Last days for BA’s Shallalat excavations show in Alexandria
Why this Alexandria exhibition is worth making time for now
If you have been putting off a cultural day out in Alexandria, this is the week to stop delaying it. Bibliotheca Alexandrina (@bibalexofficial on Instagram) is hosting “Twenty Years of Excavations at Shallalat Gardens (2006–2026)” at its Antiquities Museum, and the exhibition is scheduled to end on Saturday, October 24, 2026. It opened on April 24, 2026 as a collaboration between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Antiquities Museum and the Hellenic Research Institute of Alexandrian Civilization.
For Alexandria readers, the appeal is especially local. This is not a touring blockbuster imported from abroad. It is an exhibition built around two decades of archaeological work in Shallalat Gardens, one of the city’s most layered historic sites, with finds that speak directly to the topography of ancient Alexandria and the long-debated location of parts of its Royal Quarter.
What you will actually see inside
According to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s official exhibition listing, the show presents key discoveries from excavations that help reconstruct the history and urban layout of ancient Alexandria across multiple periods. The headline objects and structures highlighted by the museum include a Hellenistic statue most probably identified with Alexander the Great, remains of a monumental public building, part of the major Roman road L2, part of the Hellenistic Royal Road R1, and a large subterranean tunnel.
That list matters because it gives the exhibition more than a treasure-case feel. You are not only looking at isolated artifacts; you are seeing evidence used to map how Alexandria once functioned as a city. A recent Al-Ahram Hebdo report on the exhibition noted that it brings together around a hundred antiquities, with many pieces shown to the public for the first time.
If you are the type of museum visitor who likes to move quickly, expect this to be the kind of show where labels and context are part of the draw. The central idea is not simply “beautiful old objects,” but how those objects and remains help explain the buried urban history of Alexandria itself. That makes it especially rewarding for anyone who already enjoys walking the city’s older districts, from Chatby to Fouad Street to the wider historic center.
Ticket planning: prices, timings, and the easiest way to do it
Antiquities Museum ticket prices
For visitors who only want the museum hosting the exhibition, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s current official admission page lists Antiquities Museum tickets at EGP 20 for Egyptian adults, EGP 10 for Egyptian students, and EGP 10 for Egyptian senior citizens aged 60+. Non-Egyptian adult admission is listed at EGP 100.
Inclusive ticket option
If you want to turn this into a fuller outing, the BA also offers an inclusive ticket that gives access to the Main Library, Antiquities Museum, Manuscripts Museum, and free museums. The official price listed is EGP 50 for Egyptian adults and EGP 25 for Egyptian students.
For many local visitors, this combo is the smarter buy if you have a few hours rather than one quick stop. The Main Library ticket on its own includes access to guided tours, the Sadat Museum, and permanent and temporary exhibitions, while the inclusive option folds the Antiquities Museum into a more complete BA visit.
Opening hours to know before you go
The Antiquities Museum’s official visiting page lists opening hours as Sunday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 4:45 pm, and Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:45 pm. The museum is closed on Fridays. The ticket booth closes 15 minutes before museum closure.
That means your last practical full weekday visit window is earlier than many people assume. For the least rushed experience, aim to arrive by late morning or early afternoon rather than trying to squeeze in a last-minute visit near closing time.
Useful visitor notes
- Tickets for the Antiquities Museum are bought at the ticket office in front of the museum.
- Mobile photography is listed as free at the Antiquities Museum, while professional still photography costs EGP 50 for Egyptians.
- Backpacks are not allowed inside the museum.
- The museum is wheelchair-accessible.
- The maximum number allowed is 60 visitors per hour, according to the museum FAQ, so going earlier is sensible if you want a calmer visit.
How to plan the outing well
A simple Alexandria plan works best here: arrive at the BA in Chatby, see the Shallalat exhibition first while your energy is fresh, then decide whether to add the library or another museum before heading out for coffee or a meal. If you are going with family or out-of-town guests, the inclusive ticket makes the day feel better value. If your goal is strictly the temporary exhibition before it ends on October 24, the museum-only ticket is enough.
Because the exhibition is tied to Alexandria’s own archaeology, it pairs naturally with a walk or drive through nearby heritage-heavy streets afterwards. That is where Chatby and Fouad Street work especially well: one gives you the immediate BA area and Corniche access, while the other extends the outing into one of central Alexandria’s best-known historic corridors.
Where to eat nearby in Chatby and around Fouad Street
Inside or right by the BA in Chatby
If you want the most low-stress option, eat or grab coffee in the BA area before or after your museum visit. The BA’s own visitor guidance highlights on-site and near-entrance options, which is useful if your priority is convenience rather than turning the outing into a separate restaurant mission.
This is the best choice if you are visiting with older family members, short on time, or trying to avoid parking twice.
For dessert or a casual café stop on Fouad Street
The Chocolate Factory (@thechocolatefactoryegypt on Instagram) at 63 Fouad Street is one of the more straightforward nearby picks if you want coffee, brunch-style food, or dessert after the museum. Recent business listings show the Fouad Street address and long daily opening hours, making it a practical follow-up stop rather than a risky one-off recommendation.
Another long-established name frequently associated with Fouad Street is Bistrot at 6 Fouad Street, known in city guides for coffee, juices, breakfast-friendly options, sandwiches, salads, and pasta. While older guide references should always be treated cautiously, it remains one of the street’s recognizable café formats for a lighter stop.
If you are willing to go a little broader around the Fouad area rather than stick to one exact frontage, Basilico Egypt (@basilicoegypt on Instagram) is listed with an Alexandria branch inside Sporting Club, off Fouad Street, which can suit visitors wanting a more substantial sit-down meal after a museum outing.
Final verdict
There is a real deadline here: Saturday, October 24, 2026. If you care about Alexandria’s history, urban memory, or simply want a stronger answer to the usual “where should we go this week?” question, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s Shallalat Gardens exhibition is one of the city’s clearest time-sensitive cultural picks right now. It offers something unusually specific: archaeology from Alexandria, about Alexandria, shown in Alexandria, with practical add-ons nearby for a full afternoon in Chatby and along Fouad Street.
Go on a weekday if you can, buy the right ticket for the kind of outing you want, and leave enough room in the schedule for a post-museum coffee. This is exactly the kind of local cultural day that rewards a little planning.