The Alexandria Corniche is the seafront road and promenade of Alexandria, running for more than 16 km (over ten miles) along the Mediterranean from the Citadel of Qaitbay in the west to the Montaza gardens in the east. It passes the Eastern Harbour, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Stanley Bridge and a string of city beaches, and it is where Alexandrians come in the evening to walk, eat fish and sit by the sea.
Our guides walk the western part of the Corniche with almost every group we bring to Alexandria, usually from the Library to Qaitbay at the end of the day. This guide breaks the seafront into sections, says what is worth stopping for, and gives the practical tips that make the walk enjoyable.
The Corniche at a glance
| Length | Over 16 km (ten miles), Bahry / Qaitbay to Mandara / Montaza |
|---|---|
| Official names | 26th of July Road (west of Mansheya) and El Geish Road (east of it) |
| Built | Designed by Pietro Avoscani in 1870; built in phases from 1925 and opened in the mid-1930s; widened in 2001 and again in the early 2020s |
| Best section to walk | Bibliotheca Alexandrina to Qaitbay Citadel, about 3 km around the Eastern Harbour |
| Best time | Late afternoon to sunset; evenings in summer |
What to see along the Alexandria Corniche, west to east
Qaitbay Citadel and Bahry
The western end of the Corniche is the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, built by the Mamluk sultan Qaitbay on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. At the time of writing the ministry lists it as open daily from 9:00 to 20:00, with tickets at EGP 200 for foreign adults and EGP 100 for students. Around it, the old Bahry and Anfushi quarters are the fishermen's district, with fish markets and seafood restaurants. Read our Citadel of Qaitbay guide.
The Eastern Harbour and the fishing boats
Between Qaitbay and Mansheya the Corniche curves around the Eastern Harbour, the ancient royal port of the Ptolemies. Painted wooden fishing boats bob in the bay, and the view back to the citadel is the classic Alexandria photo. Beneath the water lie the remains of the ancient royal quarter, explored by underwater archaeologists since the 1990s.
Mansheya and Saad Zaghloul Square
Mansheya is the old European centre of the city, with the Monument of the Unknown Soldier on the seafront, and a short walk inland the square named after the nationalist leader Saad Zaghloul with the old Cecil Hotel and the trams of Raml Station. The cafes and patisseries here have served Alexandrians for a century.
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina
East of the centre, at Shatby, the tilted disc of the modern Library of Alexandria faces the sea, built near the site of the ancient library and opened in 2002. Its museums and planetarium make a good stop before the walk west. See our Library of Alexandria guide.
Stanley Bridge
Further east, Stanley Bridge, built during the great widening of the Corniche around 2001, crosses Stanley Bay on stone arches with Ottoman-style towers. The small sandy bay beneath, lined with old cabanas, is one of the most photographed spots in the city, beautiful at sunset.
The city beaches
Between Shatby and Montaza a chain of public and club beaches lines the road: Sidi Gaber, Glim, San Stefano, Miami, Asafra and Mandara. They are busy with Egyptian families from June to September. Many beaches lost much of their sand when the road was widened. Our Alexandria beaches guide compares them.
Montaza Palace gardens
The Corniche ends at Montaza, the royal estate where King Abbas II and King Fuad built summer palaces. The palace buildings are closed to the public, but the large gardens, the small beaches and the little bridge to the tea house on the point are open with an entry ticket, and they make a green, quiet end to the seafront.
Where to eat on the Corniche
Fish is the reason to eat on the Alexandria seafront. In most fish restaurants you choose your fish and seafood on ice, pay by weight, and say how you want it cooked: grilled, fried, or baked in the clay pot style called sayadeya with rice. Bahry and Anfushi near Qaitbay have the most traditional places. For dessert, the old patisseries around Raml Station and the ice cream and fruit cocktail shops along the Corniche are part of the evening ritual. Our list of top fish restaurants in Alexandria has names and areas.
Tips for walking the Corniche
- Walk the western section. From the Library to Qaitbay is about 3 km and takes an hour with stops; the eastern part is mostly road and beaches, better seen from a car.
- Go late in the day. The sun sets over the Eastern Harbour behind Qaitbay; in summer the promenade is busiest after 21:00.
- Crossing the road is the main hazard: traffic is fast and continuous. Use the pedestrian bridges and tunnels, or cross with a local.
- Weather: winter brings wind and rain storms from November to February, with waves breaking over the sea wall; it is dramatic but bring a jacket.
- Getting along it: taxis and ride-hailing apps work well; the city's minibuses run the whole Corniche, and the tram runs a few blocks inland.
- Dress: Alexandria is more conservative than the Red Sea resorts; on the public beaches local women swim covered.
Alexandria beyond the Corniche
A day in Alexandria usually combines the seafront with the city's ancient sites inland: the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Roman theatre at Kom El Dikka and the Alexandria National Museum. For a full plan, see what to see in one day in Alexandria, and if you are still deciding, read Cairo or Alexandria.
Plan it with us
Our Alexandria half day tour ends on the Corniche at Qaitbay, and the Alexandria archaeological day tour covers the catacombs, the theatre, the Library and the citadel. See all our Alexandria day tours.
Alexandria Corniche: quick answers
How long is the Alexandria Corniche?
More than 16 km (over ten miles), from Qaitbay Citadel in the west to Montaza in the east.
What is the best part of the Corniche to walk?
The Eastern Harbour, from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina to Qaitbay Citadel, about 3 km.
Can you swim along the Alexandria Corniche?
Yes, at the public and club beaches between Shatby and Montaza, mainly from June to September.
