Alexandria Egypt Attractions: An Alexandria Egypt guide

Highlights

• Qaitbay Citadel and the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria

• Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

• Pompey’s Pillar and the Serapeum area

• Kom El-Dikka archaeological site

• Bibliotheca Alexandrina

• Royal Jewelry Museum

• Alexandria’s Mediterranean waterfront and Eastern Harbour

Standing at the eastern end of the Pharos Peninsula, Qaitbay Citadel is one of Alexandria’s most important surviving landmarks. Sultan al-Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Qaitbay built the fortress between 1477 and 1479 on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, using the location as part of the city’s coastal defenses.
The citadel is built from limestone and includes an outer defensive wall, towers, an inner wall, a courtyard, and the main fortified tower. Its position on the Mediterranean makes it an important stop for travelers exploring Alexandria’s historic waterfront.
Travelers planning a wider Egyptian itinerary can also explore Volkena’s Egypt Travel Packages for ways to combine Alexandria with other destinations.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are among the most significant surviving remains of ancient Alexandria. This Roman-era necropolis contains underground burial chambers, a chapel, and a banqueting area associated with funerary practices. Its decoration brings together Egyptian and Greek artistic traditions with the architecture of the Roman period. For visitors interested in Alexandria’s ancient history, the site provides a closer look at how different cultural traditions came together in the city.

One of the city's most recognizable archaeological landmarks is the massive column commonly called Pompey’s Pillar. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities identifies it as Diocletian’s Column, dating to the late 290s AD, and notes that the column stands beside the remains of the Serapeum, once the principal temple of Serapis. The site is particularly useful for understanding Alexandria during the Roman period and its connection to the wider ancient Mediterranean world.

Kom El-Dikka is an archaeological site in central Alexandria that preserves remains from the Roman and Byzantine periods. Its most prominent feature is a well-preserved Roman theater, alongside Roman baths, lecture halls, mosaics, and other remains of the ancient urban quarter.
The site adds another layer to the city's history, showing that ancient Alexandria was not only a political center but also a place of residential, cultural, and intellectual activity.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina is closely connected to Alexandria’s long association with scholarship and learning. Today, visitors can join guided tours inside the library and learn about the history of the ancient Library of Alexandria, the development of the modern institution, and its collections, museums, and exhibitions. Its museums and permanent exhibitions make it a useful cultural stop alongside Alexandria’s archaeological sites.

Royal Jewelry Museum

The Royal Jewelry Museum offers a different perspective on Egyptian history. Located in the Zizinya district, the museum occupies a palace built in 1919 and displays collections belonging to Egypt’s royal family, including jewelry and other possessions from the Muhammad Ali dynasty.
The palace itself forms part of the visit, with European and Islamic architectural influences, decorated rooms, gilded ceilings, and mosaics
For broader planning, Volkena’s Egypt Travel Guide can help with practical information for a trip across Egypt.

Beyond the main archaeological sites, Alexandria’s Mediterranean setting is part of what defines the city. The Eastern Harbour was the ancient royal port of Alexandria, while the wider coastal area has also revealed evidence of the city’s submerged archaeological heritage.
Visitors interested in Egypt’s wider destinations can also compare Alexandria with Cairo Attractions and Aswan Attractions  when planning a multi-city itinerary.
If your trip includes time on the Nile, Volkena also offers Egypt Nile Cruises as another way to connect Alexandria with a broader Egypt itinerary.

1- What are the main Alexandria Egypt attractions?

The main attractions include Qaitbay Citadel, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, Kom El-Dikka, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the Royal Jewelry Museum. Together, they cover major periods of Alexandria’s ancient and modern history                                           

2-Is Alexandria worth visiting for history?

Yes. Alexandria has archaeological remains from the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods, as well as later monuments such as Qaitbay Citadel and museums connected to Egypt’s royal history.

3- What should I include in an Alexandria Egypt travel guide?

A useful guide should cover the city’s main archaeological sites, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, museums, the Mediterranean waterfront, and practical information for planning visits between attractions.

4- What is Alexandria best known for?

Alexandria is known for its connection to Alexander the Great, the ancient Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria, its Ptolemaic and Roman history, and its location on the Mediterranean coast. Many of the ancient city’s monuments have disappeared, but archaeological remains and underwater discoveries continue to reveal its past. 

5-Is Alexandria suitable for a day trip?

Yes. Alexandria can be visited as a day trip, especially for travelers who want to focus on its main archaeological and cultural attractions. A well-planned visit can combine sites such as Qaitbay Citadel, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.