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Old Coptic Cairo and the Cairo Citadel — Rates, Photos & Booking Help

Half-day private tour of Coptic Cairo — the Hanging Church and the ancient Christian quarter — and the medieval Citadel of Saladin with the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. 4 hours, from $55 per person.

4 Hours Private Tour Cultural & Religious 🕌 Coptic & Islamic Cairo
This tour visits active places of worship, so modest dress is required at both the churches and the mosque: shoulders and knees covered for everyone, and a light scarf is handy for the mosque. You will remove your shoes before entering the prayer hall of the Alabaster Mosque, so easy-off footwear helps. The Citadel sits high on the Mokattam hills with wide open views, best in clear morning light, while the shaded lanes of Coptic Cairo are pleasant any time of day. Fridays around midday prayers can be busier at the mosque.
⭐27+ years of Egypt expertise since 1998
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💰Best price guarantee or your money back
🛡No booking fees — pay only on confirmation
🇪🇬Egypt-based tour operator with local crews

Old Coptic Cairo and the Cairo Citadel — Overview

This tour explores two thousand years of Cairo's faith, in the age after the pharaohs, when the city became a heartland of Christian and then Islamic Egypt. It begins in Coptic Cairo, the old walled quarter that grew up around the Roman fortress of Babylon. Here, tradition holds, the Holy Family sheltered during their flight into Egypt, and the lanes are lined with some of the oldest churches in the country — above all the Hanging Church, the Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox church suspended dramatically over the fortress gate. Close by stand the ancient Church of St Sergius, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, and the Coptic Museum with its unrivalled collection of Christian Egyptian art.

From there the day climbs to the Citadel of Saladin, the great medieval fortress raised by Salah al-Din in 1176 on the Mokattam hills. For nearly seven hundred years it was the seat of Egypt's rulers, and it still dominates the skyline. Crowning it is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali — the "Alabaster Mosque" — an Ottoman masterpiece of soaring domes and twin 84-metre minarets, from whose terraces the whole of Cairo, and on clear days the distant pyramids, spreads out below you.

Together, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel tell the story of the city after the pharaohs — a rich, human counterpoint to the monuments of Giza, and one of the most atmospheric half-days in the capital.

Photos

The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo Interior of the Hanging Church The Citadel of Saladin overlooking Cairo The Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali

Rates

Solo Guest

1 guest

$90per person

2 to 6 Guests

per person

$55per person

7+ Guests

per person

$40per person

Children

👶
Free Infant

Infants up to 4 years old join free of charge.

🎓
50% Discount Per Child

Children from 4 to under 12 years old receive a 50% discount.

Best For

Travellers who want the other side of Cairo — its Christian and Islamic heritage rather than its pharaonic monuments — and anyone drawn to living history, sacred architecture and sweeping city views. It suits first-time visitors looking to round out a Giza day with something different, and it is comfortable, largely shaded or indoors, and easy to pair with Khan el-Khalili or the Egyptian Museum.

What You’ll See

  • The Hanging Church (Saint Virgin Mary), suspended above the Roman Babylon Fortress
  • The ancient Coptic quarter and the Church of St Sergius (Abu Serga)
  • The Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Coptic Museum
  • The medieval Citadel of Saladin and its panoramic views over Cairo
  • The Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, crowning the Citadel

Tour Includes

  • Pick-up service from your hotel
  • Egyptology guide
  • Entrance fees to sightseeing as per the program
  • All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
  • Bottled water during your trip
  • All taxes & service charge
  • Drop-off at your hotel

Tour Excludes

  • Tips
  • Meals and beverages
  • Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary

Tour FAQ

How long is the tour?
About 4 hours at the sites, plus hotel pickup and drop-off time depending on where you are staying in Cairo or Giza.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your Cairo or Giza hotel are included in a private, air-conditioned vehicle.
Are entrance fees included?
Yes, entrance to the Citadel, the mosque and the Coptic Cairo sites is included.
Is there a dress code?
Yes. As these are active places of worship, please cover shoulders and knees. A light scarf is handy for the mosque, where you will also remove your shoes before entering the prayer hall.
When is the best time to go?
Mornings give the clearest views from the Citadel. Coptic Cairo is pleasant any time; Fridays around midday can be busier at the mosque.
Is the tour private?
Yes. You have your own guide and a private vehicle, and the per-person rate falls as the group grows.
Can children join?
Absolutely. Infants up to 4 are free, and children from 4 to under 12 receive a 50% discount.
Please Note: Prices are calculated based on entrance fees, fuel price and local taxes as at June 30, 2020. Any increase in entrance fees, fuel price or local taxes will be reflected on any unpaid tour immediately. However, any pre-paid tour will not be affected by the change of rates. We highly recommend booking your tours in advance to be protected from price fluctuation.

Early Booking Benefits

💰 Payment & Deposit
  1. Deposit: only 20% deposit at the time of booking.
  2. Installments: 0% interest, equal monthly installments. The last installment is required 30 days before the tour date.
🛌️ Tour Privileges — all tours booked 6 months in advance get
  1. A private guide free of charge, without supplements.
  2. Your choice of guiding language: English, French, Italian, German or Spanish.
📅 Flexibility (Changes)
  1. Date change: free of charge, with respect to seasonality price, up to 7 days before the tour date.
  2. Tour swap: free of charge, with respect to the price difference between both tours, up to 7 days before the tour date.
  3. Name change: free of charge up to 7 days before the tour date.
📉 Price Fluctuation Protection
  1. Price increase guarantee: your price is protected against any future increase in tour rate, fuel price, government taxes or entrance fees.
  2. Price drop guarantee: you receive a refund of the difference if the price drops (same booking conditions).
🌍 National / Global Shutdown Protection

Examples: pandemic, airspace closure, or force-majeure events affecting all tours.

  1. Postpone travel date free of charge: move your travel to a later date, keeping the exact same booked plan, benefits and conditions.
  2. Full refund: receive a 100% refund.