- DurationApprox. 8–9 hours
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsPickup from your Cairo or Giza hotel
- PriceFrom $75 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This private Old Cairo day tour brings together 5,000 years of the city in one full day. You start with the royal mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, then walk into Coptic Cairo, where churches, a synagogue and Egypt’s first mosque stand within a few hundred metres of each other inside the walls of the Roman fortress of Babylon.
After lunch you drive up to Saladin’s Citadel, the medieval fortress that guarded Cairo for 700 years, with views across a skyline of domes and minarets. The day ends in Khan el-Khalili, the great bazaar of Islamic Cairo, with time to browse and bargain. Your Egyptologist guide links the stories together, from pharaohs and Romans to Copts, Fatimids, Mamluks and Ottomans.
Highlights
- The Royal Mummies Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- The Hanging Church and Abu Serga, where tradition says the Holy Family sheltered
- Ben Ezra Synagogue, home of the famous Cairo Geniza
- The Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, the first mosque in Egypt
- Saladin’s Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali
- Free time in Khan el-Khalili bazaar, lunch and tickets included
Itinerary
08:30 – Hotel pickup
Your guide and driver meet you at your hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is in Fustat, in the south of the old city, about 20 to 60 minutes away depending on traffic. Your guide outlines the day and how Cairo grew from Roman fort to capital.
09:15 – National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Tour the main gallery, which tells the story of Egypt from prehistory to modern times, then go down to the Royal Mummies Hall. Here, in quiet, softly lit rooms, lie kings and queens such as Ramesses II, Seti I and Hatshepsut, moved here in 2021. Allow about two hours.
11:30 – Coptic Cairo and Amr ibn al-As Mosque
Walk through Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, built above a Roman gatehouse; Abu Serga, with the crypt where tradition says the Holy Family rested; and Ben Ezra Synagogue, where the Cairo Geniza manuscripts were found. End at the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, first founded in AD 642.
13:15 – Lunch
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, with Egyptian dishes such as grilled meats, rice, molokhia, salads and dips, and vegetarian or vegan choices on request. Drinks are extra. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you book, so the restaurant can prepare.
Meals: Lunch
14:30 – Saladin’s Citadel
Drive up to the Citadel, begun by Saladin in 1176. Visit the Ottoman-style Mosque of Muhammad Ali, often called the Alabaster Mosque, with its domes and huge chandeliers, and step onto the terrace for a panoramic view of Cairo. On clear days you can see the Giza pyramids on the horizon.
16:00 – Khan el-Khalili bazaar
Finish in Khan el-Khalili, the bazaar founded in the 14th century. Wander lanes of lamps, spices, perfume, textiles and silver, and stop for mint tea at a historic café if you like. Your guide shares bargaining tips. You are back at your hotel by about 17:30 to 18:00.
Good to know: On Fridays the mosques close to visitors during midday prayers, and on Sunday mornings the churches hold services, so the order of visits may change on those days. Modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered) is needed for all religious sites.
What’s Included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Citadel
- Visits to the Hanging Church, Abu Serga, Ben Ezra Synagogue and Amr ibn al-As Mosque (no tickets needed)
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water
Not included
- Drinks with lunch and café stops
- Coptic Museum ticket (about $5.5, optional)
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Shopping and personal expenses
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $175 |
| 2 travellers | $112 |
| 3–5 travellers | $89 |
| 6+ travellers | $75 |
Per person in USD. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear?
Modest clothing for all the religious sites: shoulders and knees covered for everyone. Women are asked to cover their hair inside the Amr ibn al-As Mosque, and a scarf or gown is usually available at the entrance. Shoes come off inside mosques, so footwear that slips on and off easily helps.
Can I take photos of the royal mummies?
Photography is not allowed in the Royal Mummies Hall, and phones should be put away there. In the rest of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, photos without flash are generally permitted. Your guide will explain the current rules at the entrance.
Is there a lot of walking?
Moderate walking of about four kilometres, mostly on flat ground, with some steps in the churches and at the Citadel. The Coptic quarter is a pedestrian area, so the vehicle waits nearby. Because the tour is private, your guide can slow down or add rest stops at any time.
Can we add the Egyptian Museum or the Coptic Museum?
The Coptic Museum fits easily into the Coptic Cairo visit for a small extra ticket. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir needs at least 90 minutes, so we would drop another stop or recommend it on a separate day. Ask us and we will adjust the plan.
Does the tour run on Fridays?
Yes, but Friday is a prayer day, so mosques close to visitors around midday prayers and the city is busier in the afternoon. Your guide reorders the visits to work around prayer times. If you are flexible, another day of the week gives a smoother route.
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Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
