Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a major library and cultural center on the seafront of Alexandria, opened in 2002. Its great tilted disc of a roof rises from the Corniche facing the Mediterranean, and inside are a vast reading room, several museums, galleries, exhibition spaces and a planetarium.

It matters because it revives the memory of the ancient Library of Alexandria, a famous library of the classical world, in the city where it stood. Even if you are not a reader, the building itself, the museums and the sense of Alexandria's role as a city of learning make it worth an unhurried visit.

For travelers coming from Cairo, the library is also a good introduction to Alexandria's different character. This is a Mediterranean city with Greek, Roman and cosmopolitan modern layers, and the library tells that story well.

History in brief

Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, and after his death it became the capital of the Ptolemies, the Greek-speaking dynasty that ruled Egypt until Cleopatra. The ancient library was founded under the early Ptolemies in the third century BC, as part of a wider research institution known as the Mouseion, a shrine to the Muses that housed scholars.

Under the Ptolemies, Alexandria became one of the great intellectual centers of the ancient world. The mathematician Euclid worked in the city, and physicians there made early advances in the study of human anatomy. Tradition also links the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, known as the Septuagint, to Alexandria in this period, a sign of how many cultures met in the city.

The Ptolemies set out to collect the written knowledge of the known world. Scholars came from across the Mediterranean to study there, and the geographer Eratosthenes, who calculated the circumference of the Earth with impressive accuracy, was among its chief librarians. The poet and scholar Callimachus compiled a famous catalog of Greek literature. How and when the ancient library was lost is still debated, and it probably declined over a long period rather than in a single fire.

The idea of a new library took shape in the late twentieth century. It was built through an international effort led by Egypt with UNESCO support, and its design, by the Norwegian architects Snøhetta, came out of an international competition. The building stands in the Shatby district, close to the area where the royal quarter of the ancient city is thought to have been, and it opened in 2002.

What to see

• The main reading room: a huge space under the slanted roof, with reading areas stepping down in terraces toward the sea and daylight filtering through the ceiling. It is one of the largest reading rooms in the world, and the sight of students and researchers working under the great roof is the heart of the visit.
• The granite outer wall: carved with letters and characters from scripts around the world, ancient and modern. It turns the outside of the building into a celebration of writing itself, and it is worth walking along to find scripts you recognize.
• The Antiquities Museum: objects from Alexandria's pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic past, including finds from the city and from underwater excavations in its harbor. Some of the objects were found during the construction of the library itself.
• The Manuscripts Museum: rare manuscripts and early printed books, a reminder that the library is also a research center for the written heritage of the region.
• The Sadat Museum: personal belongings and documents of President Anwar Sadat, including his uniform, a good stop for anyone interested in modern Egyptian history.
• The History of Science Museum: displays on the scientific achievements of ancient Egypt, Hellenistic Alexandria and the Islamic world.
• The Planetarium: the sphere on the plaza, with shows for visitors of all ages, and a science center below it aimed at young visitors.

Architecture and details worth noticing

The building's shape carries its meaning. The roof is a vast tilted disc, often compared to a rising sun, and it slopes down toward the sea. Its surface of glass and aluminum panels lets in controlled daylight from the north, ideal for reading without harsh direct sun.

The disc appears to rise out of the ground, with part of the building set below the level of the plaza, and a reflecting pool runs around it. Together with the granite wall of scripts and the sphere of the planetarium, the design links light, knowledge and the cosmos in a way you appreciate best by walking around the outside before you go in.

Beyond its displays, the library is a working institution with research centers, conference facilities and digital archive projects, so you will often see conferences or exhibitions in progress during your visit.

The library's mission is also international. It works with partner institutions around the world, publishes in several languages, and hosts a copy of the Internet Archive, the online record of the web, which continues in digital form the old ambition of gathering the world's knowledge in one place.

How to get there

The library is on the Corniche in the Shatby district, close to Alexandria University and a short drive from the center of town. Alexandria is about three hours by road from Cairo, depending on traffic, and there are regular trains from Cairo's Ramses station. Most of our guests visit as part of a day trip or an overnight stay, with a driver who drops them at the main entrance. Within Alexandria, taxis are plentiful and the Corniche is easy to follow along the sea.

How long to spend and when to go

Plan two to three hours to see the reading room and one or two museums. If you want to see a planetarium show or explore several museums, allow half a day.

The library is indoors, which makes it a good choice for any season, and Alexandria's coastal climate is milder than Cairo's in summer. Visiting in the morning gives you time to see the outdoor sights of the city later in the day. Some museums and the planetarium have separate tickets and their own schedules. Check current opening hours, closing days and ticket prices before you go, and expect bag checks at the entrance.

Tips from our specialists

• Take a guided tour of the main building if one is available in your language; it is a good way to understand the architecture and the library's work.
• Keep your voice down in the reading room; it is a working library used by students and researchers.
• Pick the museums that match your interests rather than trying to see them all in one visit. The Antiquities Museum is a good choice for most travelers.
• Check rules for large bags, food and drink before you arrive, since these are restricted inside.
• Walk out onto the Corniche afterward for the sea air and the view along the Eastern Harbor.

Nearby sights to combine

The library pairs well with the Citadel of Qaitbay, a fifteenth-century Mamluk fortress built on the site of the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria, at the western end of the Eastern Harbor. The drive along the Corniche between them has fine views of the city.

Inland, the catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, with their mix of Egyptian and Roman styles, and Pompey's Pillar, the great granite column on the site of the ancient Serapeum, make a full day in Alexandria. The Roman theater at Kom el-Dikka and the Alexandria National Museum are also within easy reach.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the ancient Library of Alexandria?

No. The modern library is a new institution that honors the memory of the ancient one, built close to where the ancient royal quarter is thought to have stood. No physical remains of the ancient library survive.

Can tourists enter the reading room?

Yes, visitors can usually see the main reading room, often on a guided tour, but you should keep quiet and respect the students and researchers working there. Access rules can change, so check on arrival.

Is it worth visiting if I am not interested in books?

Yes. The architecture, the Antiquities Museum and the planetarium appeal to most travelers, and the building gives you a clear picture of Alexandria's history as a center of learning.

Can I visit the library on a day trip from Cairo?

Yes. Many travelers combine the library with the Citadel of Qaitbay and the catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa in a long day trip, though an overnight stay lets you enjoy the city at a slower pace.

Are the museums included in one ticket?

Not always. Some museums and the planetarium have separate tickets and schedules, so check the current arrangements when you arrive.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the natural starting point for a day or two in Alexandria, setting the scene for the city's Greek, Roman and Mediterranean story.