Half-day Churches of Cairo tour: Hanging Church & Old Cairo

Walk through centuries of faith in the alleyways of Old Cairo

A 5-hour guided tour of Cairo's most significant churches takes you through Old Cairo and Coptic Cairo with hotel pickup and drop-off included. You visit the Hanging Church (built in the 7th century and perched above a water gate), the Church of St. George, the Church of St. Barbara, the Church of St. Sergius, and Ben Ezra Synagogue. A professional English-speaking guide leads the route through narrow lanes and explains the history and spiritual significance of each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each6 stops

1. Old Cairo3h
2. Hanging ChurchEntry included30m
3. Church of St. BarbaraEntry included10m
4. Church of St. GeorgeEntry included15m
5. Ben Ezra SynagogueEntry included15m
6. Church of St. Sergius and BacchusEntry included10m

Visit famous churches in Cairo

• Meet professional guide
• Drive through Old Cairo lanes
• Visit Hanging Church of Virgin Mary
• Explore Church of St. Barbara
• See Church of St. George
• Tour Ben Ezra Synagogue
• Visit Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus
• Explore Monastery of Saint Simon

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in an air-conditioned minivan. Your guide drives you into the heart of Old Cairo, where you walk through the alleyways to reach the churches on the southern fringes. The route moves between sites that span centuries: the Church of St. Sergius, where the holy family is believed to have rested during their exile in Egypt. The Church of St. Barbara, originally dedicated to two healing martyrs; and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, a former Coptic church transformed in the 11th century and tied to both Jewish and Christian tradition.

The Hanging Church of the Virgin Mary is the centerpiece. Perched on top of a water gate, it dates from the 7th century and holds dark interiors lined with cedar paneling, a wooden ark ceiling, and a marble pulpit supported by 12 pillars. The Church of St. George, a Greek Orthodox church within the Babylon Fortress, dates to the 10th century (the current structure was rebuilt after a 1904 fire and finished in 1909). The tour also includes Saint Simon's Church, carved into the Mokattam Hills: a monastery complex with seven churches and chapels hidden inside caves, including a cathedral that seats 2,000 people and walls covered in biblical engravings.

The full circuit takes 5 hours. On Fridays, pickup is at 10 a.m. due to morning prayers and mass. Children from age 6 are welcome when accompanied by an adult. Infants sit on a parent's lap. You'll need a moderate level of physical fitness to navigate the alleyways and climb within the churches. If your hotel is outside the city, an extra charge applies for pickup.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned minivan.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full 5 hours.
• entry to all five churches and religious sites (the Hanging Church, Church of St. George, Church of St. Barbara, Church of St. Sergius, and Ben Ezra Synagogue, plus Saint Simon's Church in the Mokattam Hills).

Information

Lasts 5h, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 43 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Friday: 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Friday: 10:00

GroupUp to 156 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Deluxe Travel

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're visiting Cairo for one morning or afternoon and want a guide who knows the history behind each church. You'll see four major sites without piecing together separate visits across the city.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Hanging Church and why is it called that?

The Hanging Church of the Virgin Mary is a 7th-century church built on top of a water gate in Coptic Cairo, which is why it appears to hang above the ground. Inside, dark cedar paneling, a wooden ark ceiling, and a marble pulpit supported by 12 pillars create its distinctive interior.

How many churches do I visit on this tour?

You visit five main churches and religious sites: the Hanging Church, the Church of St. George, the Church of St. Barbara, the Church of St. Sergius, and Ben Ezra Synagogue. The tour also includes Saint Simon's Church, a monastery complex carved into the Mokattam Hills with seven churches and chapels inside.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, transport in an air-conditioned minivan, and a professional English-speaking guide are included. Food, drinks, and gratuities are not included.

What time does the tour start?

The tour typically starts with morning pickup from your hotel. On Fridays, pickup is at 10 a.m. due to morning prayers and mass at the churches.

Do I need to be very fit to do this tour?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness, as the tour involves walking through narrow alleyways and climbing within the churches to reach different levels and chapels.