Day Trip to Alexandria from Giza & Cairo by Pharaohs Tours

One day, two ancient worlds collide. You’ll ride from Cairo to Alexandria in a private car, then hop between Roman burial sites, theater remains, early Christianity, and major waterfront history. It’s a lot for a single day, but the mix is what makes it fun.

I especially like the way the Catacombs of Kom el Shuqaffa give you real visuals fast, starting with that spiral staircase down into a multi-level burial complex. I also like the stop at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern library built right on the ancient harbor ground where Alexandria’s learning empire was once tied to the sea.

The main drawback is simple: 10 to 11 hours on the move. If traffic is heavy, the day can feel long, and lunch is optional (not baked into the price), so you’ll want to plan ahead.

Key points worth knowing before you go

• Private hotel pickup and drop-off from Giza or Cairo, with your own Egyptologist guide and driver
• Kom el Shuqaffa Catacombs: Greek, Roman, and Egyptian iconography, plus a famous spiral staircase down levels
• Bibliotheca Alexandrina: 11 stories, designed for up to 4 million volumes, set by the ancient harbor
• Roman Amphitheater: discovered by coincidence in 1960, and tied to use across Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras
• Fort Qaitbay: a defensive stronghold on the site of the former Lighthouse of Alexandria
• Photo stops like Pompey’s Pillar with no need to enter anything

Private pickup from Giza and Cairo, then a long coast drive

This is the kind of day trip that works best when you start organized. You’ll be picked up from your hotel by your guide and driver in a private car, then head west to Alexandria for a full slate of sights. The total time is listed as about 10 to 11 hours, which means you’re trading sleep and laziness for a serious chunk of history in one shot.

What I like here is the private format. You’re not waiting around for strangers, and the driver and guide can usually shape the day to where you’re most interested, within the time window. Plus, the tour is run as one group only, so you can ask questions without repeating yourself like a broken tour microphone.

The one thing to keep in mind is pacing. Alexandria is spread out, and the drive from Cairo is long enough that you’ll feel it. There was also one sour moment in the feedback about a slow driver who spent time on phone calls during the drive. The company apologized and said it took action. Still, the practical takeaway is: if your day feels like it’s creeping, politely bring it up early. Your schedule depends on the road time you lose.

If you want a smoother day, wear comfortable shoes and keep water on you. Drinks aren’t listed as included, and lunch is optional, so build a small plan instead of hoping hunger hits at a perfect time.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina: modern library on ancient harbor ground

The first stop is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, with about 2 hours on the clock and a ticket included as part of the stop. This is a modern building, but it’s designed to connect you to the city’s ancient learning legacy, the kind Alexandria was famous for long before smartphones and selfie sticks.

The library sits along the waterfront at the historic center near Alexandria’s ancient harbor. That setting matters. You’re not just walking through an impressive structure, you’re standing where the idea of scholarship was once tied to the sea routes and the global movement of ideas.

One detail I’d pay attention to is the scale: it’s described as an 11-story library that can hold up to 4 million volumes. Even if you’re not there to read, it gives you the right mood. This is a place built for knowledge at an almost dramatic level, and it pairs well with the rest of your day, which leans Roman, Greek, and early Christian.

Practical note: you’ll want to move at a steady pace. Two hours sounds generous until you factor in photo stops and walking time. If your group likes to pause often, make sure your guide knows that early so the day doesn’t get rushed at the end.

Roman Amphitheater: a 1960 discovery with long use

Next comes the Roman Amphitheater, with about 1 hour and a ticket included as part of the stop. Here’s what makes this site especially interesting: it was found by coincidence in 1960, when workers prepping an area at Kom El Dekka uncovered solid columns under sand and dust. Excavation followed, and the find became a major 20th-century archaeological moment.

What you learn there helps you see the site with more respect. The theater is dated to the 4th century AD and is described as being used across big historical transitions. It reportedly served through Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras, which is a great reminder that Alexandria kept changing hands while still using older structures and spaces.

Even if you’re not a theater-history nerd, amphitheaters are made for atmosphere. The seating shapes, the scale, and the way light falls in open stone spaces help you picture performances and crowds.

Drawback to consider: amphitheaters can feel less satisfying if you arrive hungry or tired, because there’s less to linger on than at a museum. If you still have energy, it’s worth leaning in during the explanation and looking around for the best view angles for photos.

Kom el Shuqaffa Catacombs: spiral staircase burial art

This is one of the most memorable stops: the Catacombs of Kom el Shuqaffa, again about 1 hour with a ticket included as part of the stop. This complex is described as one of the largest-known Roman burial sites in Egypt, and it’s easy to understand why once you see how the layout works.

The story starts around the 2nd century AD, initially tied to a wealthy Roman family. Over time, the complex grew and was used through the 4th century AD. It’s organized around a central spiral staircase leading down through multiple levels. The lower levels are flooded, but the accessible areas are described as heavily decorated.

What I like most is the style mix. The iconography is said to show an unusual fusion of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian elements. That matters because it turns the site from a generic tomb into a snapshot of Alexandria itself, where cultures overlapped instead of staying in separate boxes.

There’s also a darker note in the history: a mass grave of animal and human remains, attributed to a mass execution carried out in Alexandria by Roman Emperor Caracalla in 215 AD. It’s not a stop that feels cheerful, but it’s a real link to what power and punishment looked like in the Roman world.

One practical tip from experience-with-this-tour type feedback: catacombs entry may involve online payment with a QR code at the ticket counter. So if you can, be ready with an internet-capable way to handle it, or ask your guide what the current process is for your day.

St Mark Cathedral: Coptic roots tied to AD 60

Then the tour adds a surprise stop: Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. It’s scheduled for about 1 hour and includes a ticket based on the stop details. If you like early Christianity stories, this is a fascinating contrast to the Roman sites you saw earlier.

You’re visiting the historical seat of the Pope of Alexandria and a site tied directly to St. Mark the Evangelist. The tour materials describe the church as founded around AD 60, with St. Mark connected to Alexandria in the earliest Christian tradition. The tradition says Mark arrived around AD 60, stayed about seven years, converted many people, and performed miracles.

Then comes the dramatic chapter: St. Mark is described as arrested during a festival of Serapis in AD 68, and later remembered as the founder of the church in Alexandria and the first Bishop of Alexandria.

What I find valuable about including a Coptic stop in a Roman-heavy day is perspective. It shows how Alexandria kept reinventing itself spiritually as well as politically. The cathedral isn’t there just to fill time. It gives the day a human timeline, from tombs and theater spaces to faith communities.

Practical consideration: cathedrals can have dress expectations, and you’ll usually feel more comfortable if you dress modestly. If your guide doesn’t mention it, it’s still smart to bring a light layer that covers your shoulders and keeps things respectful.

Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque: craftsmanship-focused stop

Another surprise stop on the plan is the Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi, also described as about 1 hour with admission included for the scheduled stop. This one includes a shopping or craftsmanship angle, with a specific reference to El Mursi Abu Elabas and Arabian artisanship.

So what should you expect? A shift from the Roman and church framing into something more about tradition in daily life. Even if you’re not buying anything, it can be a good cultural pause where you see how people present historic styles through craft and design.

Potential drawback: if you’re the type who only wants archaeological or monument time, this stop might feel more commercial than you expect. The good side is that it can be a relaxing change of pace after catacombs and theaters, as long as you go in knowing the focus.

Pompey’s Pillar and Fort Qaitbay: big monuments, short stops

By now, you’ll likely be noticing how Alexandria packs major names into tight spaces, and the tour follows that pattern with two high-impact stops.

First is Pompey’s Pillar Alexandria. You pass by for photos from outside only, with no entry. This is the kind of place where the numbers make your eyes widen. It’s described as the only known free-standing column in Roman Egypt that is not made of stacked drums. The shaft is listed at 20.46 m tall with 2.71 m diameter at the base, and the red Aswan granite is estimated around 285 tons.

Even if you just take a few photos and keep moving, it’s worth slowing for 60 seconds. That’s a monolith that someone decided to move and raise with serious ancient engineering muscle.

Next comes Fort Qaitbay, scheduled for about 1 hour with admission included for the stop. This is one of the key defensive strongholds along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. It’s described as a 15th-century (AC) fort, built at the entrance of the eastern harbor on the eastern point of Pharos Island, and placed on the exact site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria.

The lighthouse part is where your imagination has something to chew on. The Lighthouse of Alexandria is described as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the tour explains it continued functioning until the Arab conquest. Disasters altered its shape, but it still functioned, and restoration efforts are described in the period of Ahmed Ibn Tulun in 880 H.

Fort Qaitbay is a good wrap for the day because it links architecture to defense and links both to the sea. You’re finishing in a place tied to navigation and power, not just tombs and worship. If you take photos, try to capture the sea-facing angles where the fort’s location becomes obvious.

Between these stops, you’ll also pass by or near landmarks like Stanely Bridge (listed as such) and the ancient-harbor zone where you get a feel for the city’s layout.

How to get the most from a 10 to 11 hour day

A day trip like this lives or dies by energy management. With 10 to 11 hours on the schedule, you’ll want to think like a marathoner, not a museum hopper.

Here’s what helps most:

• Start with comfortable shoes for catacombs and stone steps.
• Plan to drink water during the drive, since drinks aren’t listed as included.
• Bring something to snack if you know you get hungry between stops, because lunch is optional.

Also, keep expectations grounded about timing. Alexandria’s sites are spread out, and the drive back to Cairo is part of the experience. It’s not a quick half-day. It’s a full one, and you’ll feel it in your legs.

One reason this tour gets strong ratings is that the guide role matters a lot on a long day. Past guests named guides including Wessam, Nevine, Medhat, Dina, and drivers including Mohammed and Esam. The positive pattern is clear: guides with local Alexandria context help the sites connect, and a focused driver makes the ride feel calmer. If you want that smooth experience, tell your guide right away what you care about most, Roman Alexandria, early Christianity, or photo-heavy monument time.

If you need a lunch solution, look for something that gives you a sea view, since lunch is described as optional in a restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Even if you skip lunch, having a plan reduces the end-of-day stress.

Price and value: what $75 really buys you

The price is listed at $75 per person for the day trip, booked on average about 29 days in advance. That early-booking pattern usually means availability can get tighter closer to travel dates, so if you’re set on it, locking it in earlier is smart.

So is it good value? For the money, you’re getting:

• Private hotel pickup and drop-off
• Private vehicle transportation
• An Egyptologist guide
• Multiple major stops, many with admission described as included in the stop details

Where value can change for you is in the small print around tickets and optional costs. Entry fees are described as optional in the included list, even though admission ticket included appears for several stops. The practical advice is to confirm with your guide on the morning of the trip what is fully covered for your exact route and what might require payment on-site.

Extra costs can also apply:

• Airport or airport-hotel pickup adds $10 per person
• If you request a French, Spanish, or German guide, there’s an additional $10 per person
• Lunch is not included

There’s also the human factor. The company responds to problems and has said it took action after one reported issue with driving speed and phone calls. That’s not a promise for every day, but it does suggest they treat service problems seriously.

If plans change, free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. That makes it easier to book while you’re still finalizing your Cairo schedule.

Should you book this Alexandria day trip with Pharaohs Tours?

Yes, I think you should book it if you want a fast but meaningful slice of Alexandria without doing logistics yourself. It’s a strong match for people who like variety: Roman tombs, Roman theater discovery history, an important modern library on ancient harbor ground, and early Christian sites like Saint Mark Cathedral, plus a sea-linked ending at Fort Qaitbay.

I’d also lean toward booking if you’re traveling with someone who wants a private day. The private car and Egyptologist guide help make a long day feel guided rather than just driven.

Skip it or choose another option if you hate long travel days or prefer to stay focused on one theme. This day is packed, and it is better for flexible travelers than for people who want slow pacing and lots of free time.

If you do book, set yourself up for success: wear good walking shoes, plan for the catacombs payment method your guide advises (including possible QR code online payment), and tell your guide which stops you care about most so you get the best version of the day.

FAQ

How long is the Alexandria day trip?

The trip is listed as approximately 10 to 11 hours.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your hotel is included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It’s described as a private tour, with only your group participating.

Are admission tickets included for the stops?

The stop details state admission tickets are included for several listed sites, but the overall included section also notes entry fees are optional. For your specific day, confirm with your guide what is covered.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included. Lunch is listed as optional, and it can be in a restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Are there extra fees for guides in other languages or for airport pickup?

Yes. Airport or airport-hotel pickup adds $10 per person, and French/Spanish/German guide requests add $10 per person.