Citadel of Qaitbay

The Citadel of Qaitbay is a Mamluk fort built in 1477–1479 at the mouth of Alexandria's Eastern Harbour, on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse. It opens daily, usually 9 am – 5 pm, and a visit takes about 1 hour.

Guarding the entrance to Alexandria's Eastern Harbour, the Citadel of Qaitbay was raised in 1477–1479 by the Mamluk sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay to protect the coast from the Ottomans.

The fort occupies the very spot where the Pharos, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, once stood more than 100 metres tall as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Earthquakes toppled the lighthouse in the 14th century, and Qaitbay's masons recycled some of the fallen blocks.

Inside you can explore the square keep with its small mosque, then follow the outer walls past the cannon emplacements, with the sea on every side.

What to see

• The square keep and its mosque
• The ramparts, looking back over the Corniche
• Granite from the lighthouse reused in the walls
• Sunset over the Mediterranean

Visiting

• Opening hours: daily, usually 9 am – 5 pm
• Tickets: entry ticket at the gate
• Time needed: 1 hour
• Getting there: taxi or tram to the end of the Eastern Harbour Corniche
• Nearby: Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, Alexandria Corniche, Alexandria