Alexandria Travel Forum

i am traveling to aswan for my holliday and would also like to visit alexandria i want to know what places there are that are worth a visit and if anyone knows if i could get a guide to show me around it would be nice to meet some local people

It seems odd to go from Aswan to Alex without visiting Cairo, which you will have to travel through.
Alex is pleasant but it hasn't really got any drop-dead tourist features.

Sadly for what used to be Alexander the Great's greatest cities, Alexandria has very little to show in terms of attractions (relative to Cairo and Luxor). But it's a pleasant place to chill out after being bombarded by pharaonic temples and pyramids. You may wish to have a look at my Alexandria pages for some of the city's attractions (pages are still under construction).

Enjoy yourself in Alex.

Places to see:
Roman Amphitheatre
Catacombs @ Kom el Shogafa
National Museum
Montaza Gardens
The Sea!

Neither Tilavi or I are saying Alex has nothing to offer. I realy liked the place. What I said was that the 'tourist attractions' aren't mega. In my book that's ano0 bad thing. It's got the sea, fantastic seafood restaurants: there's the new library (beats the catacombs hollow) and, most important of all, it has a great sense of place

Thanks for clarifying our position LongTone - hahaha. I do love Alex, too, and you can read that from my pages.

Our fellow VTers may wish to know that the road to Agiba beach from Alex-Matrouh road was being 'repaired' as of May 2007. I don't know the condition of the road now, but back then, it was one hell of a bumpy ride with matching knee-deep pools of water from the broken pipes or in some sections, very fine, asthma-inducing dust. The whole situation is aggravated by reckless drivers with short tempers.

I guess they were rushing it for the summer season. Whether they were successful or not, I am yet to know.

It is the atmosphere of Alexandria that is the biggest attraction. Being in the more Arab culture of Cairo and Upper Egypt, Alex offers a more Greek feeling.

The Greek/Roman Museum is sadly closed for a longer time, but the Alexandria National Museum still has a lot to offer!

The 40 km. long Corniche is amazing! From the Montaza Gardens to the Qait Bey Fortress. All over Alex there are Mozaics to be seen. Very beautifull!!

And have the sea food!!! We had it picknick style. Bought it with a street vendour. picked out our own fish and told him how we liked it prepared, bought some bread and drinks and took it all to the beach, where we had our seafood picknick. Delicious!!!!! Both in taste and atmosphere!