Cairo Private Tour: Museum, Coptic Cairo & Khan el Khalili

Religious sites spanning centuries, then the bazaar where Cairo trades.

A private guided tour of Cairo with an Egyptologist takes you through the Egyptian Museum, then to Coptic Cairo's Hanging Church, Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, and Ben Ezra Synagogue, finishing at Khan el Khalili Bazaar. The tour runs seven to eight hours and includes hotel pickup from Giza, Downtown, Zamalek or Dokki, an air-conditioned vehicle, all entry fees, bottled water, and a live English-speaking guide. Children from age six are welcome. Wheelchair accessibility is available throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Egyptian Museum2h
2. Hanging Church1h
3. Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus1h
4. Ben Ezra Synagogue1h

Explore Cairo's historic sites and bazaar

• Visit Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
• Tour Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo
• Visit Saint Sergius and Bacchus Church
• See Ben Ezra Synagogue
• Explore Khan el Khalili Bazaar

The experience

An Egyptologist guide meets you at your hotel and drives you in a private air-conditioned vehicle to the Egyptian Museum, built in 1902 and holding over 120,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and the Greco-Roman period, including the collection of Tutankhamun. From there the tour moves into Coptic Cairo, a district where three churches and one synagogue sit within walking distance of each other, each marking a different layer of the city's religious history.

The Hanging Church dates to the 3rd century and gets its name from its position above the gatehouse of the ancient Roman fortress Babylon. Inside are 110 holy icons. The Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus stands on the spot where, according to tradition, the holy family rested during their flight into Egypt. Ben Ezra Synagogue became significant in the 19th century when workers discovered its Geniza: a storage room holding centuries of Hebrew manuscripts that had been abandoned there. Each site is small enough to walk through without crowds, and the guide explains what you're standing in front of rather than rushing through.

The day ends at Khan el Khalili Bazaar, which began as a mausoleum for Fatimid rulers, became a Turkish quarter during the Ottoman period, and is now a marketplace of souvenir shops, coffeehouses serving Arabic coffee and hookah, and restaurants. The bazaar is where the tour stops rather than where it ends. You can stay as long as you want, and the driver will return you to your hotel whenever you're ready.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from central Cairo neighborhoods.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• an Egyptologist guide speaking English.
• entry fees to the Egyptian Museum, Hanging Church, Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, Ben Ezra Synagogue, and Khan el Khalili Bazaar.
• bottled mineral water throughout the tour.
• Tourism Police Permission and all taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Egypt Tailor Made Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to move through Cairo's major sites without managing transport or entry logistics yourself: the guide, vehicle, and all fees are arranged, so the day holds together as a single journey from ancient Egypt through Coptic history to the bazaar, with time to explore each stop at your own pace.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

108 verified traveler reviews

5 ★104

4 ★3

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

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

What's inside the Egyptian Museum that makes it worth a morning?

The Egyptian Museum holds over 120,000 artifacts spanning ancient Egypt and the Greco-Roman period, with the centerpiece being the collection of Tutankhamun: the child king's treasures, jewelry, and burial goods that survived largely intact. The museum was built in 1902 and remains one of the world's largest collections of Egyptian antiquities.

Why is the Hanging Church called that?

The Hanging Church sits directly above the gatehouse of the ancient Roman fortress Babylon, so its foundation rests on top of the fortress walls rather than on ground level, hence the name. It dates to the 3rd century and contains 110 holy icons depicting religious scenes.

Can I spend time at Khan el Khalili Bazaar, or does the tour move through quickly?

Khan el Khalili is the final stop of the tour, and you control how long you stay there. The bazaar is a working marketplace with souvenir shops, coffeehouses, and restaurants throughout, so you can browse, sit for coffee, or shop at your own pace while your driver waits to return you to your hotel.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in different parts of Cairo?

Hotel pickup is included from Giza, Downtown Cairo, Zamalek, or Dokki. If you're staying at an airport hotel, in Nasr City, New Cairo, or the 6th October area, an additional charge of $7.50 per person applies for pickup and drop-off.

What does the seven to eight hour duration include?

The seven to eight hours covers the Egyptian Museum visit, travel to and time at all four Coptic Cairo sites, the drive to Khan el Khalili Bazaar, and your time there, plus the hotel pickup and drop-off at the beginning and end of the day.