Alexandria day out: see the Sunken City exhibition this week
An Alexandria day out built around the city’s underwater history
If you are looking for a smart midweek outing in Alexandria on Wednesday 20 August and Thursday 21 August, the strongest culture-led pick is Alexandria National Museum, where the city’s underwater heritage is back in focus through the current sunken antiquities display often referred to in official coverage as the “Secrets of the Sunken City” exhibition. The timing matters: Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities linked the exhibition to Alexandria’s Underwater Cultural Heritage events, and official state coverage said the program ran across museums and archaeological sites in Alexandria governorate on 20–21 August, with the exhibition inaugurated on 21 August. The exhibition presents artifacts recovered from Abu Qir Bay, part of the wider story of the submerged ancient cities off Alexandria’s coast.
For readers in Egypt, this is exactly the kind of outing that works as a real local escape rather than a generic museum stop: you get one of Alexandria’s most distinctive collections, a central location on 110 Al Horreya Road in the Raml Station area, and easy add-ons nearby, from the Graeco-Roman Museum to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the sea-facing Qaitbay district.
What is the “Secrets of the Sunken City” exhibition?
Official coverage of the exhibition’s opening said it showcases 86 archaeological pieces, including objects displayed for the first time, all tied to Alexandria’s underwater archaeological story. The Ministry also said the display includes artifacts recovered from Abu Qir Bay since 2000 by the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology. In separate official museum material, Alexandria National Museum is described as having a dedicated hall for sunken antiquities, with notable pieces including a black granite statue of Isis, a statue of a priest of Isis, marble statues, and a head of Alexander the Great.
The wider historical frame is what makes this exhibition especially worth seeing in Alexandria rather than anywhere else. Official reporting on the show says it tells the story of ancient settlements that disappeared over centuries because of earthquakes, land subsidence and rising sea levels, while still highlighting how important they once were as social, economic and military centres between the 6th century BC and the 4th century AD.
How to visit Alexandria National Museum this week
Opening hours
According to the Ministry’s official museum page, Alexandria National Museum is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the ticket window closing at 4:00 pm. If you are planning to go specifically on 20 or 21 August, it is best to arrive by late morning or early afternoon so you still have time for a second stop nearby.
Ticket prices
- Egyptian adult: EGP 20
- Egyptian student: EGP 5
- Foreigner adult: EGP 220
- Foreigner student: EGP 110
The same official page also lists free entry for Egyptians and Arabs aged 60+, Egyptians and Arabs with special needs, orphaned children, certain pre-booked public school trips, and children under 6.
Why this museum is worth the stop even beyond the temporary buzz
The museum itself is housed in the former palace of Asaad Basili Pasha, an Italianate building later acquired by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and opened as a museum in 2003. Its permanent displays span Egyptian history from prehistory to the modern era, but the underwater section is the big differentiator for an Alexandria itinerary. The museum also notes collections of coins, ceramics, glass, metals, Islamic-era weapons, and pieces connected to the family of Muhammad Ali Pasha.
Best way to structure the outing
Stop 1: Alexandria National Museum
Start here and give it 60 to 90 minutes. If your main purpose is the underwater cultural heritage exhibition, head first to the sunken antiquities hall and then loop back through the rest of the museum. Mobile photography is listed as free of charge on the official museum page, but flash is not allowed.
Stop 2: Graeco-Roman Museum
From there, the most logical second stop is the Graeco-Roman Museum, another major Alexandria institution and one specifically praised in official coverage around the underwater heritage events. The museum is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday evening hours until 8:00 pm; the ticket window closes at 4:30 pm on regular days and 7:00 pm during evening hours. Ticket prices are listed officially as EGP 40 for Egyptian adults and EGP 20 for Egyptian students. If your visit falls on Wednesday 20 August or Thursday 21 August, plan it as an afternoon stop before closing.
This is the best companion museum because it deepens the Alexandria story you start at the National Museum. If the first stop gives you the drama of artifacts lifted from the sea, the Graeco-Roman Museum gives you the urban, religious and daily-life context of Alexandria above water.
Stop 3: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (@bibalexofficial on Instagram)
If you still have energy, continue toward Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Official visiting information lists opening hours for visits, museums and the Planetarium Science Center as Monday to Thursday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, while Friday is closed. For the main library, tickets are listed at EGP 10 for Egyptian adults; the BA’s Antiquities Museum is separately listed at EGP 20 for Egyptian adults, while the inclusive ticket covering multiple museum spaces is EGP 50 for Egyptian adults.
This stop makes sense for anyone who wants a fuller heritage-focused day rather than a quick one-and-done museum visit. It is also one of the city’s easiest places to combine architecture, exhibitions and a sea-facing walk.
What else to see nearby if you want a longer Alexandria route
Qaitbay Citadel
If you prefer to end the day outdoors, head west toward Qaitbay Citadel, built by Sultan al-Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Qaitbay between 1477 and 1479 over the ruins of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. The Ministry’s official page lists daily opening hours from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, with tickets at EGP 60 for Egyptian adults and EGP 30 for Egyptian students. It is the best nearby add-on if you want your day to end with sea views rather than more display cases.
There is another reason it fits the underwater-heritage theme: the whole district keeps you close to the coastline that shaped, protected and sometimes swallowed parts of ancient Alexandria.
Shallalat Gardens area
If you want a softer, lower-cost add-on around the museum, the Shallalat area is worth keeping in mind. It has also been part of recent Alexandria archaeology news, with Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s Archaeology Museum hosting an exhibition in 2026 marking 20 years of excavations in Shallalat Gardens. That makes the district feel especially relevant right now for readers interested in how Alexandria’s layers keep turning up in both land and sea excavations.
Practical tips for 20–21 August
- Go early: Alexandria National Museum ticket sales end at 4:00 pm.
- Prioritize the museum first: Build the rest of the day around it, not the other way around.
- Pair indoor and outdoor stops: National Museum plus Graeco-Roman Museum for a culture-heavy day, or National Museum plus Qaitbay for a museum-and-Corniche mix.
- Keep cash or a payment backup: Official sites publish ticket prices, but it is always wise to be prepared on the ground.
- Dress for walking: The best version of this outing includes at least one extra stop and some time around central Alexandria.
The bottom line
For an Alexandria day out this week, the strongest anchor is clear: Alexandria National Museum and its sunken antiquities exhibition tied to the 20–21 August Underwater Cultural Heritage events. It is current, locally grounded and uniquely Alexandrian. Add the Graeco-Roman Museum if you want a serious history itinerary, or Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Qaitbay Citadel if you want the outing to feel broader and more atmospheric. Either way, this is one of those rare Alexandria plans where the headline stop and the nearby add-ons genuinely improve each other.