Alexandria, Egypt’s captivating coastal city, continues to dazzle visitors in 2025 with its rich blend of history, culture, and modern charm. Founded by Alexander the Great over two millennia ago, this iconic city stands at the crossroads of ancient civilization and contemporary elegance. Today, Alexandria offers an unforgettable sightseeing experience where timeless wonders meet exciting new developments, making it one of Egypt’s most vibrant travel destinations this year.
As the second-largest city in Egypt and a major port on the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria is filled with treasures both above and below the surface. Visitors can explore world-famous attractions like the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Roman Amphitheatre, and Pompey’s Pillar—each echoing the grandeur of ancient times. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a striking tribute to the ancient Library of Alexandria, remains a cultural hub for exhibitions, lectures, and events that inspire global knowledge exchange.
In 2025, the city has taken significant steps to enhance the tourism experience. The revitalized Corniche promenade is now a bustling destination for leisurely walks, sea-view cafés, and cultural festivals. New guided tours offer immersive experiences through Alexandria’s Greco-Roman past, while tech-enhanced museums and augmented reality exhibits breathe new life into ancient relics.
Alexandria’s culinary scene is also thriving, with fresh seafood, Egyptian delicacies, and international cuisine served in charming spots from Montaza to El Raml. Travelers can relax on the sandy shores of Maamoura Beach, explore the gardens of Montaza Palace, or enjoy boat rides offering panoramic views of the harbor and the historic Qaitbay Citadel.
Whether you’re drawn by the city’s layered past, its artistic spirit, or simply the refreshing breeze of the Mediterranean, Alexandria in 2025 promises an inspiring adventure. With every corner holding a piece of history and every new development adding vibrance to the present, sightseeing in Alexandria is more exciting than ever.
Prepare to uncover the magic of a city where Cleopatra once ruled, where knowledge once shaped the world, and where beauty continues to evolve. Welcome to Alexandria—Egypt’s timeless coastal jewel, reimagined for today’s traveler.
THE GRECO-ROMAN MUSEUM
Houses many collections of rare Greek and Roman relics and coins – about 40 thousand pieces, from the Third Century B.C. to the Seventh Century AD, including the “Tanagra” collection. The museum also houses the pieces recovered in 1995 at the Lighthouse site.
POMPEY’S PILLAR
Mistakenly named so in the Middle Ages, this granite pillar is over 25 meters high. Built amidst the ruins of the Serapeum in AD 297 in honor of Emperor Diocletian, it is the most prominent remaining Greek landmark in Alexandria
THE ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE
Located downtown at Kom al-Dikkah, the Roman amphitheater is considered unique in Egypt. Discovered only in the early 1960s while laying the foundation of a new building, the amphitheater has twelve semi-circular marble tiers in remarkably good condition.
THE CATACOMBS
It dates back to the early Roman period. It was discovered in 1900 after they had been looking for it for about 12 years. These catacombs were originally a private crypt but were later extended with more Roman burials. People are buried here in sarcophagi, in shelves, and in urns of ashes after cremation. They are empty now, of course, and the lower levels have been completely flooded by the rising water level in Alexandria.
This tomb consists of 3 stores cut in the rock but the lowest one is flooded by subsoil water. The entrance leads to a spiral staircase of 99 steps around the shaft. This tomb is famous for its mixed Iconography between Egyptian art and Greco-Roman art. The catacomb is called Kom EL-Shouqafa. It means “Mound of Shards” and refers to the crushed pottery found inside, where banquets were held for visitors to the dead.
FORTRESS OF QAITBAY
Situated on the entrance to Alexandria’s eastern harbor, where the place was exactly opposite the famous Lighthouse, this Citadel was established by the Sultan Al-Ashraf Abu Alnasr Saif Eldin Qaitbay, who came to Egypt as a slave, not over 20 years of age. It was built to be a defensive fortress on the Mediterranean Sea coast.
Sultan Qaitbay visited the site of the old lighthouse in 1447 A.D. and ordered a tower to be built on the foundations of the lighthouse, it was said that the sultan spent more than a hundred thousand dinars (currency) for this tower. The Citadel became more famous for its great strategic importance. So, Qaitbay Citadel was cared for by the sultans and rulers of Egypt from the time it was constructed until the time of Mohammed Ali.
THE MOSQUE OF MURSI ABUL ABBAS
Situated in Al-Anfushi, this Andalusia-style mosque is the largest in the city. It has four domes and a minaret and was rebuilt in the twentieth century at the site of the old Abul Abbas shrine.
This article was updated and re-written in part by Hesham El Gammal; on January 9th, 2025 + fact-checked.
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