Alexandria from Hurghada: what to see, duration and day trip
Alexandria, on the Mediterranean, is at the other end of the country from Hurghada: there is no direct day trip and you must go through Cairo. The main sights are the Qaitbay Citadel (on the site of the ancient lighthouse), the Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs, Pompey's Pillar and the Library of Alexandria. The most booked tours leave from Cairo (about 2.5 to 3 hours' drive, 10 hours in total); from Hurghada, count a flight to Cairo and then that tour, so more like two days with a night on site. For the flight, see Cairo by plane from Hurghada.
Highlights
The Qaitbay Citadel
A 15th-century fortress built on the site of the Pharos lighthouse, with views over the harbour; some tours only see it from outside.
Pompey's Pillar
A tall granite column from the Serapeum site, next to sphinxes and underground galleries.
The corniche
A seafront promenade of more than 15 km, pleasant at the end of the day for fish dinner.
Practical info
Tips
- We found no official 2026 entrance fees: tours show them as included or extra depending on the offer (check this). Among tours from Cairo, the most reviewed on GetYourGuide is the shared 10-hour trip with lunch (4.6 from over 1,600 reviews, from about 79 US dollars). The real drive sometimes exceeds 3 hours according to reviews: do not expect more than 5 hours on site.
How to get there
Alexandria is about 220 km north-west of Cairo. From Hurghada, the flight to Cairo takes about an hour, then 2.5 to 3 hours by road. For the Hurghada-Cairo road, see Hurghada to Cairo: bus or transfer.
Opening hours
Nearby
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