Sidi Kreir: Coastal Landscape and Architecture

Sidi Kreir brings together the Mediterranean coast, a sandy landscape and a distinctive architectural history. Sidi Kreir Beach is 34 km from Alexandria. At the site of Hassan Fathy’s house, sand and soft rock shape the landscape; low dunes frame the building. The coast and architecture offer different perspectives on the area.

Coast and Landscape in Sidi Kreir

The beach is a tangible reference point for the coastal setting. The site of the house, meanwhile, is set in a landscape of sand and soft rock. These details give the choice of location its own character: if you are looking for a holiday rental in Sidi Kreir, you can consider whether you would like to connect your stay primarily with the coast or with the area’s architectural history. The distance between the beach and Alexandria is a geographical measure, not a travel time.

Hassan Fathy’s House

The house has been described as a small palazzino set amid low dunes. Its rooms include a front courtyard, a foyer and a living room. The iwans are particularly striking: recessed alcoves separated by curtains. During the day, they served as sitting areas; at night, as sleeping quarters. Their changing use shows how closely the layout was designed around everyday life.

The construction is also distinctive: the house rests entirely on load-bearing stone walls. Its design concept extended beyond the individual building. It was conceived as a prototype for low-cost buildings and as a model for tourist accommodation. Form, building materials and use thus belong to a connected architectural history, giving visitors interested in architecture a distinctive connection to the area.

Another local point of interest is a branch of the Abu Seifin Convent of Nuns. It is located in the Sidi Kreir area, west of Alexandria, at approximately kilometre 36. Alongside the coast and architectural history, this brings a religious institutional connection into view.

Alexandria as a Wider Travel Destination

Alexandria offers its own cultural context. The Royal Jewelry Museum displays pieces from the Egyptian royal family’s collection; the palace combines European and Islamic architectural styles. The Alexandria National Museum, by contrast, includes sunken antiquities recovered during excavations in Abu Qir Bay. Alexandria thus brings together architectural and collection history alongside finds from the sea.

The archaeological sites also offer different points of interest. Kom al-Dikka includes a remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, public baths, lecture halls and a villa decorated with mosaics. The Al-Anfoushi Tombs, also known as the Al-Anfoushi Necropolis, offer a glimpse into ancient Ptolemaic burial practices. Kom al-Shoqafa is a Roman catacomb near the Serapeum. The site is also home to the Column of Diocletian, often—but incorrectly—called “Pompey’s Pillar”. Qaitbay Citadel, in turn, stands on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Alexandria’s historic green spaces offer a different focus. The extensive botanical gardens of Montazah once belonged to the royal family of Muhammad Ali Pasha. They include two historic palaces, a museum and a number of private beaches. Visitors can stroll through Villa Antoniadis and its gardens, which were designed in the style of a miniature version of Versailles in France.

The Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria specialises in Greek and Roman civilisation. A renovation project planned to display around 20,000 artefacts from the Greek and Roman periods there. Check its current opening status before visiting. Alexandria also has its own culinary appeal: visitors can dine at one of the city’s fish restaurants.

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to distinguish between the two scales: here, Sidi Kreir represents the coast and the architectural history associated with Hassan Fathy; Alexandria provides the wider cultural context, with museums, archaeological sites and gardens. Choose your destination based on which of these interests matters most for your stay.

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ADH Dheraa Al Bahri, Al Wādī, Alexandria, ‘Izbat Al ‘Ulā

See the main travel overview: Alexandria.