Overview

Alexandria City Tour – Private Shore Excursion from Port

The Alexandria city tour covers five sites in a single day: the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Roman Amphitheater at Kom El Dikka, Qaitbay Citadel, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the Montaza Palace Gardens. That’s 2,400 years of history, from the Greek founding of the city through the Roman period, the medieval Mamluk era, and the 19th century royal dynasty. It’s the most complete way to see Alexandria from a cruise ship call.

Alexandria City Tour — The 5 Sites

• Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa — 2nd century AD Roman-Egyptian burial complex carved into bedrock; the largest Roman necropolis in Egypt
• Roman Amphitheater (Kom El Dikka) — the only intact Roman theater in Egypt, with original marble seating; adjacent Villa of the Birds mosaic floors
• Qaitbay Citadel — 15th century Mamluk fortress built on the site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse
• Bibliotheca Alexandrina — the modern library built on the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria
• Montaza Palace Gardens — 150 acres of royal gardens on the Mediterranean coast

What You’ll See

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are the first stop — a three-level burial complex cut into rock in the 2nd century AD. The carvings here are unusual: Egyptian burial gods carved in Roman artistic style, set inside Greek architectural frames. Three traditions in the same wall. Your Egyptologist explains the burial rituals and what the hybrid iconography tells us about who actually lived in Alexandria at the time.

Next is the Roman Amphitheater at Kom El Dikka — 13 rows of white marble seating, built in the 4th century AD and used for lectures and performances. It’s the only preserved Roman theater in Egypt. Beside it, the Villa of the Birds has floor mosaics with bird portraits that are surprisingly accurate, dating to the 2nd century AD.

Qaitbay Citadel sits at the tip of the Eastern Harbor peninsula. Sultan Qaitbay built it in 1477 using stones from the Pharos Lighthouse after the earthquake brought it down. The fortress sits on the exact footprint of the old lighthouse base. From the upper levels you can see the full sweep of Alexandria’s coastline.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina comes next — a circular library opened in 2002, built on the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria. The exterior is the part worth seeing: a disc of Aswan granite carved with letters from 120 different scripts. Interior access is optional at a small additional cost.

The last stop is Montaza Palace Gardens — 150 acres of Mediterranean gardens built by Khedive Abbas II in the 1890s and expanded by King Farouk. A good place to decompress between the archaeological intensity of the earlier sites and the return to ship.

What’s Included

• Private air-conditioned transport
• Licensed private Egyptologist guide
• Bottled water
• All taxes and service charges

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees
• Lunch
• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Personal expenses

Practical Information

Pickup is at the exit gate of Alexandria Port. Tour duration is approximately 7–8 hours. The catacombs involve a spiral staircase descent of about 10 meters. If mobility is a concern, ask about the shorter 3-site version that skips the catacombs.

Why Book Your Alexandria City Tour with Elias Tours

Elias Tours Egypt specializes in private licensed-guide tours across Egypt. Unlike group coach tours, this alexandria city tour is entirely private — your guide, your vehicle, your pace. You will never be rushed through a site or combined with strangers from another ship.

Every tour includes a 90-minute buffer before your ship departs. If your vessel has a different schedule, your guide adjusts the itinerary accordingly. Pickups are coordinated directly with you before the ship docks.

For more information on Alexandria’s history and heritage, visit the Egyptian Tourism Authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sites does this Alexandria city tour cover?

Five: Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Roman Amphitheater (Kom El Dikka), Qaitbay Citadel, Bibliotheca Alexandrina (exterior), and Montaza Palace Gardens. It’s the most comprehensive Alexandria shore excursion we offer.

More Alexandria Tours

If the 5-site city tour doesn’t match your time or interests, explore our other Alexandria options:

• Greco-Roman Alexandria Tour — focuses on the ancient Greek and Roman heritage: Roman Amphitheater, Catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar, and Graeco-Roman Museum
• Full Day Alexandria Shore Excursion — a deep-dive 5-site private tour for cruise passengers with more time in port
• Alexandria Day Trip from Cairo — the same historic sites covered as a private day trip from Cairo by road

How long does the Alexandria city tour take?

Approximately 7–8 hours from pickup to return to port. We start early to maximize time at each site while making sure you’re back before sailing.

Is this tour suitable for older travelers or those with mobility concerns?

The Catacombs involve a spiral staircase descent. The other four sites are accessible with minimal walking. If mobility is a concern, ask about our shorter 3-site version that skips the catacombs.

Can I customize which sites we visit?

Yes — this is a private tour so the itinerary can be adjusted. If you’ve already visited some sites or want to add others, contact us before booking.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included but can be arranged. Alexandria has good seafood restaurants on the corniche. Ask when booking and we’ll suggest options based on your group size and time available.

What happens if I miss the ship?

We track sailing times and build a buffer into the schedule. We’ve run Alexandria shore excursions since the beginning of the company and haven’t had a group miss their ship. If there are unexpected delays, we contact the port directly and can arrange overland transport to the next port if necessary.