5 compelling reasons to visit the ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandria may be Egypt's second city, but it's often overlooked on tours of this phenomenal country. Yet, for a deep dive into Egyptian history and culture beyond the time of the pharaohs, there's really nowhere better.
Founded by none other than Alexander the Great, Alexandria has an impressive, diverse array of sights, stretching from its Greco-Roman origins through almost two and a half thousand years to the modern day.
With an influence that spread across the known world and an exquisite Mediterranean* location with beaches just a short distance away, Alexandria has been astonishing visitors for centuries. And now it's your turn.
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Unmissable attractions
Although significant portions of ancient Alexandria have been lost over its 23 centuries of development, look among its modern apartment blocks and you'll find plenty that harks back to more grandiose times.
The most substantial survivor of Alexandria's heyday has to be the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbey, which now doubles as a maritime museum. Built as a defensive fortress at the mouth of the city's Eastern Harbour, it sits on the site of the Pharos of Alexandria, a lavish lighthouse and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Just south of the city's downtown area, a small, ancient Roman theatre was rediscovered in the middle of the 20th century. The Villa of the Birds at the same site is even more impressive, thanks to its perfectly-executed Roman-era mosaics.
Hidden histories
The Serapeum of Alexandria, better known simply as Pompey's Pillar, stands 27 metres high. Carved from a single piece of granite thought to weigh 400 tons, it marks an area of the city riddled with half-forgotten tunnels linked to the worship of the god Serapis, used to unite Egyptians and Greeks on the city's foundation.
The nearby Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa consist of a series of impressively carved underground chambers on multiple levels. Back on the surface, consider side trips to the British-era Stanley Bridge and the harbourside Naval Unknown Soldier Memorial, both of which hint at the city's international importance in more recent centuries.
The Alexandria National Museum, which focuses on the city's history, can fill in any gaps with its displays, including objects brought up from the seabed of the city's two main harbours after earthquakes.
Modern wonders of the world
The Pharos lighthouse may be no more, but the Alexandrian authorities have sought to recreate another ancient treasure with the building of the Biblioteca Alexandrina.
It was designed with the grand ambition of containing a copy of every book ever published regardless of language, in honour of the ancient library of Alexandria, which rumour has it was accidentally destroyed by Julius Caesar.
The Biblioteca's sweeping façade is an impressive addition to the city skyline, and beyond the rows upon rows of books, several exhibitions examine antiquities and manuscripts.
For a city founded by a living god, it's perhaps no surprise that Alexandria is home to a good number of palaces. The Antoniades Palace wasn't built for royalty but for a private Greek Alexandrian later knighted by Queen Victoria.
Sir John Antoniadis then donated his villa, modelled on the Palace of Versailles, to the city. It still welcomes visitors to its shady gardens.
Looking like a building transplanted lock, stock and barrel from Tuscany, the Montaza Palace was built in 1932 as the summer residence of Faud I, Egypt's then king. Though the building itself is off-limits and heavily guarded, visitors are welcome to explore the 150 acres of parkland, or head to any of the small beaches, which sit around the horseshoe-shaped bay.
The best of Mediterranean cuisine
Spend time at either the Eastern or Western harbours and the importance of the fishing industry to Alexandria will soon make itself apparent. No surprise, then, that the city has the best seafood in Egypt*, shaped by influences from across the Mediterranean, from Greece and Italy to France and Turkey.
While strolling along the corniche, keep an eye out for the family-owned restaurants displaying the day's catch on ice, of which the best known is probably marble-clad Farag.
Before sitting down at an upstairs table, choose between the freshly-caught fish, crabs, prawns or octopus, then explain whether you'd like it fried, grilled, or roasted. Then it's just a matter of tucking in, alongside minted tabouleh salad, flatbreads, and hummus.
Beyond the sea, Alexandria is also known within Egypt for its lamb's liver, or kebda. Chopped into small pieces and fried with onions, red pepper and a little chilli, kebda is served with a locally baked approximation of a French baguette, and makes for a great lunch.
Alternatively, take advantage of the city's Mediterranean influences and enjoy some of Egypt's best baked goods, with high-end cafés in and around the corniche, such as Delices, serving up cakes and other treats a French Riviera patisserie would be proud of.
Family-friendly beaches
Alexandria may not be the first place you think of when considering a beach getaway in Egypt, given the competition from the Red Sea Riviera. However, stretching roughly 25 miles along Egypt's Mediterranean coast, the city certainly isn't short on spots to slip off your shoes, grab a beach towel, and enjoy the sun, sand, and sea.
Tot them up, and Alexandria has more than one named beach per mile of seafront, kept clean and hassle-free by charging a small entrance fee.
Semi-officially divided into tourist-orientated and public beaches, a trustworthy central strip is Stanley Beach, offering views towards the bridge of the same name.
Even closer to the downtown area, Cleopatra Beach, said to have been visited by the Egyptian queen, is a lovely, peaceful spot to cool off. Meanwhile, Mandara Beach, a taxi ride away, features a broad sweep of spectacular pale sand that slips into partially protected shallows, putting paint charts to shame with its array of blues.
Climate in Alexandria
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C |  18 |
19 |
21 |
 24 |
 27 |
 29 |
 30 |
30 |
30 |
27 |
24 |
20 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |  10 |
 8 |
 5 |
 2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
| Sea temperature °C |  18 |
 17 |
17 |
18 |
 21 |
 24 |
 26 |
27 |
27 |
25 |
 23 |
20 |
The above shows the climate in Alexandria. Find out more in our complete guide to the climate in Egypt, as well as conditions across the wider Mediterranean.
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