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Chatby Guide Around Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s 2026 Conference

A conference trip with a real Alexandria itinerary attached

From Monday, September 21 to Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (@bibalexofficial on Instagram) is hosting the conference “National Identity: Deep Roots and a Renewed Vision” in Chatby under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The library announced the event on September 10, 2026, saying it will run over three days at the BA and is being organized in cooperation with the ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Youth and Sports, Culture, and Alexandria Governorate.

That matters not only as a national cultural event, but also because Chatby is one of the easiest places in Alexandria to build an intelligent, low-stress day around a formal program. You already have the sea in front of you, the Corniche for a walk, museums and exhibitions inside the library complex, and central Alexandria close by if you want a proper lunch or coffee stop once the sessions end.

What is happening at the BA on September 21–23, 2026?

The conference title is “National Identity: Deep Roots and a Renewed Vision”. In official statements, BA Director Dr Ahmed Zayed said the conference is meant to support awareness of Egyptian national identity, especially among young people, while discussions are expected to address both the historic roots of Egyptian identity and current challenges including social media and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. Speakers at the September 10 press conference included Alexandria Governor Ahmed Ateeq, Dr Ahmed Zayed, Dr Ayman Farid representing the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Wessam Sabry representing the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

For visitors, the practical point is simple: this is not a drop-in beach day. Give yourself time before the sessions for coffee or a short walk, and keep the post-session plan close enough that you are not stuck in traffic crossing the city.

Why Chatby works so well for a cultured Alexandria day

The BA sits in Chatby, Alexandria 21526, with the Conference Center and Planetarium Science Center within the same wider complex. According to the library’s official visitor information, the Main Reading Area operates Monday to Thursday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, while visits, museums and the Planetarium Science Center run Monday to Thursday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. Guided tours are available in Arabic, English and French, with multiple daily departures on weekdays.

If you are attending a morning conference session, arriving early enough for a short BA visit can make the whole trip feel less rushed. A quick library-and-museum circuit is realistic if you stay selective rather than trying to do everything.

Useful BA ticket details to know

  • Main Library ticket for Egyptians: EGP 10 for adults, EGP 5 for students.
  • Combo ticket for Egyptians: EGP 50 for adults, EGP 25 for students, covering the Main Library, Antiquities Museum, Manuscripts Museum and free museums/exhibitions.
  • Antiquities Museum ticket for Egyptians: EGP 20 for adults, EGP 10 for students.
  • Manuscripts Museum ticket for Egyptians: EGP 20 for adults, EGP 10 for students.
  • Planetarium show ticket for Egyptians: EGP 50 for adults, EGP 20 for students.

The BA also notes that the main library ticket includes guided tours, CULTURAMA shows, the Sadat Museum, and access to permanent and temporary exhibitions, while the Planetarium requires a separate ticket.

Where to go for coffee before the sessions

If you want to stay closest to the venue, the smartest move is to keep coffee simple and time-efficient. Chatby and the stretch linking the BA to central Alexandria are better for a short pre-session stop than for a long café crawl. The area suits a quick espresso, a pastry, and a Corniche walk far more than an elaborate breakfast detour.

One of the best-known classic Alexandria names to keep in mind for a proper café stop later in the day is Trianon. The company presents itself as a long-running Alexandria café and restaurant landmark dating back to 1905, which is exactly why it still fits the mood of a conference trip built around books, architecture and old-city atmosphere. It is not in the BA building itself, but it makes sense as a post-session coffee-and-dessert address if you continue into downtown Alexandria.

Where to eat seafood after the sessions

For many Egypt-based visitors, the real question is not whether to eat seafood in Alexandria, but how far from Chatby you want to go once the day’s discussions finish. If you want to protect your schedule, stay on the central seafront axis rather than heading deep into neighborhoods at rush hour.

A practical strategy is to choose from Alexandria’s established seafront seafood institutions in the broader central area after leaving the BA. Among the city’s longstanding hospitality names, San Giovanni traces its Alexandria history back to 1938. That heritage makes it one of the useful reference points for visitors who want a more formal sit-down meal after a day at a major cultural venue.

If your priority is the classic Alexandria ritual of fish by the water, aim for a restaurant with a direct sea setting in the central harbor belt and book enough time for the meal. This is the better option for dinner than for lunch between conference sessions, because seafood service in Alexandria is often at its best when you are not watching the clock.

How to build the best pre- and post-conference itinerary

Option 1: One-hour arrival plan before a morning session

  • Arrive in Chatby early.
  • Take a short Corniche walk facing the Mediterranean.
  • Have a fast coffee nearby.
  • Enter the BA with enough margin for security and orientation.

Option 2: The ideal cultured half-day after the conference

  • Start inside the BA with the Main Library and a guided tour.
  • Add the Antiquities Museum if you want the strongest historical stop in the complex.
  • If time allows, continue to a CULTURAMA show or a Planetarium activity with a separate ticket.
  • Walk or drive on to a classic Alexandria café for dessert and coffee.
  • Finish with a seafood dinner on the seafront.

What makes this guide local to Alexandria, not generic

The strongest part of this trip is that the conference venue itself is already one of Alexandria’s major attractions. You are not attending an event in a hotel ballroom cut off from the city. You are spending September 21–23 inside one of Egypt’s most visible cultural institutions, in a district that opens directly onto the Corniche and sits close to the older downtown fabric of Alexandria.

That means the best Chatby plan is not overcomplicated. Keep the morning focused, use the BA’s official visitor structure to your advantage, and save the lingering part of the day for coffee and seafood after the sessions. In practical Egypt terms, that is the sweet spot: conference first, library second, sea view always, and a proper Alexandria meal to close the day.

The bottom line

If you are attending Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s National Identity Conference from September 21 to 23, 2026, Chatby gives you one of the easiest event-day itineraries in Alexandria. Come early for coffee and a Corniche walk, use the BA’s museums and guided tours to turn the trip into more than a work stop, then head out for a classic Alexandria café and a seafood dinner once the sessions are over. For readers in Egypt planning a smart Alexandria day, that is the real value of this conference: it gives you a reason to revisit one of the city’s most rewarding cultural neighborhoods properly.