Cairo: Coptic & Islamic Cairo with Khan el-Khalili Bazaar

Six centuries of faith and trade in one Cairo day

You visit seven major religious and cultural sites across Coptic, Islamic, and Jewish Cairo in a single day, with a licensed guide handling the route and timing. Hotel pickup and drop-off, entry fees, lunch, and water are included, which means you're not arranging transport, buying tickets separately, or figuring out where to eat between stops. The private format keeps the group small and the pace manageable.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each6 stops

1. Hanging ChurchEntry included20m
2. Church of St. Sergius and BacchusEntry included15m
3. Ben Ezra SynagogueEntry included15m
4. Mosque of Amr ibn Al-Aspassing by
5. Mosque of Muhammad Ali15m
6. Al-Azhar MosqueEntry included15m

Explore Coptic and Islamic Cairo

• Visit the Hanging Church
• Explore Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus
• Visit Ben Ezra Synagogue
• Pass by Mosque of Amr ibn Al-As
• Climb to Salah El-Din Citadel
• Admire Mosque of Muhammad Ali
• Visit Al-Azhar Mosque
• Shop at Khan El-Khalili Bazaar

The experience

The Hanging Church rises before you, suspended above the street like a secret held in stone. Dating back to the 3rd century, it's the first stop on a private day tour through Coptic and Islamic Cairo: a route that threads through nearly two thousand years without rushing. Your licensed guide meets you at hotel pickup, and from there the day unfolds in a sequence that makes sense: the Hanging Church, then the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus (where the Holy Family is said to have sheltered), then the Ben Ezra Synagogue with its 9th-century walls. Three faiths, three buildings, all within walking distance of each other in Old Cairo.

After the churches and synagogue, you climb to the Citadel of Salah Al-Din, the 12th-century fortress that still commands the city from its hilltop. Inside, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, also called the Alabaster Mosque, stops you with its scale and light. The alabaster walls catch the sun differently depending on the hour, and the view from the courtyard reaches across Cairo to the edge of the desert. You'll also visit the Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As, one of the oldest in the Islamic world, built in the 7th century, and Al-Azhar Mosque, founded in the 10th century and still a center of Islamic learning. The pacing lets each one settle before you move to the next, rather than blurring into a single afternoon of doorways.

Khan el-Khalili Bazaar closes the day. This isn't a museum stop. It's a 14th-century market still working the way it always has, with narrow alleys, spice stalls, textile vendors, and the sound of haggling in Arabic. Your guide knows the layout and can point you toward specific shops or simply let you wander. Lunch is included (optional if you prefer to eat in the bazaar itself), and you'll have water on board throughout. The tour wraps with hotel drop-off, so you don't navigate Cairo's traffic alone at the end of a long day.

What’s included

• Your day includes private hotel pickup and drop-off, a licensed tour guide for the full route, entry fees to the Hanging Church, Church of St.
• Sergius and Bacchus, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As, the Citadel of Salah Al-Din, Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and Al-Azhar Mosque, lunch at a local restaurant, and a bottle of water on board.
• Khan el-Khalili Bazaar is open for browsing and shopping at your own pace.

Options for this experience

3 options

Car + tourguideGuide in English · 10 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 12:00Excludes tickets and lunch. This option does not cover tickets. Pickup is included.

Vehicle, tour guide and entry fees.Guide in English · 10 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 12:00Entry fees are covered. This option includes the entry fees. Pickup is included.

All inclusive optionGuide in English · 10 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 12:00Lunch is included in this option. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 4h 30m, runs every day, 10 start times, from US$ 50 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30 and 12:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6): free

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Discovery Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Coptic, Islamic, and Jewish Cairo in one coherent day without arranging your own transport between sites or buying tickets separately: the private pickup and guide handle both, which is what makes six major landmarks fit into a single afternoon.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

109 verified traveler reviews

5 ★107

4 ★1

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long is the tour?

The itinerary covers a full day. Exact duration depends on your hotel location and traffic, but plan for roughly 8–10 hours from pickup to drop-off.

Is entry to all the sites included?

Yes, entry fees are included. Lunch is also included, though it's optional if you prefer to eat elsewhere.

Do I need to dress a certain way to enter the mosques and churches?

Modest dress is expected at all religious sites. Shoulders and knees should be covered. Women may be asked to cover their hair in mosques. Your guide will advise before each stop.

Can I skip lunch or any of the sites?

Lunch is optional, so you can decline it. Your guide can also adjust stops based on your interests, though the main route includes all seven sites.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, licensed guide, entry fees to all sites, lunch, and a bottle of water on board.

Is haggling expected at Khan el-Khalili?

Haggling is common in the bazaar, but not required. Your guide can show you how it works or help you navigate if you prefer not to bargain.

Are there restrooms available during the tour?

Yes, restrooms are available at the major sites and in the bazaar area. Your guide will point them out as you go.