What to see in Alexandria

Alexandria highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

1. Bibliotheca Alexandrina

   The modern library that pays tribute to the ancient one, with its great disc tilted towards the sea.

2. Citadel of Qaitbay

   A 15th-century fortress built where the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders, once stood.

3. Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

   An underground necropolis that blends Egyptian, Greek and Roman art.

4. Pompey’s Pillar

   A Roman column of red granite beside the ruins of the Serapeum.

5. Kom el-Dikka Amphitheatre

   A Roman theatre with marble seating right in the centre.

6. The Corniche

   The seafront promenade around the bay, with old-school cafés.

Day trips from Alexandria

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

• Alexandria from Cairo ★ 4.6 (560 reviews)
• Guided tour of Alexandria ★ 4.9 (83 reviews)

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Typical food of Alexandria

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Alexandria from your kitchen).

Sayadeya

Alexandria’s fisherman’s rice: white fish on dark, spiced rice cooked in stock with caramelised onion. It’s served with toasted pine nuts.

• Serves 4
• 1 h

Ingredients

• 4 white fish fillets or steaks (grouper, sea bass)
• 300 g basmati rice
• 3 onions
• 1 teaspoon each of cumin and turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon and allspice
• 1 l fish stock
• Flour, oil and salt
• Toasted pine nuts or almonds

How to make it at home

1. Fry the thinly sliced onion until very dark (without burning). Blend half of it with a little stock.
2. Season the fish with cumin and salt, dust it with flour and fry it. Set aside.
3. In the same pan, fry the rice with the spices, add the blended onion and the stock, and cook covered for 15 minutes.
4. Lay the fish on top and leave to rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
5. Serve with the rest of the fried onion and toasted pine nuts.

The trick: The dark colour of the rice comes from the well-caramelised onion.

Frequently asked questions about Alexandria