely alternative to large hotels while still being close to Cairo’s most iconic landmarks. The rooms are clean and comfortable, with air conditioning, private bathrooms, and essential amenities to make your stay pleasant. The staff are known for their friendliness and hospitality, often going out of their way to help guests arrange tours, transport, or local dining experiences. Breakfast is typically included and served on the rooftop, where you can enjoy your meal with the pyramids in the background—a truly unforgettable setting. While the inn itself is modest and not luxurious, it offers excellent value for money, especially for those who want an authentic and convenient base for exploring the wonders of ancient Egypt
2. Luxury – Tolip Hotel Alexandria
The Tolip Hotel Alexandria is a prominent luxury hotel situated along the scenic Corniche in Alexandria, Egypt, offering panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. This upscale property blends modern comfort with touches of classic elegance, making it a popular choice for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel’s prime location provides easy access to major attractions such as the Alexandria National Museum, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the historic Qaitbay Citadel. Inside, guests are welcomed by a grand lobby adorned with marble flooring and contemporary furnishings, setting the tone for a sophisticated stay. The rooms and suites are spacious and well-appointed, featuring modern amenities including flat-screen televisions, minibars, high-speed Wi-Fi, and private balconies overlooking either the sea or the city. Dining options at the Tolip Hotel are varied, with multiple restaurants offering Egyptian specialities, international cuisine, and fresh seafood. Guests can unwind at the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool, enjoy a rejuvenating treatment at the spa, or maintain their fitness regime at the well-equipped gym. Known for its attentive service and elegant ambience, the Tolip Hotel Alexandria consistently provides a comfortable and memorable experience for visitors to Egypt’s second-largest city.
1 2
More to Explore
