Discover Alexandria: Day Trip from Cairo
Begin your day with a guide meeting at your hotel and embark on a scenic three-hour drive from Cairo to Alexandria. Upon arrival, explore the Kom El Shoqafa necropolis, an ancient burial site with a unique blend of Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman elements. The catacombs, dating back to the 2nd century AD, feature a circular staircase used for body transport and were rediscovered in 1900.
Next, visit Pompey's Pillar, a 30-meter red granite column erected around 300 AD in honor of Emperor Diocletian. Despite its name, it has no connection to the Roman Consul Pompey. The pillar stands on the site of the Serapeum, an ancient temple destroyed in 391 AD by a Christian mob led by patriarch Theophilus. Today, only the pillar remains of this grand structure, with nearby tunnels and artifacts on display in the Greco-Roman Museum.
Conclude your tour at the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century fortress established by Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qa'it Bay
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All inclusive option
Pickup included
What's included in Discover Alexandria: Day Trip from Cairo
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Pompey's Pillar
The second attraction is Pompey's Pillar. Despite its name, this 30-meter red Aswan granite column has no link to Pompey. Crusaders mistakenly believed it marked his burial site, but it was erected around 300 AD for Emperor Diocletian. The site was originally the Serapeum, Alexandria's acropolis, dedicated to the god Serapis. In 391 AD, Christian patriarch Theophilus led a mob to destroy the Serapeum and other pagan symbols, possibly including the Great Library of Alexandria. Today, only the pillar remains of the once-grand temple. Visitors can explore nearby tunnels and see artifacts like a life-size black basalt bull and a golden plaque at the Greco-Roman Museum.
Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
Begin your day by meeting your guide at your hotel. Take a three-hour drive from Cairo to Alexandria. Upon arrival, your guide will introduce you to the city's rich history. Start with the necropolis of Kom El Shoqafa, featuring a blend of Pharaonic, Hellenistic, and Roman influences. Explore the catacombs with Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultural elements, including statues and tombs. A circular staircase, used to transport deceased bodies, leads down into the tombs from the 2nd to the 4th century AD. The site was rediscovered in 1900 when a donkey fell into the access shaft. Three sarcophagi have been found to date.
Citadel of Qaitbay
The third stop is the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century fortress on Alexandria's Mediterranean coast. Built in 1477 AD by Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qa'it Bay, it stands on the eastern side of Pharos Island at the mouth of the Eastern Harbour.
Inclusions
- Pick up and drop off with a private air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance fees ( optional)
- Lunch at a seafood restaurant overlooking the sea (optional)
- Bottle of water on board
- Professional tourguide
- Gratuities
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Please arrive at the pick up point 10 minutes before departure time.
Additional Information
Your guide will contact you before the pickup time and tell you the details of the car
