Alexandria City Day Tour: Honest Review of Top Attractions

If you are considering a day trip to Alexandria, Egypt, like a close look at what some of the better tours offer seems useful, very. Alexandria, that ancient city founded by Alexander the Great, just oozes history and culture. A day trip can pack in quite a bit, so, it’s almost smart to go in knowing what to expect and how to make the most of your time. I recently took one of these tours, so, I thought sharing my experiences could be helpful. This review covers the main attractions, what to look for in a good tour package, and just a little advice to ensure your adventure goes smoothly. Let’s explore what makes an Alexandria day tour worthwhile.

What to Expect From an Alexandria Day Tour

Typically, a day tour of Alexandria includes visits to several prominent spots, very. First off, expect to see Pompey’s Pillar, a towering Roman column. That’s just quite a sight! Then, too it’s like the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, an underground network of tombs that blend Egyptian and Roman architectural styles are included. Usually the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century fortress located on the Mediterranean coast will come next, very. That, as a matter of fact, was built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. So you can see so much! The tour almost tends to cover the new Library of Alexandria, a modern architectural marvel that commemorates the ancient Library. Most tours, just a bit, incorporate lunch at a local restaurant where you can try some Egyptian cuisine.

Beyond the physical sites, that’s, I mean, prepare to learn a great deal about Alexandria’s history. Tour guides, too it’s almost, are usually knowledgeable about the city’s past. You see things from its founding by Alexander the Great to its roles as a hub of learning in the ancient world. You are going to see its decline and revival throughout the centuries. Is that great or what?! Expect to walk quite a bit. Also that, a bit, the sites are spread out and exploring them fully requires being on your feet. Comfy shoes are very important! Also, just slightly, anticipate a bit of travel time between sites, as Alexandria is a pretty big city.

Top Attractions in Alexandria

Pompey’s Pillar

Pompey’s Pillar, by the way, is just quite a towering granite column that is very much a testament to Roman engineering. Actually, anyway, that thing stands nearly 30 meters tall! I want to tell you, that’s that thing was erected in honor of Emperor Diocletian. It really is that imposing and makes you feel small, very. At its base are some interesting relics and statues, still, too. Basically that helps paint a better picture of what the spot must have been like back then. Standing there, just slightly, looking up at the column makes you think about the passage of time, too it’s almost. Is that interesting?

Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, for example, are one of Alexandria’s most interesting historic sites. Also, the tunnels, very, are located underground. They represent a merge of Egyptian and Roman funerary architectural styles. That, in a way, is one of the world’s largest Roman cemeteries, basically. Actually that consists of three levels of tombs and chambers carved into the rock, very. You are going to see carvings of Egyptian gods alongside Roman motifs there, alright. That really illustrates the cultural fusion that happened in Alexandria, too it’s almost. I mean seeing the catacombs gave me this sort of eerie, really fascinating look at ancient burial rituals, seriously. They are very spooky!

Citadel of Qaitbay

The Citadel of Qaitbay, now, is that a striking fortress positioned on the Mediterranean coast. Actually that’s located on the eastern side of the northern tip of Pharos Island. Once upon a time, really, the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria stood there, just a little. Now, that’s like the current citadel that was built in the 15th century by Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay to defend the city. Anyway it’s almost the design of the citadel is a classic example of Mamluk military architecture. Furthermore this offers remarkable views of the sea, actually, that just provide an opportunity for some fantastic photos.

The New Library of Alexandria (Bibliotheca Alexandrina)

That’s that the new Library of Alexandria. That almost stands as a monument to learning and culture, okay. Moreover this thing that commemorates the ancient Library of Alexandria is just massive. The building’s design, as I was saying, is very modern and distinctive, though. It looks similar to a sun rising from the sea, in that case. I was impressed with how it houses millions of books. It even holds museums and art galleries. That visit almost underscores Alexandria’s past as a center for knowledge and scholarly pursuits. Also I can tell you this too. That gives you a space to really appreciate the ongoing importance of learning.

Choosing the Right Tour Package

Whenever you’re selecting a tour package for Alexandria, so, you need to look closely at just what it includes. A really well rounded tour usually covers transport between sites. But still it comes with entry fees, lunch, and that, just slightly, a guide. So that would know a bunch of things. Ensure the itinerary aligns with your interests. Do you wanna focus more on history? A tiny bit or would you be happy with something a bit more modern, instead? Small group tours might provide you with a more intimate and personalised experience, though.

That being said, just slightly, reading reviews from other travellers, just, a bit, provides just useful insight into the quality of the tour, frankly. So that, that is pretty good. A good guide, actually, tends to make all the difference in how enriching your experience is, though. Take note of the tour length, that too, it’s almost, some day trips that can be quite long. Almost that requires early starts and late finishes. That you almost might prefer something shorter and that provides you with more free time to explore alone. I wanted a very full experience, alright. Still I’m really glad I picked a tour that balanced the main sights really well.

Tips for a Great Day Trip

Here is my suggestion, wear comfortable shoes for all that walking, like, trust me! Also the spots, that too, are worth it, I think, just, a bit, to get yourself ready. Sunscreen, of course, a hat, now, and sunglasses, well, are useful, too. The sun just can be intense in Alexandria, okay. You need to just make certain you have enough of that stuff. It tends to be smart to stay hydrated, okay. You are going to stay ahead of getting burned if you are aware, that is that!

Always keep some Egyptian pounds on you, just a little, that really are useful for small purchases or tips, yet. Like some vendors may not take credit cards, I find. Check the weather before going and then, that’s when you wanna dress correctly. Modest clothing would be useful if you plan on visiting religious sites. Remember, there might be lots of people during peak tourist season. Then, basically, you will likely deal with bigger groups. This helps when you decide what to do and that makes things a lot easier, too. Still you just, a little, make these kinds of decisions. That too! The city can just have a lot of charm, well. Do not just wait to lose yourself in the vibe for a short bit and see the scene a little more.

Personal Reflections on the Tour

My Alexandria day trip really was very enriching. Is that because it did a good job in just teaching me stuff, now? Okay and if the city were to fall to its doom, is it because of me? Is that really worth the price? I tell you these ancient sites, for instance, very much blew my mind, really. Walking round Pompey’s Pillar, that did help, you know, it was sort of humbling to imagine all that past and it did happen so very long ago. As well as getting just like into the catacombs, for instance, gave this slightly weird, but a little neat feel about the people back then, frankly. I also really just, kind of, loved seeing the new Library. It’s amazing that the library kind of, you know, keeps alive that importance of what scholarly work gives to the modern era. A day tour just really almost is worth doing, honestly. If one wishes to find history just mixed in with culture, pretty much this is something to think about, now!

But even now, well, if one is a touristy type, okay. At any rate what really can make or break all of this type of adventure has got to be the tour guide, then. So, very much. It has really got to have everything if this, then that! No and really I did like having the guide that could just tell a cool thing or two concerning everything and was eager to hear one’s take on the story being told, right? Of course that guide was something just a bit, better then your every day guide type, then. That sort of really just added more and more and, I mean, if that guide had not been there, that day almost would not be just exactly the same, then!

Final Thoughts

Day trip to Alexandria, then, if really taken with forethought, tends to wind up as a most memorable look-see through so much interesting old stuff, so, then. When thinking to take that sort of adventure, always you need to be very careful concerning the little itty-bitty facts and things as it very closely might steer what time will be coming up for that person to see things or not! It has often felt like it would have just a world’s amount of nice things being remembered to give back so many of the very best times in Alexandria!