Egypt is often thought of as hard going with children, and Luxor in July certainly can be. Alexandria is gentler. The air is cooler, the Corniche invites a walk, and there is sea on one side of nearly every outing. The trick is to match each sight to the age of the child.
What children tend to enjoy
The fort at Qaitbay is the hit. Children can climb inside thick walls, look out from the roof and hear that a giant lighthouse once stood here. The library surprises many, with its enormous reading hall and the sense of quiet space. Walking along the Corniche, with boats and fishermen, rarely needs a reason.
What suits older children and teenagers
The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa have a spiral stair and underground chambers, which many teenagers love and some younger children dislike. The Roman theatre at Kom el-Dikka and its mosaic floors are good for anyone who likes history. Teenagers also tend to enjoy the food walk if they are adventurous eaters.
Pacing the day
A half-day private tour of about five hours is usually the right size. You have a car, so tired children can rest between stops. Plan lunch in the middle, not at the end, and leave the afternoon for a swim or a nap. Our guides are used to families and will change the order if the mood shifts.
- Under five: choose the seafront and one short sight.
- Five to ten: the fort, the library and a long lunch.
- Eleven and over: a half or full day, with the Catacombs if they are keen.
- Teenagers: add the food walk in the evening.
What to skip with younger children
Leave the thirteen-hour Cairo run and the seven-hour Rosetta day until children are older. Both involve long periods in a car. If you want Giza with young children, a night in Cairo is a better plan than a day from Alexandria.
Making the history real for children
Children remember stories better than dates. At the fort, tell them about the tower that guided ships by fire at night. At the Catacombs, ask them to spot the mixed Egyptian and Roman carvings. At the library, let them guess how many books a reading hall that size could hold. Our guides are used to adapting their talk to the age of the group and will happily keep it short and lively.
Food, rest and practical points
Children often do better with small, frequent meals than with a long lunch. Ful, falafel, bread, rice pudding and grilled chicken are easy options. Carry wet wipes and hand gel, since facilities are basic at some sights. Plan a rest in the middle of the day, ideally somewhere with air conditioning. Check that nobody is running low on water before each new stop.
Entry queues are usually short outside school holidays, but they can grow at weekends and in Egyptian holiday weeks. Your guide handles tickets on our private tours, which keeps children from waiting around. Carry a light bag with spare clothes for younger children, and ask for a quiet moment at the fort if anyone gets overwhelmed.
Tell us the ages of your children when you book, so that the guide can prepare a plan to suit them. Open the tour pages for details.
Plan with us
Taking children to Alexandria: forts, sea air and short stops
Is Alexandria good for children? A family guide to the fort, the library, the seafront and the long drives, with tips for ages from toddlers to teenagers.