Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE — 2,300 years of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilization on the edge of the Mediterranean
Alexandria is unlike any other city in Egypt — and unlike any other city on the Mediterranean. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, Alexandria was for three centuries the intellectual capital of the ancient world. It was home to the Great Library, the Pharos Lighthouse (one of the Seven Wonders), the greatest scholars of antiquity, and a cosmopolitan culture of Greeks, Egyptians, Jews, and Romans that produced some of the most extraordinary thought in human history.
Today it is Egypt's second city and its Mediterranean soul — a place where café culture, fresh seafood, salt air, and layered history combine into something that feels wholly its own. COMETRA Travel crafts Alexandria journeys around its particular character: private access to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, expert-guided visits to the Catacombs and Qaitbay Citadel, Corniche walks at golden hour, and the finest seafood tables in Egypt.
Alexandria's finest hotels divide between the beachfront luxury of San Stefano — where the Four Seasons occupies the restored 1906 grand hotel — and the historic character of the city centre, anchored by the legendary Steigenberger Cecil on Saad Zaghloul Square. COMETRA Travel secures preferred rates and exclusive amenities across all properties.
Alexandria's premier luxury address — occupying the restored San Stefano Grand Hotel building (1906) with private beach, infinity pool, and Mediterranean views from every room. Four Seasons' legendary service on Egypt's northern coast.
Official WebsiteElegant all-inclusive resort near the Montaza Royal Palaces — private Mediterranean beach, multiple restaurants, luxurious spa, and panoramic sea views in one of Alexandria's most prestigious districts.
Official WebsiteStylish five-star hotel in the heart of Alexandria with a rooftop pool, contemporary design, and easy access to shopping and cultural attractions — modern resort comfort at the city's centre.
Official WebsiteThe Cecil has stood on Saad Zaghloul Square since 1929 — a grand European hotel in the finest Mediterranean tradition, with elegant architecture, classical hospitality, and an address at the heart of Alexandria's cultural life.
Official WebsiteClassic design, strong guest reviews, and Mediterranean Sea views — fine dining restaurants and excellent service in a prime location that combines Egyptian hospitality with Mediterranean elegance.
Official WebsiteWell-rated IHG hotel with central location, modern amenities, and business facilities — easy access to Alexandria's business district and cultural attractions, with reliable IHG service standards throughout.
Official WebsiteCharming hotel in the Raml district blending traditional and modern touches — a cozy atmosphere, personalized service, and a rooftop with Mediterranean views that rewards those who choose character over scale.
Official WebsitePopular international four-star hotel with consistent Hilton service, fitness centre, swimming pool, and multiple dining options — a reliable and comfortable base for Alexandria's cultural and coastal attractions.
Official WebsiteClassic mid-range hotel near key city areas with elegant rooms, traditional hospitality, and easy access to Alexandria's cultural and shopping districts — understated character at an accessible price point.
Official WebsiteA four-star hotel with excellent traveller reviews — comfortable accommodations, friendly service, and a convenient location near Alexandria's top attractions. Straightforward, well-regarded, and reliable.
Official WebsiteComfortable hotel offering excellent value, modern facilities, swimming pool, and a convenient central location — a practical and well-priced base for travellers whose focus is Alexandria's extraordinary cultural heritage.
Official WebsiteAlexandria's dining identity is defined by the Mediterranean: freshly caught fish prepared simply, harbour views, salt air, and the European café culture the city has maintained since the 19th century. Kadoura and Fish Market are legendary seafood institutions. Café Trianon (since 1924) and Delices are the city's most celebrated historic cafés. The Four Seasons' Fresca brings Mediterranean fine dining to its highest local expression. COMETRA Travel handles reservations across all price ranges.
Inside the historic Greek Nautical Club near Qaitbay Citadel — fresh Mediterranean seafood, Greek specialties, and harbour views that capture Alexandria's cosmopolitan maritime soul at its most evocative.
One of Alexandria's most famous seafood restaurants and a favourite among locals for generations — fresh fish, shrimp, and seafood platters prepared to order with the Mediterranean as your backdrop.
One of Alexandria's most celebrated seafood destinations — a wide selection of freshly caught fish prepared to order, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The essential Alexandria seafood experience.
The finest dining room in Alexandria — refined Mediterranean cuisine at the Four Seasons Hotel San Stefano with panoramic sea views, Four Seasons service, and a wine list to match the setting.
Authentic Lebanese cuisine at the Four Seasons — traditional mezze, grilled specialties, and Middle Eastern delicacies in an elegant setting with sea views and Four Seasons' impeccable service.
A historic Alexandrian institution since 1924 — French-inspired atmosphere, excellent coffee, pastries, and the kind of European café character that defines the city's intellectual and social heritage.
Legendary Alexandrian patisserie famous for exquisite French pastries, cakes, chocolates, and elegant afternoon tea — a cultural institution that every visitor to Alexandria should experience at least once.
Authentic Egyptian seafood restaurant beloved by locals — fresh fish with traditional preparation methods and Mediterranean flavours in a setting that captures the character of working Alexandria.
Rooftop restaurant atop the historic Le Metropole Hotel — French and Mediterranean cuisine with spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea and the Alexandria skyline below.
Historic Italian restaurant founded in the 1930s — authentic Italian cuisine including pizza, pasta, and classic Mediterranean recipes that survive as a living remnant of Alexandria's cosmopolitan European era.
Refined seafood dining with fresh Mediterranean fish, elegant presentation, and modern culinary techniques — a more sophisticated alternative to Alexandria's traditional seafood institutions, popular among discerning locals.
Sophisticated Asian restaurant in Alexandria — Chinese and Japanese cuisine including fresh sushi, dim sum, and Asian fusion specialties in a modern elegant setting that reflects the city's cosmopolitan spirit.
Inside the elegant San Giovanni Stanley Hotel — Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with breathtaking views of the sea and Stanley Bridge that have made this one of Alexandria's most atmospheric dining rooms.
Modern seafood restaurant specializing in Mediterranean fish dishes with contemporary presentation — a fresh, well-regarded alternative for those seeking something beyond Alexandria's more traditional seafood houses.
Stylish Italian café and restaurant offering authentic coffee, aperitifs, light meals, and a sophisticated European atmosphere — the kind of place that reminds you why Alexandria's café culture is unlike anywhere else in Egypt.
Mediterranean and international cuisine at the Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza — fresh ingredients, contemporary flavours, and Hilton's consistent service standards in a relaxed and comfortable hotel dining setting.
Alexandria's sites reflect 2,300 years of civilizations building on top of each other — Greek, Roman, Christian, Islamic, Ottoman, and European all leaving their mark on the same Mediterranean shore. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina revives the ancient library's spirit in a stunning contemporary building. The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are among the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world. And Qaitbay Citadel stands on the very foundation stones of the ancient Lighthouse. COMETRA Travel provides expert guides and private access for every visit.
The modern revival of the ancient Library of Alexandria — one of the most architecturally extraordinary buildings of the 21st century, its tilted disc roof clad in Aswan granite and inscribed with the characters of 120 ancient writing systems. Houses millions of books, the Antiquities Museum, a Manuscripts Museum, a planetarium, and multiple galleries. A cultural institution of genuine world significance.
The 15th-century fortress that replaced the Pharos Lighthouse — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — on the same narrow strip of land where the lighthouse stood for 1,500 years. Built by Sultan Qaitbay in 1479 using stones from the collapsed lighthouse, it guards the harbour with extraordinary views of the Mediterranean and houses the Naval Museum of Alexandria.
The finest example of Greco-Roman-Egyptian art in existence — a three-level underground burial complex from the 2nd century CE where Egyptian gods are depicted in Roman style wearing Greek dress, creating a unique fusion that exists nowhere else on earth. Classified as one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages, the catacombs descend 35 metres into the earth through a rotunda of extraordinary carved detail.
A 30-metre monolithic red granite column — the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria, erected in 297 CE to honour Emperor Diocletian. Misnamed after Pompey, it stands on the ruins of the ancient Serapeum temple, once one of the greatest temples of the ancient world and home to a daughter library of the Great Library of Alexandria. Underground galleries and sphinx statues surround the base.
Discovered in 1964, the Roman amphitheatre at Kom El-Dikka is the only Roman theatre found anywhere in Egypt. Extraordinarily well preserved, its 12 marble tiers remain intact — with a unique U-shaped design suited to both theatrical performances and academic lectures. The surrounding excavation area reveals Roman villas, baths, and the living quarters of ancient Alexandria directly beneath the modern city.
The magnificent royal summer residence built in 1892 — set on a promontory over the Mediterranean in Alexandria's eastern district, surrounded by 150 acres of manicured gardens, woodland, and private beach. The Turkish Baroque Salamlek and Islamic Revival Haramlek palaces both stand within the grounds. Today the gardens are open to visitors, with the palaces serving as presidential residences and a luxury hotel.
Housed in a beautifully restored early 20th-century Italianate mansion, Alexandria's National Museum holds over 1,800 artifacts spanning the city's complete history — from the Pharaonic era through the Greek and Roman periods, Coptic Christianity, the Islamic centuries, and into modernity. The building itself is a pleasure: three floors of elegant rooms opening onto a garden, in one of Alexandria's finest residential neighbourhoods.
Founded in 1892 and housing one of Egypt's most important collections — the Greco-Roman Museum covers Alexandria's extraordinary golden age as the intellectual capital of the Mediterranean world. Exquisite mosaics, classical sculptures, coins from every era of ancient currency, and everyday objects from the daily life of a cosmopolitan ancient city make this one of the most rewarding museum visits in Egypt.
Housed in the former palace of Princess Fatima Al-Zahraa, this museum displays the magnificent jewelry collection of Egypt's royal family — priceless pieces from the Muhammad Ali dynasty and the last royal household, set within rooms of extraordinary decorative richness. The building is as much an attraction as its contents: floors of Venetian mosaic, painted ceilings, and stained glass throughout.
Built in 1847 and the primary residence of the Egyptian royal family — Ras El-Tin Palace occupies a commanding position on Alexandria's western promontory. It was from this palace that King Farouk signed his abdication papers in 1952, ending the Egyptian monarchy. The palace combines Ottoman and European architectural styles and retains significance as a presidential residence and historical landmark.
Alexandria reveals itself slowly — in the salt air along the Corniche, in the layers beneath every pavement stone, in the light that arrives differently here than anywhere else in Egypt. Tell us what draws you to this city, and we will design a journey that finds the version of it you came for.
Highlights
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