white and blue boats on sea near city buildings under blue sky during daytime

Alexandria

A Mediterranean port city where a modern library, a Mamluk citadel and Roman-era ruins sit on the coast.

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Alexandria is a major port on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, at the western edge of the Nile Delta, and the country's second-largest city after Cairo. Alexander the Great founded it in 331 BC on the site of an Egyptian fishing village, and under the Ptolemies it became the capital of Egypt. In antiquity it was a major hub for science and trade. Visitors come for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which opened in 2002 near the site of the ancient Library, the Qaitbay Citadel on the tip of Pharos Island, and Roman-era sites such as Kom El Deka and Pompey's Pillar.

Alexandria suits visitors who want museums, Greek and Roman history and sea air. The Corniche, a seafront road of about 17 km, runs from Bahary in the west to Mandara in the east. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with daytime highs usually not above 22 °C. Winters are mild, rainy and sometimes stormy. The Graeco-Roman Museum reopened in October 2023, and the Cavafy Museum is dedicated to the poet C. P. Cavafy, who was born and lived in the city.

Alexandria in five

Read the UK advice before you plan the tripThe UK advice lists attacks in Alexandria among recent examples and says extra security measures are in place at tourist sites. Stay aware of your surroundings and read the full advice before you book.UK travel advice
Plan the library visit around its weekday hoursThe Bibliotheca Alexandrina publishes its visit hours on its own site: Sunday to Thursday and a short Saturday, closed Friday. Check the site on the day, because it posts holiday changes.Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Pair Kom el-Dikka with the Graeco-Roman MuseumThe ministry calls Kom el-Dikka's Roman theater the only one of its kind in Egypt, and the Graeco-Roman Museum the only museum devoted to Egypt under Greek and Roman rule. Both fit one half day.Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Go to Qaitbay Citadel for the sea and the Lighthouse storyThe ministry says Sultan Qaitbay built the fort between 1477 and 1479 over the ruins of Alexandria's Lighthouse. Go for the harbor setting and the walls, and keep it for a clear day.Qaitbay Fort
Decide between a day trip and a night from CairoCairo is a few hours away by train, so a day trip is possible. A night gives time for the library, the Corniche and a seafood dinner without a late train back.Cairo travel guide

Things to do in Alexandria

See all attractions in Alexandria

Historic site · AlexandriaBibliotheca AlexandrinaBuy tickets in advance, as the library recommends.

Ruins · AlexandriaKom el Dikka

Beach · AlexandriaMamoura Beach

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to AlexandriaPut the places you like in Alexandria on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Borg El Arab (HBE) or Cairo (CAI) then train or road
Getting there: Train or road from Cairo, a few hours; check current timetables
Getting around: Taxis and ride-hailing; the Corniche is long, so ride between sights
Best base: Along the Corniche, near the sights you care about most
Time needed: 1 long day or 2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Cool, rain
FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Cool, rain
MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Mild, showers
AprilClear2 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Mild, clear
MayClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low19°Warm, clear
JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Warm, humid
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, humid, busy
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, humid, busy
SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Warm, sea swims
OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm, calmer
NovemberClear4 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Mild, showers
DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Cool, rain

Average daily high and low in Alexandria, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Alexandria

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 23°
Humidity: 71%
Wind: 14 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Alexandria

10:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today28°18°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue26°20°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 3%.
Wed27°18°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu24°19°4%Thursday: Rain. High 24°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 4%.
Fri23°20°18%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 23°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 18%.
Sat22°20°5%Saturday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 5%.
Sun22°20°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 5%.

Updated 08:26 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 55.96 EGP

Amount

Converted to

EGP · Egyptian Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

El Alameina half-day trip by roadThe war cemeteries and museum on the coast west of Alexandria.
Rosetta (Rashid)a half-day trip by roadAn old Nile delta port town of Ottoman houses east of Alexandria.
Cairoa few hours by trainPyramids and museums; better with a night in Cairo than a rushed return.Read the guide

Before you go to Alexandria

Alexandria sights with a guideLibrary, citadel and Roman sitesCompare day trips

Corniche and downtown hotelsSea view or sights on footCheck availability

eSIM for AlexandriaMaps and ride-hailing on arrivalRead the guide

Insurance for a city and coast tripTheft, delay and medical coverRead the guide

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Rules for Alexandria, checked

Bibliotheca Alexandrina visits, museums and Planetarium Science Center: Sunday to Thursday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, closed Friday.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
Arrivals at Cairo airport need a visa, either an e-visa or a visa on arrival; the Egypt page has the fee and validity.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
It is illegal to photograph military property, and photos of embassies, government buildings and religious buildings can be sensitive.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source

Plan around Alexandria

Cairo travel guide

Pyramids and museums, a few hours by train

Read the guide Siwa Oasis travel guide

A desert oasis reached by the road west along the coast

Read the guide Egypt visa and entry

Which visa for a Cairo or Alexandria arrival

Read the guide Best time to visit Egypt

Months, heat and seasons across the country

Read the guide Trains and transfers

How to plan rail and road links before you go

Read the guide Travel insurance

Theft, delay and medical cover for a city stay

Read the guide All of Egypt

Cairo, the Nile and the Red Sea in one plan

Read the guide

Alexandria FAQ

Is Alexandria worth visiting?

Yes if you want a Mediterranean city with museums, a modern library and Roman and Mamluk sites, in a calmer pace than Cairo. It is less suited to travelers who expect a well-preserved ancient city, since much of the ancient city lies under the harbor or modern streets.

Can you visit Alexandria as a day trip from Cairo?

Yes: it is a few hours each way by train or road. A day covers the library and Qaitbay Citadel but little else, so a night is better if you also want Kom el-Dikka, a museum and an evening on the Corniche.

What are the Bibliotheca Alexandrina's opening hours?

For visits, museums and the Planetarium Science Center, the library lists Sunday to Thursday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, closed Friday. Check its site on the day, because it posts holiday changes.

What is left of ancient Alexandria?

Kom el-Dikka's Roman theater, the Graeco-Roman Museum and Qaitbay Citadel on the Lighthouse site. The ministry also lists sunken monuments in the Eastern Harbour, and the Alexandria National Museum shows antiquities from Abu Qir Bay.

Is Alexandria safe for tourists?

The UK advice says extra security measures are in place at tourist sites, lists attacks in Alexandria among recent examples, and asks you to stay aware of your surroundings. Read the current advice before booking.