Alexandria

Alexandria – Ancient Treasures and a Small Taxi Adventure

Cruise Mein Schiff 5 – September 27, 2026

At 08:40, we left the harbor for our first destination – the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. We had previously negotiated a price of €5 per person with a taxi. The driver initially wanted €10 per person. We quickly realized: haggling is simply part of the experience in Alexandria.

The catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are among the most significant ancient burial sites in Alexandria. Below ground, we were welcomed by a fascinating mix of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman influences. We paid 200 Egyptian pounds per person for entry, equivalent to €3.40.

After that, we continued on foot to the Pompey’s Pillar, which we reached around 09:50. On our way through the streets, we were repeatedly approached by friendly Egyptians who showed us the right way to the entrance. At the same time, they pointed out certain small alleys and discouraged us from moving further in those directions. We felt a bit accompanied by them – and were of course happy to have found the right way.

The Pompey’s Pillar itself is an impressive relic from Roman times and one of Alexandria's most famous landmarks. The entry fee was also 200 Egyptian pounds here.

Even at the catacombs, a taxi driver had approached us and seemingly decided to wait for us. When we emerged from the Pompey’s Pillar, he was indeed still there. We agreed on €15 per hour for the further ride through Alexandria – instead of the initially requested €20.

At 10:10, we headed to the Roman Theater of Kom El Dikka. The well-preserved remains provide a lovely impression of how vibrant ancient Alexandria must have been. The entrance fee was again 200 Egyptian pounds.

Afterwards, we drove to the Greco-Roman Museum, which we reached around 10:40. Then we continued to the Library of Alexandria, one of the modern landmarks of the city. Around 11:15, we finally arrived at the Qaitbay Citadel by the Mediterranean Sea. The fortress was built in the 15th century and stands at a location where the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria is said to have once stood. The entry fee was also 200 Egyptian pounds.

Our last stop was the impressive Abu-l-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque around 11:50. After that, we made our way back to the ship with our taxi driver.

And now things got exciting again… 😄

During the return ride, the driver suddenly drove around various city blocks. I had cautiously opened Google Maps by then and noticed that we were by no means heading straight for the harbor. Suddenly, he demanded much more money. The agreed €15 per hour had suddenly turned into €50 per hour.

His explanation: We must have misheard – he had indeed said “fifty” and not “fifteen”. 🤔

We stuck to our agreement and wanted to pay a total of €50 for the approximately 2½ hour ride, including drinks. He was not at all agreeable to that. A rather emotional story followed about his four-month-old twins, his wife, and even a can of cola that allegedly cost €10.

Eventually, we had enough. We asked him very clearly to stop – and when we became even more assertive, he actually did. We placed the agreed €50 in the center console and got out.

His last question was indeed: “And how are you going to get to the harbor now?” 😄

Our answer was simple: Google Maps!

And indeed, Google Maps showed us the way to the harbor entrance – just about 400 meters away. So we returned to Mein Schiff 5 without any issues and were back on board around 12:30.

Later, we talked to other guests on the ship about our experience. It turned out that our €50 for the ride actually corresponded roughly to the usual price.

Our conclusion: Alexandria was fascinating, the ancient sights impressive – and haggling with taxi drivers seems to be an integral part of the experience. One can always give it a try… and I believe that many tourists end up paying more out of uncertainty or fear.

We were certainly glad to have had Google Maps with us. 😃