Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

Down the spiral shaft

If you do one thing in Alexandria, make it the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa. The entrance is unremarkable — a circular shaft with a spiral staircase winding down its outer wall, the route by which bodies were once lowered into the rock. From there the necropolis opens out across three levels cut into the ground, the lowest of which is often flooded by groundwater and closed off, so don’t be surprised if you can’t reach the bottom.

What makes it worth the descent is the carving. This is a Roman-era tomb built when Alexandria was a melting pot, and it shows: the main burial chamber sets Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles side by side — Anubis rendered in Roman legionary armour, classical pilasters framing pharaonic figures, a hybrid you won’t see elsewhere. Foreigner entry runs around £3.50, paid in Egyptian pounds, with a camera fee sometimes added on top; check the current price on the official site, as it’s revised periodically.

Why it’s the one to choose

Two practical things make this an easy visit. It stays cool underground, a real relief on a hot Alexandria day, and it’s rarely crowded, so you can stand in the main tomb and actually look rather than shuffle past. Allow about an hour for the descent, the side galleries and the climb back out.

Is it worth it? Yes — comfortably the city’s strongest single sight. Alexandria’s other ancient remains are thin and scattered, but this one tomb does the work of a small museum, and the cross-cultural carving rewards a slow look. Keep expectations honest: the lighting is dim, the deepest level may be off-limits, and signage is sparse, so a guide or a little reading beforehand helps. Pompey’s Pillar stands a short walk away, so the obvious plan is to pair the two into a single morning before heading back to the Corniche.