A Day Tour of Alexandria from Cairo

“Alexandria is the hymn of age and the beloved of history. I don’t know if I’m the one living in it or if it’s living deep inside my soul.”

Alexander the Great

A Day Tour of Alexandria from Cairo

A former capital of Egypt, many favour Alexandria as the melting pot of culture. While Cairo is a strategic choice for the capital city, Alexandria offers the relaxed vibe of a coastal city. With the Mediterranean as its backdrop, this city founded by Alexander the great carries the European wind in the Arab world.

As a city inhabited since 300 BC, it is natural to find historical places that belong to different periods and religions. Islamic, Roman and Greek heritage lay scattered around the city that makes a day tour of Alexandria from Cairo almost unmissable. Located 218 km from Cairo, it is an ideal weekend getaway, offering the choicest of food, culture and history.

Itinerary for a one-day trip

A car drive from Cairo to Alexandria takes around two and a half to three hours. If one leaves by 7 am Cairo time, it’s perfect to reach Qaitbay Citadel just after it opens for tourists. As all attractions close by 5 or 5.30 pm local time, one can cover quite some places in a day. Of course, one day isn’t enough to do justice to Alexandria, one can maximise the visit using this itinerary.

Qa’itbay Citadel

Located close to the Corniche, it is the best place to start your day. The Qa’itbay Citadel rose from the ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Qa’itbay made use of the surviving platform of the lighthouse and the stones to build the fort in 1477 AD. You can read more on the citadel in my earlier post.

Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas Mosque

Close to the citadel is the Mosque square established around 1943. The square has five other mosques apart from Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas Mosque, which is the largest in all of Alexandria. Built in 1775 AD as a mausoleum mosque for the famed 13th century Spanish Sufi scholar Al Mursi Abu Al Abbas, it has undergone many renovations. The Arabesque modification is from 1943, with most parts from the 18th century still intact.

Ancient Roman Amphitheatre

The theatre of Kom-el-Dikka is one of a kind in Egypt, taking our memories back to the Roman occupation of Alexandria from 30 BC to 641 AD. This theatre is from the 4th century and is small compared to an amphitheatre. Historians have interpreted it to be a lecture hall of sorts attached to an academic institution associated with the Great Library of Alexandria. This ancient Roman complex ruins include original marble seating around the theatre, courtyard mosaics, and remains of a bath complex and other living quarters.

Although the itinerary is only for a day, giving you a glimpse of it is definitely not. For the rest of the itinerary, don’t forget to check out my next post. 

In the meantime, planning a trip to Alexandria should be on the cards!

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