Alexandria stretches about 40 km along Egypt's northern coast at the western edge of the Nile Delta, and it has been a port and trading city for well over two thousand years. For a visitor, that history shows up less in monuments than in the fabric of the place: old buildings with colonial-style lobbies, a long seafront Corniche, and a harbour that still defines the shape of the centre.
Most of what you will want to see clusters around the Eastern Harbor and the downtown grid behind it, while the newer resort-style accommodation sits along the coast to the east, several kilometres from the historic centre. This guide covers which areas make sense as a base depending on your budget and what you want to be near, not which specific property to book.
Best areas to stay in Alexandria
1. Raml Station and the downtown Corniche
This is the historic heart of the city, on and just behind the Corniche around Raml Station and Saad Zaghloul Street. It is the most practical base for a first visit: you are on Alexandria's main street, within walking distance of the centre of town, and handy for sightseeing. The area has the greatest concentration of places to stay in all price ranges, from budget rooms in older buildings to grand old hotels.
Expect older buildings, some with colonial-style lobbies, and a mix of budget and mid-range rooms. The trade-off is noise: the Corniche traffic swirls constantly, and lower-floor rooms, especially at the back, can be loud. Good soundproofing matters here.
2. Mansheya
Mansheya is a downtown district just inland from the seafront, with addresses on streets such as Borsa Kadema Street and Hasan El Shiekh Street. It suits budget travellers who want to be in the thick of the city rather than on the waterfront strip. You will find cheap downtown hotels here, some on the first floor of Corniche buildings with sea views.
It is central and walkable to the rest of downtown, but the area is busy and the accommodation is basic. Cleaning standards in the cheapest places can be erratic, so it pays to look before you commit.
3. The seafront near the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The stretch of coast roughly a kilometre east of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a quieter, more residential base. It suits travellers who want to be close to the library and the sea without the density of downtown. Accommodation here leans to budget and simple mid-range, including hostels and small hotels.
You are close to the sea and the Bibliotheca, but further from Raml Station and the main downtown sights, so you will rely on walking or transport along the Corniche to get around.
4. Mazarita
Mazarita sits east of the centre along the coast, around Champollion Street and the corner of Omar Lotfy. It is a mid-range area, with modern buildings and some rooms overlooking the sea, and it is not far from the Alexandria Library. It suits visitors who want a calmer, more contemporary base within reach of the centre.
This is a good compromise if you want sea views and a quieter street at night but still want to be a reasonable distance from the historic core.
5. Stanley Bridge and the eastern beach strip
Further east along El Gaish Road, around Stanley Bridge, the character changes to beachfront. Old-style hotels look onto the beach restaurant strip, and the public beaches are here. It suits visitors who prioritise the sea and a resort feel over proximity to the historic centre.
Be aware that the public Mediterranean beaches along this coast are not clean, and this area is several kilometres from downtown, so you will need transport for sightseeing.
6. Montaza and the far eastern coast
The far eastern end of the Corniche, around Montaza Park and El Saa Square, is where most of Alexandria's top-end hotels are found, several kilometres from the historic city centre. This is the choice for a resort-style stay with space, comfort and service as the priority.
The trade-off is distance: you are away from the old city and will depend on taxis or driving to reach the centre. Beaches across the busy road here are grubby, and some properties in this stretch are in need of renovation.
7. Alex West and the northern coast road
Out along the Northern Coast Road, in the part-built Alex West district, you find large modern hotels with a deliberately away-from-the-city feel, clean and spacious rooms and air conditioning. This suits travellers with a car, or those breaking a coastal journey, rather than anyone planning to sightsee in central Alexandria.
The distance is the defining factor, and there is some construction noise in the surrounding district.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: Small hotels and hostels, often on upper floors of older buildings, with dorm beds or simple single and double rooms. Shared or down-the-hall bathrooms, warm water, sometimes shared kitchens and common areas. Standards vary, and it is usually not necessary to reserve ahead online, which tends to be more expensive than walking in.
- Mid-range: No-frills hotels with private bathrooms and hot water, and more modern blocks with air conditioning, cable TV and some sea-view rooms. Expect basic but functional rooms, often within walking distance of the centre or the library.
- Splurge: Upscale and resort hotels, mostly along the coast to the east, several kilometres from the historic centre. Comfort and service are the focus, some with private beaches. The grand old hotels in the centre offer period style and central locations instead of resort facilities.
- Apartments: For stays of a month or more, renting is worth considering. Apartments come in a range of prices and states of repair, landlords often live in the same block and will haggle, and it is worth viewing the place in the late afternoon before paying anything.
Best area for a first visit
Raml Station and the downtown Corniche is the best base for a first visit. It puts you on Alexandria's main street, handy for sightseeing and within walking distance of the centre of town, with the widest choice of accommodation in every price range. Choose a room with good soundproofing, since the Corniche traffic and the wedding parties held in the grand old hotels can be loud.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book accommodation in Alexandria in advance?
For budget places, it is mostly not necessary to reserve ahead online, and doing so is generally more expensive. You can simply walk around an area with several hotels and ask for a price; there are at least seven or so clustered near one another downtown, so one will usually match your budget and standard.
Which part of Alexandria is quietest?
The centre is the noisiest, particularly lower-floor rooms on the main street and at the back of buildings near the Corniche, where traffic and event noise carry. The eastern coastal areas and the stretch near the Bibliotheca are calmer, at the cost of being further from the historic centre.
Where are the top-end hotels located?
Most of Alexandria's top-end hotels are along the coast to the east, several kilometres from the historic city centre. A smaller number of grand old hotels sit centrally on the main street, which is handier for sightseeing.
Is it worth renting an apartment instead of a hotel?
For stays of a month or more, yes. Apartments are easy to come by in a range of prices and states of repair, and landlords will haggle. Always view the apartment before paying, ideally in the late afternoon so you can judge the light and any insect problems.
Compare live prices for the areas that suit you using the booking tools on this page.