Tour the New Library of Alexandria

Today visitors can tour the New Library of Alexandria. When the world lost the original Alexandria Library it was truly a tragedy since it housed some of the most well-known and earliest manuscripts in the world...

The Famous Alexandria Library

Many people have seen the famous films made about Cleopatra, each depicting her heartbreak at hearing the news of the destruction of her hometown’s famous library, and there is yet to be a performance which would adequately capture the Queen’s true despair.

When the world lost the original Library of Alexandria it was truly a tragedy since it housed some of the most well-known and earliest manuscripts in the world, in fact some books and works disappeared forever in the fire. When the new Library of Alexandria, or Bibliotheca Alexandrina, opened its doors in 2002 it was if the world could finally recover from that much earlier loss.

The Most Important Collection of Books

The goal of the New Alexandria Library is to once again become the most important collection of books and manuscripts in the known world, and to work at recreating what was lost. The designers created enough space to hold more than eight million volumes, as well as a special conference center and distinct individual libraries for the blind and for children’s literature.

The Location... and Architecture

The New Alexandria Library was built on the original location of the ancient Library of Alexandria and is a striking example of modern architecture and engineering genius. It has the appearance of a vast sundial resting in the midst of the city’s downtown and waterfront area. In fact, Alexandria’s famous and beloved “Corniche” takes walkers and visitors immediately past the New Library of Alexandria as they stroll the waterfront.

It is constructed from Aswan granite, and houses several art galleries, a planetarium and a laboratory as well as its mammoth reading room and collection rooms.

The New Alexandria Library is considered a worldwide asset and as such received its collections in the form of donations from museums, libraries, institutions and schools from around the globe. For example, the French government contributed many important documents and publications dealing specifically with the construction of the Suez Canal to the New Library of Alexandria.


Day Tours from Alexandria Port
Short Egypt Day Tours with pick up from Alexandria Port are a popular choice among cruise passengers arriving at Alexandria, Egypt.


Day Tours from Cairo to Alexandria
Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and Petra day tours are a fantastic opportunity for those who want to take in historic sites and destinations while visiting Cairo, Egypt.


Remember! All our Egypt tour packages are private and fully customizable. We can add a tour of the New Library of Alexandria to any of our Egypt tours.