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Library · Alexandria, Alexandria
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Library and cultural centre on the edge of the eastern harbour, in a circular glass and granite building with letters from many alphabets, in tribute to the ancient library.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The Library of Alexandria (Bibliotheca Alexandrina) stands on the edge of the eastern harbour, near where historians believe the Ptolemaic library once stood. The building is a large sloping disc of glass and aluminium facing the sea, with a granite wall engraved with characters from alphabets around the world.
The main reading room descends in terraces beneath a glass roof. The complex includes museums of antiquities, manuscripts and the history of science, a planetarium and permanent exhibitions on Egyptian culture.
The library welcomes visitors on guided and self‑guided visits, and the square in front, with sea views, is a pleasant place to stroll.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One to two hours, including the museums.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon; the library usually closes one day a week: check in advance.
How to get there
On foot along the Corniche from the centre, or by taxi, in the Shatby neighbourhood.
Tip
Include the antiquities museum in the basement, with pieces found on the seabed in front of the city.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bibliotheca Alexandrina
What is there to see at the Library of Alexandria?
The reading room under the glass roof, the antiquities and manuscripts museums, the planetarium and the exhibitions.
Is the current library the ancient Library of Alexandria?
No. It is a modern library built near the site of the ancient library, in its honor.
Where is the Library of Alexandria located?
On the edge of the eastern harbor, in the Shatby neighborhood, near the center.