How many days in Alexandria?
Plan 2-4 days for Alexandria. 2 days hits the must-sees; 4 lets you eat well, walk neighbourhoods you've never heard of, and take one day trip.
The minimum
2 days
2 days fits the top sights, one good food walk, and one neighbourhood deep-dive — no day trips.
The sweet spot
4 days
4 days adds one day trip, two more neighbourhoods, and three more sit-down meals you'll actually remember.
Slow travel
6 days
6 days is when you leave the to-do list at home and actually live in the city for a week.
The headline things to do in Alexandria
From the Alexandria guide — these are the items that anchor a 2-day visit. For the full breakdown, read the Alexandria travel guide.
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina — Shatby (Eastern Harbour)
The modernist reincarnation of the ancient Library, opened in 2002. The 11-storey slanted granite disc holds 8 million books, a planetarium, and four small museums (antiquities, manuscripts, the Sadat museum, and Impressions of Alexandria). Even non-readers go for the architecture; entry is around EGP 200 and you can spend half a day. Closed Fridays.
- Qaitbay Citadel — Eastern Harbour breakwater
A 15th-century Mamluk fortress built directly on the stone foundations of the Pharos lighthouse. The walls reuse blocks salvaged from the lighthouse ruins after the 14th-century earthquakes destroyed it. Spectacular harbour views, a small naval museum inside, and the iconic Alexandria photo from the breakwater. Entry around EGP 100.
- Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa — Karmouz
The largest Roman-era burial complex in Egypt — three subterranean levels carved into bedrock around 2nd century AD, with a spiral staircase, banquet hall for funerary feasts, and a unique fusion of Egyptian, Greek and Roman funerary iconography. Discovered by accident in 1900. Entry around EGP 160; allow 90 minutes.
- Pompey's Pillar & Serapeum — Karmouz
A 27-metre red Aswan granite column (the largest single-piece column ever raised) erected in 297 AD to honour Diocletian — not Pompey, despite the medieval misnomer. It stands on the ruined site of the Serapeum, one of the satellite libraries of the great Library. Entry around EGP 100.
- Greco-Roman Museum — El Mosheer Ahmed Ismail Street (downtown)
Founded in 1892 and reopened in 2023 after a major decade-long restoration, the Greco-Roman Museum holds Egypt's best collection of Hellenistic and Roman period artefacts, including statues, mosaics, coins, and a serene Roman-era marble Apis bull. Around EGP 200.
- Roman Amphitheatre & Kom el Dikka — Kom el Dikka (downtown)
A 2nd-century AD Roman theatre — the only one ever found in Egypt — with marble terraced seating, plus an adjoining excavated quarter of Roman houses, baths and a lecture hall complex. Continuing excavations have revealed mosaics, Roman streets, and a small museum. Around EGP 100.
- Corniche Promenade & Stanley Bridge — Corniche (whole city length)
The 32-km waterfront Corniche is Alexandria's spine — a curving sea-front road and walkway with the early-20th-century Cecil Hotel (Lawrence Durrell's hotel from the Alexandria Quartet), the Stanley Bridge, and the city's evening promenade culture in full force after sunset.
- Montaza Palace Gardens — Montaza (eastern end)
The former summer palace of King Farouk, set in 350 acres of landscaped gardens at the eastern end of the city. The Salamlek Palace is now a hotel; the gardens, beach and small bridges remain a popular weekend escape for Alexandrians. Entry to the gardens around EGP 25.
Frequently asked
Is 2 days enough in Alexandria?
2 days is the minimum for a satisfying visit — you'll see the headline sights but won't have flex time. If you can stretch to 4, you unlock a day trip and the food walks that make the trip memorable.
Is 6 days too long in Alexandria?
6 days is for travellers who want to slow down — eat at neighbourhood spots tourists don't reach, take repeat day trips, and live in the city. If you're a tick-the-list traveller, 4 is enough.
What's the ideal trip length for first-time visitors to Alexandria?
4 days is the sweet spot for a first visit — long enough to cover the must-sees, eat at three good spots, take one day trip, and not feel like you're racing a checklist. Less than 2 usually feels rushed; more than 6 is into slow-travel territory.
Should I add Alexandria to a longer regional trip?
Yes — Alexandria works well as a 2-4-day stop on a longer regional itinerary. Pair it with a nearby destination via the trip planner so the transit days don't compress your time on the ground.