Cavafy House: Where Poetry and Alexandria Meet
C. P. Cavafy moved into this second-floor apartment in 1907, when the street was known as Rue Lepsius. He lived here for most of his later life and wrote many of the poems that made him one of the most influential Greek-language poets of the modern era.
The apartment first opened as the Cavafy Museum in 1992. The Onassis Foundation, together with the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, began a major restoration in 2022 and reopened the house to the public on 11 May 2024.
Today the house is presented as both a preserved residence and a literary journey, connecting Cavafy’s personal life, manuscripts, artistic reception and lifelong relationship with Alexandria.
Discover Ten Highlights of Cavafy House
The experience combines the restored apartment itself with Cavafy’s image, manuscripts and literary world, revealing both the man and the Alexandria that shaped his work.
Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Cavafy House
The restored house has published visitor hours and a central Alexandria address, but it remains an intimate apartment museum rather than a large institutional museum.
Tuesday–Sunday
The official Onassis Foundation page lists Cavafy House as open Tuesday through Sunday.
10:00–17:00
Current official visitor information lists opening hours from 10:00 to 17:00.
Allow 45–75 Minutes
Give yourself enough time to read displays, absorb the rooms and connect the house with Cavafy’s Alexandria.
4 C. Cavafy Street
The house is on the second floor at 4 C. Cavafy Street in central Alexandria.
Second Floor
The museum is located on the second floor of the historic apartment building; confirm current accessibility arrangements if stairs are a concern.
Literature & Culture
Especially rewarding for readers, cultural travellers and visitors interested in Alexandria’s cosmopolitan modern history.
Follow On-Site Rules
Photography permissions may vary by room or display, so follow the museum’s current instructions.
Pair It with Downtown
Combine the house with Kom El Dikka, the Greco-Roman Museum or the Alexandria Corniche for a strong central-city day.
Travel note: Alexandria’s waterfront is long and traffic conditions vary. A private itinerary can connect the most interesting Corniche sections without turning the day into one long drive.
Explore Alexandria Corniche with a Private Guide
Turn the waterfront into a story of ancient harbours, modern Alexandria and Mediterranean city life while connecting the Corniche with the landmarks that matter most to you.
Four Facts That Define Cavafy House
The apartment is significant not simply because Cavafy lived here, but because the house now connects his biography, archive and Alexandria itself.
Works Decided
The historic Eastern Harbour Corniche project was decided in 1897 as part of Alexandria’s modern urban reorganisation.
Historic Section Completed
Centre d’Études Alexandrines records completion of the early waterfront works by 1907.
Original Harbour Works
Those early works reshaped roughly four kilometres of the Eastern Harbour shoreline between Qaitbay Fort and Silsileh.
Ancient Harbour Zone
The Ministry describes the Eastern Harbour archaeological zone between Silsileh and Qaitbay as covering approximately 600 hectares.
Add Literary Alexandria to Your Egypt Journey
These itineraries can include Cavafy House on request when Alexandria routing and museum opening days fit your travel plan.
What to See Near Cavafy House
These central Alexandria landmarks combine naturally with a Cavafy House visit and all have live pages on Egypt Travel Consultant.
Greco-Roman Museum
Continue into Alexandria’s Greek and Roman past in the city’s major classical museum.
Explore Site
Kom El Dikka
Explore the Roman theatre, baths and residential remains of ancient Alexandria.
Explore Site
St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral
Add one of Alexandria’s defining Christian landmarks to the same central-city route.
Explore Site
Alexandria Corniche
Finish with a walk or drive along the Mediterranean edge of the city.
Explore SiteCavafy House Alexandria FAQs
Practical answers for enjoying Alexandria’s Mediterranean waterfront.
Where is Cavafy House?
Cavafy House is at 4 C. Cavafy Street in central Alexandria, on the second floor.
When is Cavafy House open?
The official Onassis Foundation page currently lists Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00.
Did Cavafy really live in this apartment?
Yes. Cavafy moved here in 1907 and lived in the apartment through the final decades of his life.
When did the museum first open?
The Cavafy Museum was inaugurated in this apartment in November 1992.
When was the house restored?
The Onassis Foundation and Hellenic Foundation for Culture began restoration in 2022, and the restored house reopened on 11 May 2024.
What will I see inside?
The visit combines the restored rooms with displays related to Cavafy’s biography, literary work, archive and reception.
How long should I allow?
Around 45–75 minutes works well for most visitors, especially if you enjoy reading exhibition text.
Is it good for people who do not know Cavafy’s poetry?
Yes. The house also tells a broader story about Alexandria, identity, urban life and the cultural world in which Cavafy lived.
Is the museum on the ground floor?
No. Official visitor information lists the house on the second floor.
What can I combine with Cavafy House?
The Greco-Roman Museum, Kom El Dikka, St. Mark’s Cathedral and Alexandria Corniche all fit naturally into the same central-Alexandria route.