Itineraries — Alexandria

The Alexandria and Mediterranean region represents an unknown dimension of Egypt — Mediterranean, Greco-Roman, cosmopolitan and Saharan. Far from the Giza pyramids and the pharaonic temples of Luxor, it is a more European Egypt in its historical DNA (founded by the Greeks, Romanised, then Ottoman and colonial) and more contrasting in its landscapes (from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Saharan dunes in the south).

The region is structured around three complementary poles. Alexandria (5 million inhabitants, second city of Egypt) is the former capital of the ancient world — founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Ptolemaic and then Roman capital, seat of the greatest library of humanity, chosen city of poets (Constantin Cavafy lived there all his life) and novelists (Lawrence Durrell's 'Alexandria Quartet' made it mythical in the 20th century). The Mediterranean north coast (El Alamein, Sidi Abdel Rahman, Marsa Matrouh) unfolds 500 km of spectacular beaches, little known to Western tourists but very frequented by Cairenes. The Siwa Oasis and the White Desert offer a Sahelian and Berber Egypt, isolated and preserved, accessible to travellers ready to leave classic circuits.

For a short stay (3-4 days), focus on Alexandria. Day 1: Greco-Roman ancient sites (Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, Roman amphitheatre). Day 2: contemporary Bibliotheca Alexandrina and its museums, Citadel of Qaitbay and the corniche. Day 3: Montaza Peninsula, royal palace and beaches, historic districts (Saad Zaghloul Square, Greek Quarter, Christian and Jewish cemeteries). For a more complete stay (8-10 days), add Siwa (3-4 days with White Desert and Great Sand Sea excursions) and possibly El Alamein (1 day) for the memory of World War II battles.

Access is mainly from Cairo — Alexandria is 2h30 by train (€15-35) or 3h by bus (€5-10), Siwa is 8h by bus from Cairo or 5h from Marsa Matrouh. No direct international flight to Alexandria from France — mandatory transit via Cairo. The Alexandria Borg el Arab airport (HBE) is served by EgyptAir from Cairo in 50 min (€60-150), but this option is rarely relevant given the speed of the train.