Montaza Palace
For those with a five star budget, The Montaza Palace complex of Eastern Alexandria is an excellent place to stay.
Originally the grounds of the Salamlak Palace, the complex was opened to the public following the Kings Abdication and now houses some of the city’s most prestigious hotels.
The site is equally appealing to day trippers also offering several splendid beaches, views out across the med, former palace residencies to explore and an expanse of tree lined gardens for picnicking and shady city sanctuary.
The walled gardens are open to the public from 9am until midnight 7 days a week for a small fee.
To See/Do
The Beach – Flanking the head land are a multitude of private bays and beaches for exclusive use of hotel guests, affluent Egyptians or foreign day trippers for a fee.
The beaches include Samirames, Nefertary, Cleopatra, Nefertiti and Venesia as well as the private bay of the Helnan Palestine Hotel.
Of the above list, the Venesia and Helnan Palestine Beach are among the only in the city where women will likely feel comfortable stripping down to bathing suits and soaking up the sun.
Read more about beaches in Alexandria
Walking – Particularly in the winter when the breeze is too cool for beach-side activities, the city’s 150 acre gardens are excellent for strolling, people watching, and enjoying romantic views out across the Med.
The gardens are linked to Tea Island which can be accessed by foot via a Victorian style bright – Tea Island Bridge – built at the behest of King Farouk.
Picnics – On a hot day these gardens are filled with Egyptians and their families lazing around picnic blankets and enjoying sizable home made feasts.
Former Palace Residencies
El Haramlek Palace - Located to the north of the gardens is the former palace residency of El Haramlek. For those interested in learning more about Royal life in colonial Egypt, the second and third floor have been transformed into a museum containing the belongings of the former first family of Egypt.
Integrating European and Islamic architectural styles, the palace is worth a visit for the exterior views alone.
Al Salamlek Palace is now a hotel and casion – see below section.
Hotels in Montaza
Helnan Palestine – Up market hotel purpose built for the Arab Palestine conference of 1964. As well as having its own garden, beach bay and swimming pool, visitors and can enjoy a coffee at the Zodiac café or a meal at one of its restaurants.
Al Salamlek Palace – Now a hotel adorned with relics and imagery from the royal dynasty including photos of the former King Farouk and newspaper clippings from his life and abdication. Iran’s Shah, who wed the former ruler’s sister, is also featured in a number of portraits.
In additional to a restaurants and Casino the hotel has a quaint piano bar (The Al Faoud Bar), the style of which is faintly suggestive of the former colonial grandeur of both the palace and indeed the city alike. Read more about bars in Alexandria
Restaurants
Spectra Restaurant – A friendly, upmarket restaurant serving a healthy mix of Middle Eastern and European cuisine. The extensive menu features images of every dish making decision making all the more mouth watering.
Getting There
The Montaza Palace complex is located some 17 Km East from the centre of Alexandria and can be easily reached by following the cornice until you reach the large red walls of the outer complex.
It’s easy to catch a micro bus or a taxi and should take 15-40 minutes from the centre depending on traffic. A taxi from downtown will cost between 30-40LE depending on your haggling skills where as the microbuses which run frequently up and down the cornice is more cost effective at just 1-2LE.
Read more about transport in Alexandria.
