Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Bibliotheca Alexandrina
4.5
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Located near the site of the ancient library of Alexandria, this modern version is an eleven-story, cylindrical-shaped building that houses more than eight million books. A re-imagining of Alexandria's ancient Great Library, this gorgeously designed cultural center contains a host of museums as well as one of the modern world's most ambitious libraries. Its architecture - a giant sun disk - presides over the waterfront Corniche, while inside, a huge reading room can hold eight million volumes. Below themain library, visitors can explore a range of beautifully curated exhibitions. TheManuscript Museum with its magnificent collection of ancient texts and scrolls and the Antiquities Museum with its Graeco-Roman antiquities and statuary found during underwater exploration in the harbor are the two prime attractions. But there are also rotating art exhibitions, a permanent Egyptian folk art collection, and a Science Museum and Planetarium that are aimed squarely at children.
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Admission tickets
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$16.31
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See what travelers are saying

  • Harishuv29
    Mumbai, India177 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome structure with a shelf space for 7 million books
    The Library is one of its kind structure. The reading hall is a Mukti layered structure with a huge skylight that slopes the entire structure. There are some Arti facts in the basement level if one is interested but the reading hall is the main attraction. The only problem is there is no parking there. I parked my car on the street outside opposite the ticket counter. They generally allow short term parking there if you find a place.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 5, 2023
  • Rajesh K K
    Bengaluru, India1,676 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful!
    The old Alexandria Library was considered one of the biggest in the world, and the new one is definitely one of the largest! Built about 20 years ago, the main reading room is an immense 20000 sq mtrs! One has to buy a ticket to enter the Library. Certain sections within require an additional ticket. This structure is modern and well-designed. Other than books, it also contains some busts, statues, paintings, etc.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 3, 2023
  • Razorfish
    Little Rock, Arkansas5,284 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic library with museum quality exhibits
    I visited the Bibliotheca Alexandrina during a two week tour of Egypt. It is supposedly the second largest library in the world. It has a huge reading hall and extensive computer stations for research. The lower levels contain museum exhibits on a rotating basis. One of the exhibits during my visit was of vintage photos of Egypt from the late 1800s. Our tour group spent about two hours viewing the exhibits. I thought the library was fascinating and well worth the visit.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 17, 2023
  • Arthur M
    Hamilton, Canada1,628 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Massive library worth visiting!
    The library had a long lineup at my time of visit. Turns out there was a fair at the library grounds. So it was busier than normal. But aside from being a library, it also hosts an exhibit of Egyptian artifacts from different parts of Egypt as well as artworks. Those were a great introduction to the country. As for the library itself, it was massive, multiple floors with a loft design across many disciplines, even Quran studies. There are a lot of viewpoints at the upper floors so you can view the library without disrupting its actual users.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 23, 2023
  • Voyager_Nineteen71
    Pune, India584 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great experience - but library is closed on Fridays !
    We had heard about this library and decided to go inside on Saturday, as we could only see the outside of it the previous day in an all day Alexandria tour. We took a combo ticket costing EGY 300 each covering the library visit and all the museums located inside it. Once we were in, we got to know that the guided tour in had already started so rather than wait for the next one, we went to the museums one floor below. The art museum was ok but the antiquities and manuscripts museums were simply brilliant. The antiquities museum is quite self explanatory and inside the manuscripts museum, there was a guide who explained everything - the ancient books across the major religions, history behind them and also the other artifacts. Once we finished this, the next guided tour of the library was some time away so we explored the library on our own. It is really a massive place with different topics covered in different sections across 7 floors. We ran out of time after spending about 2 and a half hours as we had to leave for Cairo - ideally we could have spent about 4 and a half hours minimum here as we are fond of history.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 28, 2024
  • cdandoy
    Gilbert, Arizona1,258 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice
    Stopped by to see the library. Easy to enter and cute gift shop. Library is modern with amazing art inside. Enjoyed the printing press and shroud on display. Some areas not accessible to tourists.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 12, 2024
  • Robert O
    Rotterdam, The Netherlands5,936 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful modern architecture in Alexandria
    Completed in 2002 the Alexandria library proudly stands as a landmark of the city on the Mediterranean coastline. Meant as a commemoration of the old prestigious Bibliotheka of Greek- Roman times (destroyed in 48 BC) it never achieved a similar status. However, the architectural design is quite spectacular with especially the sundial shape structure above the main reading room drawing attention. To enter the complex which not only houses the library, but also a cultural center and several museums there is a 150 EGP (3€) fee for foreigners (10 EGP for Egyptians).
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 28, 2024
  • Basma Elhasan
    Kuwait City, Kuwait605 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tour over history
    Tour over history, magnificence architectural details with charming interior design. Gorgeousness place which you have to visit if you pass by Alexandria Library includes various exhibitions for arts, politics, history, regions, etc. Some halls kids are not allowed to access such as library. There is gift shop and cafes in terrace. Parking is not available
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 8, 2024
  • Ari L
    London, United Kingdom134 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Modern version of one of the oldest and largest libraries in the world.
    Interesting to visit the modern version of one of the world’s oldest and largest libraries. Spacious, nice places for students to study. Well kept, tidy. Busy with visitors. Statue of Mahatma Gandhi, a bench in the shape of a book and few old book printing machines are some of the interesting artefacts in the library.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 12, 2024
  • aniquek2017
    Cape Town, South Africa68 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Check the closing hours for the exhibits
    The Bibliotheca architecture is breathtaking and there is a display showing old printing presses in the main library. We arrived at 17:01 and were told that the antiquities museum in the basement had just closed for the day and they weren’t letting more people in. Double check opening hours - the exhibits and collections close before the actual library.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 22, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,874 reviews
Excellent
1,320
Very good
386
Average
122
Poor
27
Terrible
19

Nardin
Temecula, CA24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
Came here to discover and spend a day at the library. There are many things to do, so many books and resources as well as quiet areas. I believe there are also tours. However, take note - children under 4 years old are not allowed inside the library and they are strict on this.
Written April 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda Y
Frisco, TX5,698 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Bibliotheca Alexandrina is more than a library! Opened in 2002, here is a cultural complex that also includes a planetarium, four museums, art galleries for temporary and permanent exhibitions, specialized museums, and a manuscript restoration laboratory. The library has shelf space for eight million books! The main structure is a contemporary granite building, circular in design and covered in carvings done by local artists. The library offers guided tours, but since we had our own guide with us, we opted to just peek inside. It was very crowded the day we visited because the schools were on holiday. By the way, you’ll have a great view of the Citadel from here (and remember to look for Bibliotheca Alexandrina when you’re at the Citadel).
Written May 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kazi Y
Dhaka City, Bangladesh127 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina or Library of Alexandria is a major library and cultural center located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Construction work began in 1995 and, total spend is some US$220 million & was officially inaugurated on 16 October 2002. The library has shelf space for eight million books, with the main reading room covering 20,000 square metres . The complex also houses a conference center; specialized libraries for maps, multimedia, the blind and visually impaired, young people, and for children; four museums; four art galleries for temporary exhibitions; 15 permanent exhibitions; a planetarium; and a manuscript restoration laboratory.You can not take any book out outside of the library but can spend hours browsing the very wide range of books available.
Written March 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kazi Y
Dhaka City, Bangladesh127 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
It is a major library and cultural center located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Construction work began in 1995 and, total spend is some US$220 million & was officially inaugurated on 16 October 2002. The library has shelf space for eight million books, with the main reading room covering 20,000 square metres . The complex also houses a conference center; specialized libraries for maps, multimedia, the blind and visually impaired, young people, and for children; four museums; four art galleries for temporary exhibitions; 15 permanent exhibitions; a planetarium; and a manuscript restoration laboratory.You can not take any book out outside of the library but can spend hours browsing the very wide range of books available.
Written March 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hassan M
Cape Town Central, South Africa12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
This is an amazing place to visit! A small entrance fee is payable. It is a modern version of the old library in that it houses a huge number of books from around the world but it has also entered the digital age. There are some useful short tours - a free general one (we attended the English one) which takes half an hour. We enjoyed the visit to the old manuscripts section for which a small fee is payable but was well worth it - a guided tour is included in the cost and we found this a useful addition to explain the manuscripts that were on show. The library has a French section and braille section for the visually impaired. There were many students using the library while we were there (in December). No books may be taken out but one could spend hours browsing the very wide range of books available.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ron W
Cedar City, UT170 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Alexandria Library, the Library of Alexandria (Bibliotheca Alexandrina) is a tribute to the old library that burned and was once the largest library of the ancient world. The new library is huge and modern, with multi-tiered levels inside. The library also contains an Arts Center and Art Exhibitions and Collections Department, that is a haven for art lovers and a major disseminator of culture in the Egyptian society. Finally, the library also houses four major museums: the Sadat Museum (dedicated to the memory of the late President Sadat), the Antiquities Museum, the Manuscripts Museum, and the History of Science Museum. Some of these museums are not covered in your ticket cost. However, you can catch a free tour with a knowledgeable tour guide.

Cost: EGP 70
Weather: The weather in February was perfect – not hot, but no jacket required.
Toilets: toilets are available
Caution: none
NOTE: Street vendors all accept U.S. Dollars. Be sure to haggle the price down before buying anything.
Written March 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

COGR
Colorado250 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
This library may be as good as the original, though we will never know. The effort this one must have taken in the planning and executing stages is so impressive, inside and out. The museum inside is very historically comprehensive and worth a visit on its own. On a typical day the library gets a lot of use so it is not only a sight to see but also very much enjoyed and used by citizens. And the small display honoring President Sadat is lovely. This library is an example of what can be done when people get their heads and ideas together and it is a masterpiece.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kim G
Toronto, Canada1,716 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
We spent several hours at the library starting first with the tour. The guide was very informative and explained the history of the museum and showed us some of the highlights.

There are several exhibits located within the library - some that change and others that are permanent. Some require an additional fee. But they cover art, history, technology and more.

It is a wonderful, peaceful place to visit. A must when in Alexandria.
Written May 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JATM
Washington DC, DC46 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We spent half a day at the Library. First take the 30 minute tour the main reading room and to get the background on the building and its collections. Then decide on which of the museums housed in the building you would like to explore. The Antiquities Museum has an excellent collection spanning Pharaonic to Greek to Roman to Islamic periods. Don't miss the mummy cases. Manuscript Museum has limited descriptions, making it a bit difficult to appreciate but well presented.
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Edsurash
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1,616 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
The spectacular Bibliotheca Alexandrina was designed by a Norwegian architectural firm called Snøhetta. The firm won an international competition in 1989 to design the new library, and construction began in 1995. The library was completed in 2002.

This library is constructed on the same site as the original library which was back in the day considered a major cultural center for this region. This was probably where Archimedes (the ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer) is believed to have studied (or had correspondences with scholars at the library) or was influenced by its collection of works that were available during his lifetime.

The new library has a circular shape, which is intended to symbolize the continuity of knowledge and the cyclical nature of time. The murals on the outer wall has writings in multiple languages (without any meaning in particular) to symbolize that the library welcome knowledge from all around the world.

The entrance to the library cost EP 70 and there are several museums, cafe’s and a planetarium inside. Addition charges applies to the museum.

The library has several levels, with the majority of the collections and facilities located underground. The library's main reading room is located on the ground floor, which is a large, circular space with natural light streaming in from a central oculus.

The library’s architecture incorporates several sustainable design elements, such as a rooftop garden that helps to insulate the building and reduce energy consumption, as well as a solar-powered lighting system. It also has a large reflecting pool outside the entrance, which serves as a cooling system for the building and helps to reduce the ambient temperature.

Overall, the architecture of the library is a stunning blend of ancient and modern design elements, creating a truly unique and awe-inspiring space for learning, research, and cultural exchange.

Go with a tour guide if you have the time as they will explain to you the significance and importance of the various artifacts and art pieces which are on displayed.
Written April 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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