Add a single day at the start or end of your Cairo stay. Alexandria is about 2.5 hours from Cairo by train, so most visitors go as a long day trip rather than staying overnight. If you want to linger by the sea or see more of the coast, one overnight is enough — a second rarely adds much for a first-time visit.
Key takeaways
- Alexandria is a day trip from Cairo, not a detour on the way to anywhere else in Egypt.
- The train is faster and more comfortable than driving for this route.
- The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Citadel of Qaitbay and the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa are the three sites most day trips cover.
- Add it at the very start or end of your Cairo time, not in the middle of a Nile Valley itinerary.
Day trip or overnight?
| Day trip | One overnight | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time added | 1 day | 1–2 days |
| What you see | The library, the citadel, the catacombs | The above plus an evening on the Corniche |
| Best for | A tight Cairo-only trip | Travellers who like a coastal city at a slower pace |
Where it fits
Bolt it onto either end of your Cairo days. Doing it right after landing (before the Nile Valley leg) or right before flying home both work equally well — it does not need to sit between Cairo and Luxor, since Alexandria lies north of Cairo, away from the Nile Valley route.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alexandria worth the extra day?
For most first-time visitors, yes as a day trip. We weigh it properly in is Alexandria worth visiting?
Can I do Alexandria and the Grand Egyptian Museum together?
Some day tours combine a stop at the GEM with the drive back from Alexandria — see our Grand Egyptian Museum tour from Alexandria.
What else is there to see near Alexandria?
El Alamein's war cemeteries and museum are a separate half-day option from Alexandria — see our El Alamein day tour. Our fuller guide is the Alexandria day trip guide from Cairo.
Reviewed September 2026.