Alexandria
A city that rewards wandering — and rewards reservations.
Alexandria is a sprawling Mediterranean pulse, a city where the salt air from the Corniche constant-competes with the charcoal smoke of grilled kebabs and sea bass. To understand it, leave the cruise crowds behind and walk from the crumbling colonial elegance of Mansheya toward the citrus-shaded lanes of Roushdy. Mornings belong to the terrace at Trianon with a strong coffee and the rattle of blue vintage trams. By afternoon, the light hits the honeycomb geometry of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a sharp contrast to the limestone weight of Qaitbay Fort. The city’s true rhythm is found in the intervals—lounging on a wicker chair at a weathered sidewalk café, peeling local shrimp by the harbor, and realizing that Alexandria isn't a museum of its Greek past, but a restless, brine-soaked modern capital.
Best time to visit Alexandria
The best time to visit Alexandria is generally spring and early autumn for the best weather without peak crowds. Peak season pushes prices and crowds up; shoulder season is almost always the smarter trade-off — you'll find the same restaurants open, the same scenery, and noticeably better hotel value on Booking.com.
How to get to Alexandria
Alexandria is in Egypt, Africa. Connections typically route via Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Cairo or Casablanca, with short onward flights to most destinations. Once you arrive, allow a day to settle in — most travellers underestimate jet lag and over-pack day one.
Things to do in Alexandria
Plan your days around neighbourhood walks, museums, coffee culture and dinner reservations. Because Alexandria also leans into swimming, snorkelling, beach clubs and long sunset dinners, you can mix it up — one slow day, one active day, repeat.
Where to stay in Alexandria
On Booking.com, properties in Alexandria start from around $210 per night. Filter by guest review score (8.5+), free cancellation, and your preferred neighbourhood. Booking close to the centre saves transit time and almost always pays for itself in extra hours actually enjoying Alexandria.
Alexandria travel FAQs
- What is the ideal window for an Alexandria city break?
- The sweet spot is from March to June or September to November when the air is crisp and the Mediterranean is calm. July and August see a massive influx of domestic travelers seeking the breeze, making traffic gridlocked and beaches crowded.
- How should I navigate the city's unique transport system?
- The blue and yellow trams are iconic and cheap, though slow; use the blue line for long-distance suburban stretches. For speed, flag down the ubiquitous microbuses or use Uber to avoid negotiating fares with unmetered Lada taxis.
- Which neighborhood offers the best atmosphere for a stay?
- Glim and Kafr Abdou provide a more polished, contemporary experience with leafy streets and specialty coffee shops. For those who want the historic, grand-dame aesthetic of the 1920s, the area surrounding Saad Zaghloul Square puts you within walking distance of the most famous patisseries and the waterfront.
- Is it true that I need a reservation for the best seafood?
- While street stalls are casual, Alexandria’s premier institutions like Fish Market or Greek Club require booking ahead, especially for terrace tables at sunset. When you arrive, you typically head to the ice display to select your specific catch by weight before it is prepped to order, usually grilled with lemon and oil or 'singary' style.
