Cairo Coptic Churches & St Simon Cave Church: Private tour

Walk through centuries of Coptic Cairo without arranging the route yourself

A private tour of Cairo's Coptic Christian heritage visits the Hanging Church, Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, Church of Saint Barbara, Ben Ezra Synagogue and St Simon the Tanner Monastery carved into Mokattam mountain, with a qualified guide in English, Spanish or Arabic. Hotel pickup, private vehicle, bottled water and either lunch or a felucca boat ride are included depending on which option you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Coptic Cairo and St Simon Cave Church

• Pickup from Cairo or Giza hotel
• Visit Babylon Fortress
• See the Hanging Church
• Visit the Holy Crypt Church
• Explore Ben Ezra Synagogue
• Tour St Simon the Tanner Monastery Cave Church

The experience

Four hours, one private car, one guide who knows the sites. The day starts with hotel pickup in Cairo or Giza, then moves through Old Cairo's layered history: Babylon fortress built by Roman emperor Trajan in 98 B.C., the Hanging Church constructed on the two towers that remain from it, the holy crypt where the holy family is believed to have sheltered for three months. The guide explains the Jewish community's presence in Egypt as you visit Ben Ezra Synagogue, where the connection to Prophet Moses becomes part of the narrative. No group waiting, no fixed schedule beyond your own.

The second half crosses to Mokattam mountain and St Simon the Tanner Monastery, a vast cave church the Coptic Orthodox garbage collectors, the Zabbaleen, excavated from the rock during the 1970s. The scale of what was carved by hand into the mountain becomes clear only when you stand inside it. This is the neighborhood most Cairo visitors skip entirely, and the guide's presence makes the history legible instead of just visible.

Depending on which option you choose at checkout, the tour includes either lunch or a felucca boat ride on the Nile. Bottled water travels with you. All entrance fees, taxes and transport are settled before you book. The private vehicle means no shared stops, no waiting for other groups to finish photographing, no negotiation about timing.

What’s included

• Private vehicle and driver.
• qualified Egyptologist guide in English, Spanish or Arabic.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza.
• entrance fees to all sites.
• bottled water.
• lunch or felucca boat ride depending on your chosen option.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Options for this experience

3 options

Car+Driver onlyGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 8 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00Car and driver only, no tour guide; includes pickup

Car+Driver+guideGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 14 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:30Car, driver and guide included; pickup is included

Driver+guide+lunch or feluccaGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 10 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00Car, driver and guide, plus a choice of kosher lunch or a 30-minute felucca ride on the Nile; pickup is included

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 day15 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 to 90 years) · Child (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Hesham Egypt tour guide

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move through Old Cairo's churches and Mokattam mountain without coordinating pickups, timing or entrance fees separately: the private guide and vehicle let you follow the history at your own pace instead of a group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 6).

What is the Hanging Church and why is it built where it is?

The Hanging Church dates back to the 3rd century and sits on top of two towers that remain from Babylon fortress, the Roman structure built in 98 B.C. by emperor Trajan. The church's position above the fortress towers gives it its distinctive name and its historical foundation.

What is St Simon the Tanner Monastery and who built it?

St Simon the Tanner Monastery is a vast cave church carved into Mokattam mountain by the Coptic Orthodox garbage collectors, known as the Zabbaleen, during the 1970s. It honors a miracle St. Simon is believed to have performed and stands as a remarkable example of faith and labor combined.

Does the tour include a meal or activity on the Nile?

Your tour option at checkout determines this: you can book the package that includes lunch, or the one that includes a felucca boat ride on the Nile instead. Both options also include the private guide, vehicle and all entrance fees.

Will I visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue on this tour?

Yes, the tour includes a stop at Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo's Jewish community. Your guide explains the history of the Jewish presence in Egypt and the connection to Prophet Moses as part of the Old Cairo experience.