Alexandria Things to Do Tips by maykal

While slaving away on my university dissertation, I constantly came across references about Alexandria's famous library...well, that particular library burnt down many moons ago, but happily, a new library has been opened in a great location on the seafront overlooking the Eastern Harbour. The architecture is quite unusual...the library rears up from ground level like a wave, and with walkways and shimmering pools, it is quite beautiful too. Inside, there are many attractions including historical exhibits, a manuscript museum and many many books...must be a great place to study, although I'm sure it must be annoying to have tourists cavorting around the stairwells when you're trying to work conscientiously!!
Lack of time and money meant that we only paid to access the main library, but for those with more of both, you can buy all manner of tickets to different parts...

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Address: Shatby
Directions: Take the tram to Shatby tram station, or walk along the corniche...it isn't too far and is a pleasant walk ;@P

Nuss al-balad means downtown, and this is an area certainly worth a wonder round. Starting from the railway station, you should follow Nabi Daniel Street past the amphitheatre and through the edge of the souq, until you reach Sa'ad Zaghloul Square on the seafront. Now, I was travelling with a Sudanese friend, and this was his first view of the sea...it was like watching a little child as his face broke out in a huge smile!

Around the square are several colonial-style buildings, the most impressive being the Hotel Cecil, where Winston Churchill parked his bum. From here, you can either walk along to the right to the Biblioteca Alexandrina and the beaches beyond, or left towards the fishing boats at Anfushi and Fort Qaitbey. If the sun is shining, the wind blowing and you feel energetic, walking the seafront is a very nice way to spend half a day.

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If you walk along the Corniche towards Fort Qaitbey, you can't miss the huge mosque of El Attareen. It lies in an impressive square full of palm trees, and is one of the more beautiful buildings in downtown Alexandria. I would have gone in, but my travel companion told me it was coffee and chicha time. Around the mosque are several narrow lanes forming the old quarters of Alexandria. Unfortunately, there is not much left, in comparison with Cairo or other Egyptian cities, but you can come across an overhanging Ottoman house or a quiet backstreet cafe if you are determined. The souqs also begin near here...a very good area to get lost in.

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Standing close to where the famous ancient lighthouse once stood, the white castle of Qaitbey seems to float in the sea. From across the harbour, it almost seems like an island, with brightly painted fishing boats bobbing up and down all around it, but up close, you'll see that it is connected to the rest of the city by a pedestrian walkway. The fort now houses a Naval Museum, which unfortunately did not tempt me to part with my pounds, so I can only tell you about the outside...it would have been nice to go inside just for the views across the Eastern Harbour, but money was fast disappearing at that point! Instead, we sat by the entrance eating popcorn, watching locals hurl themselves from the rocks into the water. The area has been recently "done up" for tourists, but in september, there were precious few of them about.

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Address: eastern of alexandria-Anfushi area
Directions: If you are on the Corniche and look left, it should be obvious where the fort is...minibuses to Anfushi will take you close, if your legs aren't up to the walk.