If you are really a big WWII buff, then a trip to el Alamein might be interesting, but I would not make a special trip out of it otherwise. How were you planning to get there?

There is a train from Alexandria to el Alamein, which apparently takes about an hour. We are staying overnight in marina, and we will go from there to see both the war museum and also leukaspis. Leukaspis is the primary draw to that area.

Redpanda, I put el Alamein on my list for my recent trip to Egypt as we were going to Alexandria. It was an interesting drive and the war museum and cemetary was interesting. Our guide had not been there before but was very interested to go (we didn't care that he hadn't been there) and we all looked around like tourists. The cemetary was very moving. I did shed a few tears at the perfect rows and rows of tombstones. If you're going to Alexandria from Cairo, I'd put it on the list as it on the way (well, slightly out of the way).