Citadel of Qaitbay Archaeological Site

Address: Eastern Harbor, Alexandria, Egypt

Hours: Daily 9:00am-5:00pm (typical; check locally)

The Citadel of Qaitbay is a late 15th-century Mamluk fortress on the coastal tip of Alexandria, Egypt, constructed by Sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay in 1477-1479. It was built on or near the ruins of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria to defend the harbor.

Erected by Qaitbay as a maritime defensive stronghold, the citadel served successive Mamluk and Ottoman regimes and later saw repairs and restorations in modern times. The fortress incorporates some reused masonry and stone from earlier structures on the headland.

The citadel stands at the eastern tip of Pharos Island at the mouth of Alexandria’s Eastern Harbor on the Mediterranean coast, adjacent to the city’s Corniche.

• Construction date and site: The citadel was built by Sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay in 1477-1479 on the remains of the ancient Pharos lighthouse and occupies a prominent position at the mouth of Alexandria’s Eastern Harbor.
• Best viewpoint: The exterior ramparts are accessible to visitors and provide one of the best viewpoints of Alexandria’s corniche and the Mediterranean; visiting at sunset gives especially good light on the fortress walls.

What to See#

• Main fortress and bastions (1477-1479): A Mamluk coastal fortress constructed on the eastern tip of Pharos Island between 1477 and 1479 to defend Alexandria’s harbors, incorporating massive bastions and sea-facing ramparts.
• Museum and historical displays: A small onsite museum and exhibition spaces that present maritime artifacts and the history of the fort and the adjacent harbor; parts of the citadel incorporate reused material from the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria.

The citadel is on Alexandria’s eastern harbor (Anfushi area). It’s a short taxi ride from central Alexandria or reachable by local buses that serve the Corniche; many tourists combine a visit with walks on the waterfront and the nearby Alexandria National Museum.

• Arrive near opening time to explore the ramparts before tour buses arrive; the light on the fortress walls is particularly dramatic in the morning.
• Bring water and shade-the ramparts offer little shelter on hot days and temperatures in Alexandria can be high.
• Photographers should cross to the seafront promenade for classic shots that position the fort against the Mediterranean.