Alexandria
Egypt
- Safety rating
- 6.5/10
- Best time to visit
- Spring and autumn are pleasant; summer draws Egyptian holidaymakers to the beaches, while winters are cooler and rainier.
- Population
- 5.2M
Overview
Egypt's breezy Mediterranean port, founded by Alexander the Great, trades pyramids for a faded cosmopolitan elegance of seafront cafés and crumbling belle-époque villas. The reborn Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the waterfront Qaitbay Citadel evoke its legendary ancient library and lighthouse.
Top attractions
See the Qaitbay Citadel, the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Roman amphitheater and the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa.
Getting around
Vintage trams, microbuses and metered or negotiated taxis cover the long corniche; ride-hailing apps work well.