Annie60

I'm taking a tour this spring to Egypt, ant the tour group has a side trip to Alexandria. I realize this is an impossible question, is the side trip to Alexandria worth it? I know everyone has their own expectations, but has any of you had experience with a tour's side trip to Alexandria, both pros and cons and what was your overall impression of the jaunt to Alexandria? Thanks all.

BonnieN

We did Alex as a day trip from Cairo. It was a long day and having done it, would have rather added the time to Cairo, which is fascinating or Luxor. I would say no, there are to many more interesting ways to spend your time in Egypt. We really liked Egypt.
Bonnie

Percy

Annie60

What you do not say is how much time you are spending in Cairo and where else you re going besides Cairo.

How large is the tour?
Are you doing the Nile cruise also.
Are you going to
Luxor and/or Aswan and/or Abu Simble.?


Percy

Annie60

Percy
Yes, I am doing all those things, and Alexandria is an added option as a daytrip from Cairo by bus to visit Greco-Roman Museum, catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, Fort Qaitbey & Roman Theatre. My total time in Egypt is short, and includes Cairo, Giza, overnite train to Aswan, optional to Abu Simbel (which I'll take), Nile Cruise to Kom-Ombo and Edfu, Luxor, fly back to Cairo where the tour will stick in the trip to Alexandria. So it's Alexandria or the Citadel, a couple of mosques, Old Cairo and the Egyptian Museum. Which to chose, hummm...?

Percy

Annie60

Okay I get a better picture now of your situation.

If when you fly back from Luxor and your only choice is to either go to Alexandria or

visit more places in Cairo , then I would have to say stay in Cairo and see:

1. The Citadel
2. Ibn TulumMosque
3. City of the Dead
4. Coptic Cairo
5. Egyptian Museum with King Tut's Gold on display

6. And you have to go to the Khan al - Khalili Bazaar in Islamic Cairo.

However, if you can stay an extra day then GO to Alexandria.

You will see in Alexandria , all the places you mentioned plus more.

When I was in Egypt I stayed two extra days and toured all the places in Cairo that the tour did not take me to and then I went to Alexandria..(after the Nile Cruise and Abu Simble)

There is a lady in Cairo that does private tours and if you want you can contact her and she will take you to Alexandria via the train or car and show you around.

Let me know and I can give you her name and e-mail.

You are in a tough decision because here you have a chance to go to Alexandria and yet ,there are so many places left in Cairo that you have not see yet.

Try to stay the extra day, and then go to Alexandria...you will look back at it a year or two from now and wish you had stayed that extra day !!!!

I am so glad now that I stayed those extra two days.

Percy

jmvp

ttt

Annie60

Thanks, all this info helps me! I will probably stay in Cairo and do Alexandria when I can spend some time there and do it right. I am looking forward to Cairo, and there IS so much to do in so short a time. Thanks everyone.