The museum building was originally a private residence constructed in 1926 by a wealthy wood merchant, Al-Saad Bassili Pasha.
The basement level contains items salvaged from the seafloor, representing the city's sunken architectural remains.
A portion of the collection includes artifacts recovered from the ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Royal Quarters.
The museum houses a rare collection of gold coins from the Byzantine and Islamic periods.
The interior layout preserves the original decorative architectural elements of the 1920s villa, including ornate ceiling carvings.
Some statues on display were transferred from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to provide context for the city’s Greco-Roman history.
The Alexandria National Museum is housed in the restored Al-Saad Bassili Pasha Palace, a historic Italianate mansion constructed in the 1920s. The collection spans Egyptian history from the Pharaonic, Hellenistic, Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras to the modern period. Exhibits are arranged chronologically across three floors, starting with ancient artifacts in the basement and concluding with royal jewelry and modern displays on the top floor. The museum features items recovered from the underwater excavations at Alexandria’s submerged harbor sites. Key highlights include statues of Serapis and Isis, alongside a significant collection of coins minted in the city. The palace itself retains its original stained glass, marble fireplaces, and ornate woodwork. It is the only museum in the city dedicated to a comprehensive overview of Alexandrian heritage.
The grand marble staircase in the central foyer, which captures the opulent Italianate architecture of the palace.
Visit the basement floor first to view the underwater archaeological finds, which are the most unique part of the collection.
Bring a light sweater, as the museum uses heavy air conditioning to protect the artifacts.
Inquire at the desk if a guided tour is available, as signage can be sparse in some galleries.
Do not mistake this for the Alexandria Library (Bibliotheca Alexandrina); they are separate institutions in different locations.
Open daily, but occasionally closes for special state events or local holidays.
Maintain a quiet demeanor and avoid using flash photography, as it is strictly prohibited to protect the pigments on ancient artifacts.
