Cairo day trip from El Sokhna Port: Christian & Islamic Old Cairo

Ten hours tracing Cairo's faith and power through four centuries of churches, mosques and medieval streets

This is a private day tour from El Sokhna Port to Old Cairo and Islamic Cairo, led by an Egyptologist guide who takes you through Christian sanctuaries (the Hanging Church, St. Sergius Church with its Jesus Crypt, Ben Ezra Synagogue, St. Barbara Church) and Islamic landmarks (Salah el-Din Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque, El Moez Street, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, and the Fatimid mosques of El Darb El Asfar). The tour includes a two-hour air-conditioned transfer from the port, lunch at a local restaurant, bottled water, and entry fees to all sites. A private guide means the pace and stops are yours alone. The itinerary moves between Christian and Islamic quarters, so you see how both faiths shaped the city's architecture and streets.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hanging Church15m · entry included
2. Ben Ezra Synagogue15m · entry included
3. Church of St. Barbara15m · entry included
4. Mosque of Muhammad Ali1h · entry included

Explore Christian and Islamic Old Cairo

• Meet and greet at El Sokhna Port
• Transfer to Cairo with rest stop
• Visit Church of St. Sergius and Crypt
• Explore the Hanging Church
• Visit Ben Ezra Synagogue
• Tour Church of St. Barbara
• Visit Salah el-Din Citadel and museums
• Explore Mosque of Muhammad Ali
• Walk along El Moez Street
• Shop at Khan El Khalili Bazaar
• Stroll El Darb El Asfar alleyway
• Visit Mosque-School of Sultan Barquq
• See Al-Aqmar Mosque
• Explore Qalawun Complex
• Return transfer to El Sokhna Port

The experience

A two-hour drive from El Sokhna Port brings you to Old Cairo, where your private Egyptologist guide begins at the Church of St. Sergius. This is where the itinerary grounds itself: the guide walks you into the Crypt beneath the church, a cave sanctuary where Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus are believed to have sheltered during their flight from King Herod. The Hanging Church follows, built above a Roman fortress gate and one of the oldest Christian landmarks in the world. Then Ben Ezra Synagogue, where the guide explains the Cairo Geniza (over 400,000 medieval Jewish manuscripts discovered here), and the building's rare blend of Jewish, Islamic and Christian architectural styles. St. Barbara Church, dating to the 5th century and nestled inside the Babylon Fortress, closes the Christian section with its Coptic marble columns and rare icons.

The Islamic half begins at Salah el-Din Citadel, a 12th-century fortress built to defend Cairo from Crusaders. Inside its walls sit the Military Museum and Police Museum, but the real draw is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the Alabaster Mosque, with its vast domes, slender minarets and gleaming limestone interior. From there the tour moves to El Moez Street, an open-air museum of Islamic architecture lined with mosques, madrassas and palaces. Your guide points out the Qalawun Complex (a 13th-century ensemble of mosque, school and hospital) and Al-Hakim Mosque as you walk. Khan El Khalili Bazaar comes next: a souk where artisans sell brassware, textiles, copper, perfumes, leather and antiques. The guide shares the bazaar's trade history as you move through the lively alleys. El Darb El Asfar, a quieter alleyway behind El Moez Street, reveals restored mansions and Mamluk and Ottoman architecture, followed by the Mosque-School of Sultan Barquq (14th century) and Al-Aqmar Mosque, built in 1125 and known as the Moonlit Mosque for its Fatimid design.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant partway through the day. The tour wraps with your guide accompanying you back to the ship at El Sokhna Port. All entry fees, the air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water and the Egyptologist's narration are included. You choose your guide's language at checkout (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or six others are available). The private format means no set group size and no fixed pace: the guide adapts to your interests and energy.

What’s included

• Round-trip transfer from El Sokhna Port in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• private Egyptologist guide in your choice of language.
• entrance fees to the Hanging Church, St. Sergius Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, St. Barbara Church, Salah el-Din Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque, and all Fatimid mosques on El Moez Street and El Darb El Asfar.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• all taxes and service charges.

Options for this experience

4 options

English guide48 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 23:30includes pickup

Japanese guide48 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 23:30includes pickup

Private tour with a guide in your choice of languageGuide in 5 languages · 48 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 23:30includes pickup

Group Tour OptionGuide in English or Arabic · Available from 9 Sep 2027includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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 effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats available

Operated by Sun Pyramids Tours

Is this one for you?Book the private tour option if you want the guide and pace to follow your interests: the Egyptologist adapts the stops and timing to what matters most to you, rather than moving a group through a fixed schedule. Choose the group tour if you prefer to share the cost and the experience with other travelers on the same day.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): free.

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

The Hanging Church is one of the oldest Christian landmarks in the world, built above a Roman fortress gate in Old Cairo. It earned its name because parts of the structure hang suspended over the gate below, and it stands as a significant site of early Christian heritage with a peaceful atmosphere that draws families and faith travelers.

How long is the drive from El Sokhna Port to Cairo?

The transfer takes approximately two hours in an air-conditioned vehicle, with a stop available if you need to rest during the journey.

What is the Cairo Geniza and where can I see it?

The Cairo Geniza is a collection of over 400,000 medieval Jewish manuscripts discovered at the Ben Ezra Synagogue, believed to be built on the spot where baby Moses was found. Your guide will explain the significance of this treasure trove and the synagogue's unique architectural blend of Jewish, Islamic and Christian styles.

What can I buy at Khan El Khalili Bazaar?

Khan El Khalili is a bustling souk where skilled artisans sell fine brassware, colorful textiles, copper, perfumes, leather, silver, gold and antiques. Your Egyptologist guide will share stories of the bazaar's trade traditions and cultural heritage as you wander the lively alleys.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes, lunch is served at a local restaurant during the tour. Bottled water is also provided throughout the day. Any additional beverages during lunch can be ordered separately.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility concerns?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and specialized infant seats are available. It is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the itinerary involves walking through historic sites, bazaars and street-level attractions.