Overview

Alexandria Food Tour – Street Food, Seafood & Local Markets

An alexandria food tour gets you past the tourist traps quickly. Within minutes of leaving the port, you’re at the kind of places Alexandrians actually eat — koshari shops with ceiling-high pots, fish markets where the morning catch is still iced, and juice bars that have been running the same recipes since the 1950s. Your guide, a licensed Egyptologist who has lived in Alexandria his whole life, knows where to go and, just as importantly, where not to.

What the Alexandria food tour covers

The tour moves through three distinct food experiences, each in a different part of the city.

It starts at a local breakfast spot near the port area, where you try ful medames (slow-cooked fava beans with olive oil and lemon), ta’ameyya (Alexandria’s version of falafel, heavier on herbs than chickpea), and fresh-baked bread from the oven next door. The restaurant opens at 6am and the tables are full of dock workers and fishermen by 7. You’re eating their breakfast.

From there the tour heads to the old fish market near the Eastern Harbour. Alexandria’s fishing boats come in before dawn. By mid-morning the market is at its busiest — rows of fresh sea bass, red mullet, calamari, and shrimp, with vendors calling prices and buyers negotiating over ice. You can pick out fish here and have it cooked at one of the harbour-side restaurants while you walk the Corniche, or eat at a sit-down seafood place within 10 minutes’ walk.

The last stop is the spice market in the old Attarin quarter. The market sells cumin, coriander, dried hibiscus (karkade), and dukkah blends the way it has for generations. Your guide explains what each spice is used for, and you can buy small quantities to take home. The walk through Attarin also passes several Ottoman-era buildings and a 19th-century covered arcade.

Practical details for this Alexandria food tour

The tour runs for approximately 4 hours. All food tastings are included in the price — you will not need to pay extra at the table. The tour covers street food breakfast, a seafood lunch, and market tastings. Coffee, fresh juice, and sugar cane drinks at stops along the way are included.

Please note that our company does not have direct access inside the port. After disembarking, it takes approximately 15–20 minutes to walk to the port exit. Your guide will be waiting at the meeting point outside the terminal holding a sign with your booking name.

The tour involves a moderate amount of walking on uneven ground. The old quarter streets are narrow and sometimes cobbled. Comfortable closed-toe shoes are recommended.

Tour highlights

• Breakfast at a working neighbourhood restaurant: ful, ta’ameyya, fresh bread
• Eastern Harbour fish market — see the morning catch and learn how Alexandria buys its fish
• Fresh seafood lunch cooked to order, eaten near the Corniche
• Attarin spice market walk with guide explanations
• Fresh juice and coffee at a local café
• Spices and dried hibiscus available to purchase at the market

What is included

• Licensed private Egyptologist guide for the full 4 hours
• All food tastings and the seafood lunch
• Coffee, juice, and drinks at stops
• Air-conditioned private transport between stops
• All market and entrance fees

What is excluded

• Gratuities for guide and driver (paid voluntarily by clients at their discretion)
• Personal purchases at the spice market
• Alcoholic beverages

For cruise passengers

This alexandria food tour fits comfortably within a typical port call at 4 hours. If your all-aboard time is before 1pm, let us know when booking and we can adjust the pace or trim one stop. We work with Egyptian Tourism Authority-licensed guides who know Alexandria port schedules well.

If you want to combine food with sightseeing, have a look at our full-day Alexandria tour covering the Citadel of Qaitbay and Montaza Gardens, or the Bibliotheca Alexandrina tour for a more heritage-focused day. For everything available from the port, see our Egypt Activities page and Egypt Tour Packages.

If you have dietary restrictions — vegetarian, gluten-free, shellfish allergy — mention this at booking. The guide adjusts the stops accordingly. Alexandria has enough variety that this is rarely a problem.

Why book with Elias Tours

Our expert team at Elias Tours Egypt delivers exceptional private tours. The stops on this alexandria food tour are not on any tourist map — they’re places he eats himself. That is a different proposition from a group food tour where 15 people follow a flag through the same spots listed on TripAdvisor. Visit our Alexandria culture guide for background on the city. To book or ask questions, use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is this alexandria food tour suitable for children?

Yes. The food is mild and the pace is relaxed. Children tend to enjoy the fish market — it’s lively and visual. Mention ages when booking so the guide can set expectations.

How spicy is the food?

Alexandrian street food is not particularly spicy. Ful and ta’ameyya are seasoned but not hot. At the spice market you only taste what you choose to try.

What if I have a seafood allergy?

Mention it at booking. The guide will skip the fish market and substitute a visit to a traditional pastry shop or a sit-down lunch with grilled chicken and mezze. The tour works well without the seafood component.

Can I combine this with other sightseeing in Alexandria?

The tour is 4 hours, which leaves time to add Qaitbay or Montaza if your port call is 8 hours or longer. Ask at booking and we will suggest a combined itinerary. Food stops are not rushed to fit in more monuments.

Is private transport included between stops?

Yes. Air-conditioned private car between the port and each stop. The distances in Alexandria’s old quarter are short but the streets are not easy to navigate on your own.

Do I need to bring cash?

All food and drinks are covered by the tour price. If you want to buy spices at the market, bring a small amount of Egyptian pounds or US dollars — most stalls accept both.

What makes this different from other Alexandria tours?

This is a private tour: just your group and your guide. No other passengers, no fixed departure times, no minimum group size. The itinerary adjusts to what you want to eat. Most group food tours in Alexandria have 10–15 people and a scripted route. This one does not.