Location: Alexandria
Top Things to do in Alexandria
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Things to do in Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate: The Best Museums
The Pearl of the Mediterranean has an ambiance more in keeping with its neighbors to the north than with those in the Middle East. Site of Pharos lighthouse, one of the Wonders of the World, and of Anthony and Cleopatra’s tempestuous romance, the city was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE. Today, Alexandria offers fascinating insights into its proud Greek past, as well as interesting mosques, the casino strip of the Corniche, some lovely gardens and both modern and traditional hotels. (Editor's note: Our list was compiled before political unrest prompted many countries to issue travel warnings for Egypt. If you're currently planning a trip to Egypt, please consider the risks and monitor your government's travel alerts.)
Restaurants in Alexandria
1. Alexandria National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 275 reviews
More than 1800 archaeological pieces are exhibited chronologically from one floor to the next: the basement is devoted to Prehistoric and Pharonic times; first floor to the Graeco-Roman period; second floor to the Coptic and Islamic era that highlights artifacts raised during recent underwater excavations.
Reviewed By RodHarris - Melbourne, Australia
We walked to this small out of the way museum housed in a former grand residence of Alexandria. The walk itself was engaging and interesting as we made our way through the backstreets. On arrival, the museum presents as a magnificent old home. Inside, a wonderful collection through the history of Alexandria is presented with English descriptions. The grounds are equally interesting with marbles and sarcophagus. This is a must see.
2. Royal Jewelry Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 204 reviews
Reviewed By aelkhadem - Giza, Egypt
Among the many wonderful sites we visited in Alexandria, was the Royal Jewelry Museum located no more than a 5 minute drive from the Four Seasons hotel. This 2-story palace housing the Jewelry collection of Egypt’s Royal family originally belonged to Princess Fatma El Zahraa. The palace itself is certainly the most precious jewel as the flooring and ceilings and staircase are unbelievably stunning. Must see for all visitors. Ashraf El Khadem Egyptian Express Travel
3. Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,780 reviews
Located near the site of the ancient library of Alexandria, this modern version is an eleven-story, cylindrical-shaped building that houses more than eight million books. A re-imagining of Alexandria's ancient Great Library, this gorgeously designed cultural center contains a host of museums as well as one of the modern world's most ambitious libraries. Its architecture - a giant sun disk - presides over the waterfront Corniche, while inside, a huge reading room can hold eight million volumes. Below themain library, visitors can explore a range of beautifully curated exhibitions. TheManuscript Museum with its magnificent collection of ancient texts and scrolls and the Antiquities Museum with its Graeco-Roman antiquities and statuary found during underwater exploration in the harbor are the two prime attractions. But there are also rotating art exhibitions, a permanent Egyptian folk art collection, and a Science Museum and Planetarium that are aimed squarely at children.
Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States
Bibliotheca Alexandrina is more than a library! Opened in 2002, here is a cultural complex that also includes a planetarium, four museums, art galleries for temporary and permanent exhibitions, specialized museums, and a manuscript restoration laboratory. The library has shelf space for eight million books! The main structure is a contemporary granite building, circular in design and covered in carvings done by local artists. The library offers guided tours, but since we had our own guide with us, we opted to just peek inside. It was very crowded the day we visited because the schools were on holiday. By the way, you’ll have a great view of the Citadel from here (and remember to look for Bibliotheca Alexandrina when you’re at the Citadel).
4. The Fine Arts Museum
5. El Shona Art Centre & Museums
6. El Kobba El Samaweya
7. Cavafy Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By michelsW4365UU - Athens, Greece
At a corner of a narrow Alexandria's street you see an apartment house like any other of this city. Entering and heading to the second floor, where Cavify's apartment, you get a very clean impression of how these prewar buildings were looking. The museum itself is very well kept, although most of the furniture are replicas, based on original photos. You will see a big collection of photos of the poet and his family as well as a very rich collection of the editions of his poems and books on him. A visit there is more a must-do pilgrimage to one of the most important poets, not so widely known, of late 19th early 20th century. You get also an idea on how the city's middle class used to live in this multinational multicultural city at the beginning of the 20th century.
8. Mahmoud Said Museum
9. Gallery Alex Creation
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
