It carries with it an exciting history and a cosmopolitan profile that it maintains today. Known worldwide for its lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, built in the third century BC and destroyed by two earthquakes. And also for its library, the largest in antiquity and destroyed by a mysterious fire.
In this guide, we provide you with useful information on everything you need to know before traveling to Alexandria.
What is the usual temperature in Alexandria?
Average | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum | 23 ºC | 25 ºC | 29 ºC | 35 ºC | 39 ºC | 41 ºC | 41 ºC | 41 ºC | 39 ºC | 35 ºC | 29 ºC | 24 ºC |
Media | 16 ºC | 18 ºC | 23 ºC | 28 ºC | 32 ºC | 34 ºC | 35 ºC | 35 ºC | 32 ºC | 29 ºC | 22 ºC | 18 ºC |
Minimal | 10 ºC | 12 ºC | 16 ºC | 21 ºC | 25 ºC | 27 ºC | 28 ºC | 28 ºC | 26 ºC | 22 ºC | 16 ºC | 12 ºC |
Areas and districts of Alexandria
- Alexandria Center. The heart of the city and an area close to the airport, the train station and the port, making it the nerve center with many stores, Mediterranean restaurants and the best transport connections. Here you will find the Alexandria Museum and the new Library of Alexandria with an important collection of books, exhibition halls and art galleries.
- Kafr Abdu. An upper-class district, famous for its cafes and tree-lined streets. This is where the working life of Alexandria is concentrated, with offices and embassies, and the religious life with churches and mosques. Also located here are the Kafr Abdou Community Garden (Allenby), the Al-Salam Theater, Stanley Bridge and the tombs of Mustafa Kamel, from the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC.
- The Raml. It gathers a good number of restaurants, shopping centers, offices and mosques. It is a very busy area with good transportation connections. It houses the Mahmoud Said Museum, with works of one of the best artists of the twentieth century in Egypt.
- Al Mamurah. Quiet and residential area, very familiar and with quiet beaches and peaceful gardens. It also has elegant cafes and a wide variety of restaurants. Ideal for enjoying sunsets and cycling along the beach.
What to see in Alexandria
- Kom el Dekka archaeological site. Ruins from the Greco-Roman period that show what the city was like at that time, with its villas and amphitheaters.
- National Museum of Alexandria. It contains more than 1,800 objects that represent the archaeological and patrimonial testimony of the city over the centuries.
- Library of Alexandria. An emblem in the city for the memory of the old library that no longer exists and that, at the time, was the largest in the world. The new library was planned in 1987 and opened in 2022.
- Pompey’s Column. It is a column inside the archaeological park of Alexandria and where once stood the temple of the Serapeum (now disappeared), a sanctuary dedicated to the Greek-Egyptian god Serapis. It is made of red granite from Aswan and is almost 30 meters high.
- Quaitbay Citadel. A defensive fortress built in the 15th century on the island of Faro, in the harbor, on the ruins of the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria, destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century.
- Promenade. The beaches of Alexandria are a separate subject and are worth a visit whether you want to enjoy a nice swim in the sea, watch the stunning sunsets or take a bike ride or walk along the promenade.
- Montazah Palace. The former summer residence of the royal family, with extensive gardens and stunning architecture in the Turkish-Florentine style. During World War I it was used as a hospital by the Red Cross.