Today, Alexandria is home to some of Egypt’s best seafood restaurants, some fascinating diving, and a wealth of historical sites and museums. A unique mix of East and West, Alexandria is one of the jewels of the Middle East. 

Shuttle To/From Airport

Wataniya Airways is offering a complimentary bus transfer service for our guests between the airport and city center.

To use this service, guests will be asked to produce their boarding pass or ticket itinerary.

Borg El Arab Airport to Downtown:

Wataniya Airways staff will direct Guests from the arrivals hall to the parking area where the Wataniya Airways shuttle bus will be waiting.

Downtown to Borg El Arab Airport:

The bus will be waiting at 44 El Gueish Road, in front of the Mecca Hotel from 6:30 AM. The bus will depart the station at 8:00 AM, and arrive at the airport at approximately 9:00 AM, in time for the departing flight at 11:15 AM.

*Please note that the transfer will operate 1 hour earlier than listed above when Egypt is outside of daylight savings time (August 20th). 

See

The modern day Biblioteca Alexandrina or Library of Alexandria is built on the spot where the library of antiquity stood. The building itself is worth a visit, with words and letters from 120 forms of human script adorning the exterior.

The Catacombs of Kom-Ash-Shuqqafa is the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt. Featuring an impressive mix of iconography from Persian, Roman and Egyptian mythology, visitors should look out for the Egyptian Gods dressed up in Roman armour. Keep an eye out for Medusa as well – her icon was there to scare off would-be grave robbers.

Just a short walk from there is Pompey’s Pillar. Despite the fact that this impressive pillar of red Aswan granite was originally used to support a statue of the Emperor Diocletian, it gained the name of great Roman general after he was murdered when he fled to Egypt following his war against Caesar. There are also several other statues and monuments nearby, including a Sphinx. Alexandria is also home to an impressive Roman Amphitheatre.

The Alexandria National Museum gives a fascinating insight into the history of the city. Beautiful statuary, pottery and jewellery from the thousands of years of Alexandrian life are to be found on each floor. Of particular interest are the many artifacts found during various underwater excavations.

If you want to take a look underwater yourself, talk to Dive Alexandria (Click here for more informaiton). They organize dives where you can see parts of the fabled Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria as well as a host of archaeological artifacts from the time of Cleopatra. They also organize dives to see various World War 2 wrecks – relics of the Battle of El-Alamein.

Take a stroll along the Corniche and soak up the atmosphere of Alexandria. Home to many of the city’s hotels and casinos, as well as a multitude of fish restaurants, this 15km walk is an ideal place to take a pre or post dinner stroll.

The Citadel of Qait Bey is one of the symbols of Alexandria, and also one of its oldest surviving monuments. Built on the site of the ancient lighthouse, this 15th century fort looks over the city and the sea from the Eastern end of the harbour. The view back along the Corniche from the second storey battlements is inspiring.

The Cavafy Museum is dedicated to one of Alexandria’s literary lights. Constantine Cavafy is widely regarded as one of the most important Modern Greek and European poets. His former home is now a museum commemorating Cavafy and his work.

The Montaza Palace Gardens are a beautiful way to escape the ebb and flow of the city. Although the palace is off limits, the gardens make for a fine place to walk and relax. There’s also a small sandy beach here, though perhaps not as nice as Mamoura Beach, which is a little quieter and cleaner.

Stay

Build in 1892; the El Salamlek Palace Hotel and Casino (Book here) is a slice of true old world charm. The staff are charming and helpful. The rooms are beautiful, and you’re right beside the Montaza Palace Gardens. Be sure to sample the tea and cakes in the smaller restaurant. Rooms rates start from $150

The Four Seasons Alexandria (Book here) is a relatively new addition to the city. Built on the site of the famous San Stefano hotel, this establishment has swiftly established itself as the gold standard in Egypt’s second city. Room rates start from $550.

Described by some as being like something from a James Bond movie, the Helnan Palestine Hotel is located by Montaza Gardens. It’s set slightly away from downtown, but the sea views are worth the short taxi ride. Room rates start from $300.

The Windsor Hotel has an ideal location in Alexandria, and also has a certain faded glory. Famous for its old wrought iron lift, the Windsor is worth checking out if you want to be in the heart of the action. Look for a suite on the top floor with a sea view. Room rates start from $100.

The Cecil has an impressive location and a name that will be familiar to many visitors. Currently operated by the Sofitel group, recent reports have suggested that the rooms could do with a bit of refurbishment. Room rates start from $235.

Eat

Alexandria is well known for its seafood, so it is no surprise to see that The Fish Market on the Corniche is top of the list. Pick the fish you want, choose how you want it cooked and enjoy perfection as you gaze over the impressive view of the harbour.

For traditional Egyptian food, head to Al-Shark on Sharia al-Bursa al-Qadima. Try the fatta. You can choose to eat in, or take away.

There are also plenty of options for food on the fly from Mohammed Ahmed’s establishment on Sharia Shakor Pasha. He’s famous for his fuul and t’aamiyya, as evidenced by the number of Alexandrians to be found queuing for their fill.

Several of Alexandria’s best restaurants are in the Four Seasons hotel complex. Byblos is the place to find top quality Lebanese food with a view. Stefano’s is an Italian restaurant with a seriously good reputation. Book in advance.

Athineos is somewhat of a local legend. A literary salon that played host to Cavafy and many of his contemporaries, it trades largely on nostalgia nowadays, but is worth a visit for a coffee – if only to see the old fashioned fittings inside.

Shop

For a snapshot of Egyptian life, take a walk through Souq Ibrahimiyya. You will almost certainly leave without buying anything, but it is worth witnessing the hustle and bustle of a busy Egyptian food market.

The Attarine Souq is a far more popular place for tourists to spend money. Its narrow streets are not as stuffy as traditional souqs, and you will find it very easy to pass several hours in the hundreds of antique shops and tiny boutiques.

There are plenty of souvenir sellers at the Citadel, many of whom offer goods at a far more reasonable rate than their Cairo brethren.

The San Stefano Grand Mall is the place to find western and local shops, brands and boutiques. Set over four floors, this mall forms part of the Four Seasons complex and comes complete with valet parking, a ten-screen cinema and a children’s recreation area.

Red Tape

Money
The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound. As of the 1st of March, the exchange rate was $1 to 5.5 Egyptian Pounds (LE). Foreign exchange services are available at the airport, and ATMs and exchange facilities are freely available at all major International hotel chains. 
 
Telephone
The country dialling code is +20. 
 
Visas
GCC residents can get a 3-month tourist visa on arrival (Kuwait citizens get 6 months). EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders can get a tourist visa on arrival at Al Nozha Airport. All travellers should check with the Egyptian embassy or consulate for up-to-date information. 
 
Transport
Taxis are everywhere and cheap. The black and yellow taxis do not operate fixed meters but the newer fast call taxis do. These are more reliable and more expensive than the black and yellow taxis. Few taxi rides in the city should cost more than LE 30. Alexandria also has a tram system, which is cheap and a part of the history of the city – it dates back to 1860 and serves several key areas of interest to visitors for an extremely low price. Airport taxis will cost around LE20.