The Atlas Obscura Guide To Alexandria

8 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Alexandria, Egypt

Updated March 12, 2026

Unusual Attractions in Alexandria

Alexandria, Egypt

The Lost City of Heracleion

An ancient city exhumed from the depths of the ocean.

Alexandria, Egypt

Tamr Hena Museum

Part shoe store, part sociopolitical art gallery, part zoo.

Alexandria, Egypt

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The lost library of Alexandria, revived as a spearhead of cultural preservation.

Ali El Hendy has a stunning glass ceiling.

Alexandria, Egypt

Ali El Hendy Coffeehouse

Hidden away in a back alley, this Art Nouveau cafe has been in business since 1882.

Alexandria, Egypt

Sister Library of Alexandria

Underneath the Serapeum ruins lies a dark passage with nooks for books, the lesser-known “sister” to the famous ancient library.

The Quaitbay Citadel has an astonishing history.

Alexandria, Egypt

Qaitbay Citadel

This fortress was built using the last surviving stones from the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Alexandria, Egypt

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

A subterranean necropolis blending Egyptian, Hellenic, and Roman traditions and art styles.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Alexandria

Alexandria, Egypt

Ali El Hendy Coffeehouse

Hidden away in a back alley, this Art Nouveau cafe has been in business since 1882.

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Ruins 3

Ancient 3

Libraries 2

Nature 1

Collections 1

Statues 1

Politics 1

Animals 1

Underwater 1

Stores 1

Shops 1

Shoes 1

Natural Wonders 1

Catacombs And Crypts 1

Subterranean Sites 1

Catacombs 1

Books 1

Design 1

Underground Week 1

Coffee 1

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Stories About Alexandria

Maria points to a mysterious symbolic representation of an early chemistry experiment.

The Ancient Female Alchemist Whose Name Is in Your Kitchen

Who put the Marie in "bain-Marie"?

by Andrew Coletti, Atlas Obscura

April 8, 2024

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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Alexandria

8 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Alexandria, Egypt

Unusual Attractions in Alexandria

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Alexandria

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Alexandria, Egypt

Alexandria Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Alexandria Activity

Stories About Alexandria

The Ancient Female Alchemist Whose Name Is in Your Kitchen

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