How much do hotels in Alexandria cost?

Budget guesthouses near Raml Station run EGP 500-1,500 per night. Mid-range hotels on or near the Corniche cost EGP 2,000-6,000. Luxury properties including the Four Seasons San Stefano and Sofitel Cecil start at EGP 7,000-15,000 per night before taxes and service charges.

Where is the best area to stay in Alexandria?

The Corniche strip between Downtown and Montazah is the most practical base. The Downtown end (near Raml Station and Cecil Hotel) gives walkability to the main historic sights. The Montazah eastern end suits those who prefer a beach-resort feel with palace gardens nearby.

How far is Alexandria from Cairo?

Alexandria is 220km from Cairo. The fast train takes 2 hours from Ramses Station (EGP 90-250 depending on class, as of 2026). Road takes 2.5-3.5 hours by car. Regular bus services also run from Cairo Gateway bus station. Most visitors do Alexandria as a day trip from Cairo or a one-night stop.

Is it worth staying overnight in Alexandria?

Yes, if you want to see the Alexandria National Museum, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina properly, and have an evening on the Corniche. These cannot be done well as a single day trip from Cairo. Two nights allows a relaxed visit.

Does Alexandria have a beach?

Yes -- Alexandria has a long Mediterranean beach running 26km along the Corniche. The western beaches around Sidi Bishr and Montazah are most popular. Water quality varies by section. Summer (June-August) brings huge domestic Egyptian crowds; October-May the beaches are calm and uncrowded.

Alexandria Hotels | The Egypt Guides

Alexandria sits on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, 220km northwest of Cairo, and functions as a genuinely different city in character and atmosphere. The seafront Corniche, the Graeco-Roman heritage, and the working fishing port give it a distinctly Mediterranean feel compared to the Nile Valley cities. Accommodation here ranges from grand colonial hotels with real history behind them to functional mid-range Corniche properties, with a growing budget guesthouse sector around the Raml Station transport hub.

Getting to Alexandria

From Cairo by train: The most comfortable option. Alexandria Misr Station (also called Mahattat Misr) is the main terminus. Fast trains (Turbini/Spanish) take around 2 hours from Cairo Ramses Station. Second-class AC: approximately EGP 90. First-class AC: EGP 180-250 as of 2026. Book through the Egyptian National Railways website or at the station.

From Cairo by car or taxi: 220km via the Desert Road. 2.5-3 hours without traffic. Uber intercity is not available, but shared service taxis (microbus) run from Cairo Turguman bus station for EGP 50-80.

Alexandria Airport (HBE - Borg El Arab): The airport is 45km southwest of Alexandria city centre. Taxi to central hotels takes 45-60 minutes, approximately EGP 200-350. The airport handles limited domestic flights plus some international charter routes, particularly in summer.

Budget Hotels in Alexandria (EGP 500-2,000 per night)

Le Metropole Hotel (Raml Station area) — a classic old-city hotel in central Downtown Alexandria with high ceilings, a cafe, and rooms that retain original character. Well-located for the main sights. EGP 800-1,500 per night. The building has more character than the room fittings, which are functional rather than luxurious.

Union Hotel (Raml Station) — a budget standby in the Raml Station area, reliable and affordable. EGP 500-900 per night. Very central, walking distance to the Corniche and Alexandria National Museum. Basic but clean.

Acropole Hotel (Downtown) — another classic city-centre property in the upper budget bracket. EGP 700-1,200. Popular with independent travellers who want centrality over facilities.

Dreams Hotel Alexandria (central) — a clean modern budget option with air conditioning and en-suite rooms. EGP 600-1,100 per night. More consistent room quality than the older historic properties.

For the absolute cheapest accommodation, guesthouses around the Raml Station metro area offer doubles from EGP 350-600. Quality varies significantly — read recent reviews carefully.

Mid-Range Hotels in Alexandria (EGP 2,000-7,000 per night)

Paradise Inn Beach Resort (Montazah) — a comfortable 4-star property in the Montazah area east of the city, near the palace gardens and beach. Pool and sea views. EGP 2,500-5,000 per night. Good for a beach-oriented stay; a long taxi or bus ride from the historic Downtown.

Mercure Alexandria Romance Hotel (Corniche) — a French-brand 4-star on the Corniche with sea-facing rooms. EGP 3,000-6,000 per night. Reliable facilities, good breakfast buffet, and a practical central location between the two ends of the Corniche.

Paradise Inn Windsor Palace Hotel (Downtown Corniche) — a beautifully positioned hotel in a converted palace-era building overlooking the Eastern Harbour. EGP 2,500-4,500. One of the best combinations of location, character, and price in Alexandria’s mid-range.

Helnan Palestine Hotel (Montazah) — a large Soviet-era resort hotel within the Montazah palace gardens, with private beach access. EGP 3,000-5,500. The gardens setting is distinctive; the rooms are dated but the position is hard to beat for a beach-and-garden stay.

Swiss Inn Alexandria (central) — a reliable 4-star business hotel with consistent modern rooms and a good Corniche location. EGP 2,500-5,000 per night.

Luxury Hotels in Alexandria (EGP 7,000+ per night)

Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano (San Stefano, eastern Corniche) — the best hotel in Alexandria by a clear margin. A modern tower on the eastern Corniche with high-quality rooms, private beach, multiple restaurants, and full Four Seasons service. Sea-facing rooms look out across the Mediterranean. EGP 10,000-20,000 per night depending on season and view category. Opens onto the San Stefano mall complex for shopping and dining.

Sofitel Cecil Alexandria (Eastern Harbour, Downtown) — the most historically significant hotel in Alexandria. Opened in 1929 on the Eastern Harbour corniche. Somerset Maugham, Winston Churchill, and Noel Coward all stayed here. The views over the Eastern Harbour and the location in the heart of historic Alexandria are unbeatable. EGP 7,000-13,000 per night. Rooms vary significantly — request a harbour-facing room specifically.

Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza (western Alexandria) — a large modern resort with pool and beach access, well-suited to families. EGP 5,000-9,000 per night. The western location means longer travel to the historic city centre.

Fairmont Alexandria San Stefano — the resort complex at San Stefano (separate from the Four Seasons) offers upscale accommodation with beach and mall access in the eastern Corniche area. EGP 6,000-11,000 per night.

Where to Stay: Area Guide

Downtown and Eastern Harbour (Raml Station area): The historic core of the city, walkable to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Alexandria National Museum, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa (by taxi), and the fish market. Evening life is along the Corniche here. Suits sightseeing-focused visitors.

Montazah (eastern end, 12km from Downtown): The Montazah Royal Palace gardens provide a peaceful, green setting. Beach hotels cluster here. Better for a beach-and-relaxation stay, but requires taxis for city centre sights.

San Stefano (eastern Corniche, between Downtown and Montazah): A modern shopping and hotel cluster around the Four Seasons. Good balance of beach access and proximity to the city.

Sidi Bishr (eastern suburbs): Local beach area popular with Egyptian families in summer. Limited tourist hotels. Fine for extended stays but not a natural base for international visitors.

Seasonal Pricing in Alexandria

Summer (June-September): Peak season for domestic Egyptian tourism. Alexandria is the beach escape for Cairo families, and occupancy is high at all levels. Prices rise 30-50% versus the rest of the year. Pre-booking is essential. The city is crowded and vibrant, particularly on weekends.

October to May: Lower occupancy, lower prices, and more comfortable temperatures for sightseeing (15-25C). International visitors who come for the history and the Corniche tend to prefer this period. November to March offers the best conditions for walking the city.

Ramadan period: Hotels in Alexandria see strong demand from Gulf tourists who come during Ramadan for the sea air and coastal atmosphere. Book ahead if your travel falls in the Ramadan window.

Neighbourhood Guide

Alexandria stretches along the Mediterranean coast for roughly 70km. For visitors, the practical range is between the western harbour and the eastern Montaza gardens - a 20km sweep anchored by the Corniche road. Where you stay within this range determines how you experience the city. Hotels far from the Corniche lose the main reason to stay in the city rather than making a day trip from Cairo. Staying on or within a short walk of the Corniche is worth paying for.

Downtown Alexandria / Raml Station: The historic centre, sitting on the Corniche walkable distance from Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, connected to the rest of the city by the antique tram network. Budget to mid-range hotels are concentrated here. The neighbourhood has a lived-in urban character - patisseries, coffee houses, and street food vendors from early morning. One advantage of staying Downtown is proximity to Alexandria’s famous seafood restaurants. Balbaa Village and Fish Market on the Eastern Harbour serve fresh catch at approximately EGP 200–500 per person. For a more casual meal, kushari and foul shops around Raml Station serve filling meals for EGP 20–40.

Stanley and Rushdi: A residential neighbourhood in the eastern city, built around the Stanley Bridge area and a popular beach. Quieter and more local in character than central Alexandria; attracts Egyptian domestic tourists in summer. A cluster of 3–4 star hotels in this zone offer mid-range options at approximately EGP 1,500–4,000 per night ($30–80 as of 2026).

San Stefano: The upscale eastern district. The Four Seasons Alexandria at San Stefano is the top hotel in the city. For visitors prioritising a high-end beach-oriented stay, this is the address. Downtown is approximately 20 minutes by taxi. Dining options here are more limited to hotel restaurants and the San Stefano Mall food court.

Getting Around: The historic tram network covers the Corniche from Downtown to the eastern suburbs - slow but functional and extremely inexpensive at approximately EGP 3–5 per ride. Taxis and ride-hailing apps (Uber and Careem both operate in Alexandria) are the practical option for moving between zones quickly - a Downtown to San Stefano trip costs approximately EGP 50–80 by app.

Booking Timing: Summer - July and August particularly - sees Alexandria fill with Egyptian domestic tourists escaping Cairo’s heat. Prices rise 30–50% above the rest of the year. Book well in advance, particularly on weekends (Thursday evening through Saturday in Egypt). Winter is quiet and mild (15–20°C).

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Hotels in Alexandria: Budget to Luxury with EGP Prices