The Citadel of Qaitbay is a 15th-century Mamluk fortress on the western tip of Alexandria’s eastern harbour, built between 1477 and 1480 by Sultan Qaitbay on the foundations of the ancient Pharos lighthouse — one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The squat three-storey keep, the surrounding battlements, and the cannon emplacements have made the citadel one of Alexandria’s most photogenic landmarks for 500 years, and the Mediterranean view from the upper ramparts is the standout image of the city. The Citadel is the typical final stop on every Alexandria day tour from Cairo, paired with the Library of Alexandria and the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa.
The site of the Citadel of Qaitbay has been continuously occupied since the 3rd century BCE. The Pharos of Alexandria, the ancient lighthouse built between 280 and 247 BCE under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, stood here as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The lighthouse rose around 100 metres above the harbour, used a fire reflected by a polished metal mirror, and was visible from up to 50 km out at sea.
The Pharos was damaged by earthquakes in 956, 1303, and 1323 CE, with the final 1303 earthquake collapsing most of the upper structure. The remains stood in ruins for nearly two centuries until Sultan Qaitbay, the Mamluk ruler of Egypt and Syria, ordered a defensive fortress built on the lighthouse foundations in 1477 to protect Alexandria from the Ottoman naval threat. Stone from the collapsed Pharos was reused in the citadel’s construction; sections of the Pharos’s pink granite blocks are still visible in the lower courses of the citadel walls.
The citadel was completed in 1480 with a 17-metre keep at the centre, surrounded by curtain walls reaching 20 metres in height. Ottoman forces took the citadel along with the rest of Egypt in 1517, and used it as a major naval base for the next three centuries. The French occupation of 1798-1801 and the British naval bombardment of 1882 both damaged the structure.
Major restorations took place in 1882-1904, the 1980s, and 2003. The current presentation includes a small Naval Museum in the keep, restored Mamluk-era mosque on the second floor, and access to the upper ramparts with their Mediterranean views.
The Main Entrance and Courtyard opens through a fortified gateway flanked by guard chambers. The courtyard houses several historic cannons and the foundation walls of secondary fortifications.
The Three-Storey Keep is the citadel’s centrepiece. The ground floor holds the original storage and barrack rooms, the second floor contains the Mamluk-era mosque (still consecrated and used for prayer), and the third floor has restored officer quarters and the access stairs to the roof.
The Mosque Interior on the second floor is the citadel’s most architecturally refined space. The small Mamluk mosque has a carved mihrab (prayer niche) and original tile-work. Visitors should remove shoes before entering.
The Cannon Emplacements on the seaward walls hold around two dozen Ottoman-era cannons of various sizes, several still mounted on their original wooden carriages. The cannons faced the eastern Mediterranean approaches to Alexandria.
The Naval Museum in two ground-floor rooms displays artefacts from the major sea battles fought in Alexandrian waters: the Battle of the Nile (1798, Napoleon vs Nelson), the Bombardment of Alexandria (1882), and various Mamluk and Ottoman naval campaigns.
The Upper Ramparts give the panoramic Mediterranean view that is the citadel’s most-photographed feature. The seaward side overlooks the open Mediterranean; the landward side looks back across the Corniche to the eastern harbour and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in the distance.
Location: Western tip of the eastern harbour, Alexandria, at the end of the Corniche. Around 4 km west of central Alexandria.
Opening hours: 09:00 to 17:00 daily (summer), 09:00 to 16:00 (winter). Last entry around 30 minutes before closing.
Entrance fee (2026, subject to change): Approximately 150 EGP (around $3 USD) for foreign-visitor adults, 75 EGP for students with international ID. Naval Museum included in the main ticket.
Photography: Permitted throughout without flash. Tripods need a separate paid permit.
Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours including the upper ramparts and the Naval Museum.
Getting there: Every Alexandria day tour from Cairo includes the Citadel as the final afternoon stop. From central Alexandria, walk along the Corniche from the Cecil Hotel (around 45 minutes), take a taxi for around 80 EGP one-way, or use the harbour tram from Raml Station.
Accessibility: The main courtyard is largely accessible. The keep interior and upper ramparts require climbing stone stairs. Not fully wheelchair-friendly above ground floor.
Visit at sunset. The Mediterranean view from the upper ramparts is the citadel’s standout feature, and the soft golden-hour light from 17:00 onward photographs the limestone walls beautifully against the sea.
Walk the Corniche from the Bibliotheca. The 30-minute waterfront walk between the two sites is one of Alexandria’s most pleasant urban experiences. Several cafés along the route make good rest stops.
Climb the Naval Museum’s spiral stairs. The lower museum rooms are easy to miss but cover the major naval battles fought in Alexandrian waters in compelling detail.
Visit in cooler months. The citadel’s exposed Mediterranean position is windy and refreshing in winter, but uncomfortably hot in midsummer afternoons. November to March is the most comfortable visiting season.
The Citadel is included in every EDT Alexandria itinerary as the standard final stop. The three best options:
Every EDT Alexandria tour includes private transport, entrance fees, bottled water, and a licensed Egyptologist guide.
A 15th-century Mamluk fortress on the western tip of Alexandria’s eastern harbour, built between 1477 and 1480 by Sultan Qaitbay on the foundations of the ancient Pharos lighthouse. The keep, battlements, and cannon emplacements have made it one of Alexandria’s most photogenic landmarks for 500 years.
The ancient lighthouse built between 280 and 247 BCE under Ptolemy II, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It rose around 100 metres above the harbour and was visible from up to 50 km out at sea. Earthquakes in 956, 1303, and 1323 CE destroyed the upper structure.
Sultan Qaitbay, the Mamluk ruler of Egypt and Syria from 1468 to 1496, ordered the fortress built in 1477 on the Pharos foundations to defend Alexandria from the rising Ottoman naval threat. Construction was completed in 1480.
Yes. The upper ramparts give a panoramic view of the open Mediterranean on the seaward side and the eastern harbour with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina visible on the landward side. The view is the citadel’s most-photographed feature, especially at sunset.
Yes. The combination of the Mamluk architecture, the connection to the ancient Pharos, the small Naval Museum, and the Mediterranean view makes it one of Alexandria’s most rewarding sites. Best visited as the final stop on an Alexandria day.
1 to 1.5 hours including the upper ramparts and the Naval Museum. The site is compact but the climb to the upper ramparts and the museum rooms add useful time.