Full-day private tour: Coptic and Islamic Cairo, from the Hanging Church to Khan el-Khalili

Cairo is called the city of a thousand minarets, but it is just as much a city of churches, and in many neighborhoods a mosque and a church share the same corner. This private tour is about that side of the city.

In the religious complex of Old Cairo you visit the Hanging Church, the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest Jewish temple in Cairo. We then drive up to Mokattam for the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner, and finish the day at the Khan el-Khalili market.

Your licensed guide tells the stories behind each place and answers your questions, and a private driver takes you between sites in an air-conditioned car. Entrance fees are included; camera tickets are extra.

Why take a Coptic and Islamic Cairo tour

Cairo is called the city of a thousand minarets, but it is just as much a city of churches. This private tour suits travelers interested in faith, architecture and everyday life, and anyone who has seen the pyramids and wants to know the city better.

In Old Cairo you visit the Hanging Church, the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the oldest Jewish temple in Cairo. You then drive up to Mokattam for the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner and finish at Khan el-Khalili. UNESCO’s Historic Cairo listing explains the city’s heritage.

Wear modest clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and bring a scarf for the mosque. Comfortable shoes are useful on old streets. Entrance fees are included, but camera tickets are extra.