Is Alexandria safe?
Low violent crime and a conservative city. Touts, overcharging, traffic and harassment are more common than serious crime; storms can flood streets.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-07-14.
- Homicide rate in Egypt: 1.3 per 100,000 people (2017, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Egypt: 10.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Fire 180 · Tourist police 126.
Safety in Alexandria at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Pickpocketing in crowded markets and tram stops, taxi overcharging, and persistent touts near tourist sites. |
| At night | Downtown and the Corniche are busy until late and generally safe. Side streets empty out; use Uber or Careem instead of street taxis. |
| Solo women | More conservative than Cairo but similar harassment. Dress modestly, avoid empty side streets at night and use app cars with shared trip details. |
| Other risks | Winter storms and Corniche flooding; Rip currents at public beaches; Dense traffic |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Taxi drivers refusing the meter and charging tourist prices
- Unofficial guides at Qaitbay Citadel or the Catacombs
- Shopkeepers offering free tea, then pressuring purchases
Take care
- Corniche at night in winter storms: waves flood the road
- Crossing streets: fast traffic with few pedestrian crossings
- Crowded tram and market areas: pickpockets
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Photographing people needs their consent; children, officials and military sites, including the Suez Canal, are off-limits.
- Importing or flying a drone without Defence Ministry permission can mean up to 7 years in prison.
- Criticising the government, including in social media posts, can lead to detention.
How Alexandria compares in Egypt
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Hurghada | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sharm El Sheikh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Aswan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dahab | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marsa Alam | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| El Gouna | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Siwa Oasis | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cairo | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Luxor | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Alexandria | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Alexandria safe for solo female travelers?
More conservative than Cairo but similar harassment. Dress modestly, avoid empty side streets at night and use app cars with shared trip details.
Is Alexandria safe at night?
Downtown and the Corniche are busy until late and generally safe. Side streets empty out; use Uber or Careem instead of street taxis.
What is the crime rate in Alexandria?
Pickpocketing in crowded markets and tram stops, taxi overcharging, and persistent touts near tourist sites. Nationally, Egypt records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2017).
What number do I call in an emergency in Alexandria?
Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Fire 180 · Tourist police 126.
More about Alexandria
Going to Alexandria solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- UK FCDO travel advice: Egypt
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.