Private Alexandria City Tour from Hotel or Port

You are already in Alexandria, so there is no long drive, just a full morning and afternoon walking the highlights of Egypt's Mediterranean city with a local guide. You descend into the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, a Roman tomb cut three levels into the rock nearly 2,000 years ago, stand beneath Pompey's Pillar at the old temple of Serapis, and look out from Qaitbay Citadel, built where the Lighthouse of Pharos once stood. You also visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the striking modern library that revived the name of the ancient one. Pickup is from your hotel or the cruise port. It is an easy, walkable day at a relaxed pace, whether you are staying in the city or in port for the day. Ideal for travelers who want Alexandria's Greco-Roman story without a long commute.

1. 1

   Catacombs Of Kom El Shoqafa

   2 hours

   You spiral down into the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, a Roman burial complex cut three levels deep into the bedrock around the 2nd century AD. The carvings are a fascinating mash-up of two worlds: Egyptian gods like Anubis shown in Roman armor, where the cultures blended underground. Lost for centuries until it was uncovered in 1900, it is the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt and the coolest, quietest stop of the day. Your guide reads the strange hybrid imagery for you.

2. 2

   Pompey's Pillar

   30 min

   Above ground, you stand beneath Pompey's Pillar, a single shaft of red Aswan granite nearly 27 meters tall, raised around 298 AD for the emperor Diocletian, not Pompey at all. It marks the site of the Serapeum, the great temple of Serapis that once held a branch of Alexandria's famous library. Two granite sphinxes keep it company on the low hill. Your guide sketches the Roman city that spread out from here.

3. 3

   Alexandria Library

   1 hour

   You visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the bold modern library opened in 2002 to honor the ancient one that made the city the knowledge capital of its age. Its tilted glass roof faces the sea, and the vast reading room steps down across eleven terraces under the light. Your guide ties it back to the lost library of antiquity, gone for two millennia. It is a hopeful, very photogenic stop.

4. 4

   Citadel of Qaitbay

   1 hour

   You finish on the harbor at Qaitbay Citadel, a 15th-century fort standing on the exact spot where the Lighthouse of Pharos, one of the Seven Wonders, rose for over 1,500 years before earthquakes toppled it. Some of the lighthouse's own stone is built into the walls. The Mediterranean crashes against the rocks below, and the sea breeze is welcome after the catacombs. The views back over the harbor are the best in Alexandria.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.