Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
Alexandria, Egypt
The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are a Roman-period burial complex cut three levels deep into the rock of Alexandria in…
1 ticket or tour
Egypt
Best ancient sites in Alexandria
Little of ancient Alexandria survives above ground, and its three catalogue sites belong to the Ptolemaic and Roman city rather than Pharaonic Egypt. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, cut three levels into the rock in the 2nd century AD, mix Egyptian gods, Greek motifs and Roman dress in a single tomb. Kom el Dikka holds the only Roman theatre in Egypt, a small marble one, with baths, lecture halls and villa mosaics around it. The Serapeum is now foundations and tunnels around Pompey’s Pillar, a granite column about 27 metres high.
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Kom el-Dikka Roman Theatre
Alexandria, Egypt
Kom el-Dikka is the largest open archaeological site in central Alexandria, with a small marble Roman theatre at its…
No online ticket
Serapeum and Pompey’s Pillar
Alexandria, Egypt
The Serapeum of Alexandria was the great Ptolemaic temple of the god Serapis, built on a rocky hill in the south-west…
No online ticket
See the catacombs first, then Kom el Dikka. The catacombs and the Serapeum are a ten-minute walk apart in Karmouz, and Kom el Dikka is about fifteen minutes away by taxi, near Misr station. Each takes about an hour, so all three fit a day trip from Cairo with time for the Qaitbay Citadel. Go in the morning, ideally from October to April, and check hours during Ramadan.
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Ancient sites in Alexandria: questions
How many ancient sites are there in Alexandria?
This catalogue lists 3 ruins and ancient sites in Alexandria, 1 of them with tickets or tours to book online. The most booked are Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa.
Which is the oldest ancient site in Alexandria?
Serapeum and Pompey’s Pillar, founded in 246 BC, is the oldest in the catalogue for Alexandria.