Coptic Cairo tour from Cairo: St Simon Monastery & Cave Church

The Hanging Church sits inside the walls of a Roman fortress that stood here centuries before it was built.

A private Coptic Cairo tour from Cairo with hotel pickup visits the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Church of Abu Serga, St Simon Monastery and its Cave Church, plus Garbage City on the return. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Arabic and drives an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour runs four hours and returns you to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Coptic Cairo and St Simon Monastery

• Pick up from hotel at requested time
• Transfer to Coptic Cairo
• Visit Hanging Church
• Visit Ben Ezra Synagogue
• Visit Cave Church and St Simon Monastery
• Visit Garbage City
• Return to hotel

The experience

You get picked up from your Cairo or Giza hotel at 9 or 10 am, or any time you request, and head straight to Old Cairo. The Hanging Church, built in the 3rd century, sits suspended above the remains of Babylon fortress. Two of its original towers still stand beneath the structure. Nearby, the Church of Abu Serga holds a holy crypt, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue marks the Jewish quarter of the ancient city. These three sites cluster within walking distance of each other in the narrow streets of Old Cairo.

From there, the tour moves to the Cave Church, where the Monastery of St Simon is carved into the rock. The guide will explain the history and the significance of the site as you walk through. On the drive back to your hotel, you pass through Garbage City, the informal waste-sorting district where much of Cairo's recycling happens: a stark contrast to the centuries-old churches and a part of the city most visitors never see.

The whole route takes four hours. Your guide handles all the navigation and commentary in English, Spanish or Arabic, and the air-conditioned vehicle means you're not walking between sites in the heat. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with all taxes and fees.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Cairo or Giza hotel.
• private tour with a guide who speaks English, Spanish or Arabic.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers between sites.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Options for this experience

4 options

Car+Driver onlyGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 10 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Car and driver only; pickup is included

Car+Driver +guideGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 12 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:30Car, driver and guide included; pickup is included

All-inclusive, best sellerGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Car, driver, guide and lunch of falafel or koshary; includes pickup

All-inclusive, best seller 2Guide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Car, driver and guide plus one of: 30-minute felucca boat ride, lunch on the Nile, or a visit to Khan el Khalili market; includes pickup

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

Before you book

Lasts 4h, runs every day, 12 start times, from US$ 12 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day12 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 and older) · 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 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Book Egypt by Locals Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're based in central Cairo or Giza and want a private guide to lead you through Coptic Cairo's scattered sites. Your guide handles navigation while you set your own pace across the Hanging Church, synagogue, and Cave Church.

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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 the way it is?

The Hanging Church was constructed in the 3rd century on top of the gatehouse of the Roman Babylon fortress. The two remaining towers of that fortress sit directly beneath the church structure, which is why it appears to hang above the ground.

Do I visit Garbage City as part of the tour or just pass through it?

You pass through Garbage City on the drive back to your hotel. It is included in the route so you see how the district operates, but the tour does not stop for a walking visit there.

Can I request a pickup time other than 9 or 10 am?

Yes, you can request any pickup time that works for your schedule when you book. The standard options are 9 or 10 am, but the operator will arrange a different time if you ask.

What is inside the Cave Church at St Simon Monastery?

The Cave Church is carved into the rock at the Monastery of St Simon. Your guide will walk you through the interior and explain its religious and historical significance during the visit.

Are meals included in this tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. The four-hour itinerary covers the sites and returns you to your hotel, but you will need to arrange or purchase food separately if you want to eat during the day.