• Coptic Cairo - Embark on a day tour from Cairo to explore the Christian and Islamic sites, beginning with a pickup from your hotel by a tour guide. The tour includes a visit to Old Cairo, also known as Christian Coptic Cairo, a significant location visited by the Holy Family. Here, visitors can explore the Church of Abu-Sergah and St. Barbara, the Hanging Church, and the historic Ben Ezra Synagogue.

• Synagogue Ben Ezra - The Ben Ezra Synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת בן עזרא; Arabic: معبد بن عزرا), also known as the El-Geniza Synagogue (בית כנסת אל גניזה) or the Synagogue of the Levantines (al-Shamiyin), is located in the Fustat area of Old Cairo, Egypt. According to local legend, it is the site where baby Moses was discovered.

This synagogue’s geniza, or storeroom, was found in the 19th century to contain a treasure trove of forgotten Hebrew, Aramaic, and Judeo-Arabic secular and sacred manuscripts. This collection, known as the Cairo Geniza, was brought to the University of Cambridge in England through the efforts of Solomon Schechter. It is now divided among several academic libraries, with the majority housed at the Cambridge University Library.

• Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary) - Saint Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church is one of Egypt’s oldest churches, dating back to the third century. It is part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

The Hanging Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of the Babylon Fortress, a Roman fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo); its nave is suspended over a passage. The church is accessed by twenty-nine steps, leading early travelers to call it “the Staircase Church.” The land surface has risen by about six meters since the Roman period, so the Roman tower is mostly buried, reducing the visual impact of the church’s elevated position.

The entrance from the street is through iron gates under a pointed stone arch. Beyond a narrow courtyard adorned with modern biblical art, the nineteenth-century facade with twin bell towers is visible. Up the steps and through the entrance is another small courtyard leading to the eleventh-century outer porch.

• Saint Barbara Church Complex - The Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Barbara is one of the renowned Coptic Orthodox parishes in Coptic Cairo. Located on the eastern side of the Babylon Fortress, it is one of Cairo’s oldest buildings, dating back to the 5th or 6th century AD. Like many Coptic architectural structures, it has been rebuilt several times, most notably by the end of the 11th century.

St. Barbara’s Church is situated north of the Coptic Museum and east of the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga), on the eastern side of Fort Babylon. Originally dedicated to Abu Kir and Yohanna (or Ss. Cyrus and John), a separate sanctuary was built when the remains of St. Barbara were brought here. Thus, two separate churches now exist at this location. Athanasius, a wealthy scribe and secretary to Abdel-Aziz Ibn Marwan (governor of Egypt between 685 and 705 AD), constructed the church.

• Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus - The Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus, also known as Abu Serga, is built on an ancient Roman fort in Old Cairo. The church’s history is debated, with some scholars dating it to the late fourth to early fifth centuries AD, while others suggest the 17th century AD.

This church holds special religious significance among Coptic churches due to its association with the Holy Family’s journey through Egypt. It is named after the renowned early fourth-century AD saints, Sergius and Bacchus, who were martyred at al-Resafa in Syria for their Christian beliefs. Like many early Christian churches, the Church of Abu Serga and its underground cave are designed in the basilica layout, consisting of three parts: the narthex, nave, and sanctuary. The church is noted for its unique architectural and artistic elements that reflect the spirit of Coptic church architecture in Egypt.

• Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As - The tour continues with a visit to the Mosque of ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, the oldest surviving mosque in Egypt and Africa. General ʿAmr ibn al-ʿAs, one of the Prophet Muhammad’s first companions, founded Egypt’s first Islamic capital, Fustat, after conquering Egypt in 20 AH/640 AD. A year later, by order of Caliph ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, he established the mosque of ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, which became the new capital’s first building.

In the early years following the conquest, the mosque served as a gathering place for the Muslim community and ‘Amr’s troops, who were a minority in Egypt at the time. Several of the Prophet’s companions, including al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awam and Ubada ibn al-Samit, assisted in its construction. The structure has undergone many architectural changes over time, with little of the original remaining today.

• Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan - The Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan is one of Egypt’s largest and most architecturally exquisite mosques. Commissioned by the Mamluk sultan Hasan ibn al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun between 757 AH/1356 AD and 764 AH/1362 AD, it is located at the end of Muhammad Ali Street, opposite its nineteenth-century neighbor, the al-Rifa’i mosque in Salah al-Din Square.

The mosque features an open courtyard with a central fountain, surrounded by four iwans (rectangular spaces open on one side). Doorways at the four corners of the courtyard provide access to four madrasas, educational institutions where the four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence were taught. Each madrasa includes a court and iwan, along with student rooms and service units. The mosque has two minarets built in the Mamluk style.

• Al-Rifa’i Mosque - Situated on Salah al-Din Square, al-Rifa’i Mosque was constructed in the nineteenth century to complement its fourteenth-century neighbor, the mosque of al-Sultan Ḥassan. The mosque is named after the tomb of Ali, known as “Abu Sheibak,” the grandson of Imam Ahmad al-Rifa’i. Upon completion, the mosque was attributed directly to Ahmad al-Rifa’i, who founded the Rifa’i Sufi order. Although he was never buried here, the mosque hosts joyful annual Sufi celebrations commemorating his birth.

The original structure was a Fatimid mosque, later transformed into a shrine for Ali Abu Sheibak. Finally, Hoshiyar Hanim, the mother of Khedive Ismail, commissioned the current mosque design, entrusting architect Hussein Pasha Fahmi with its construction. The plan included a mausoleum for Muhammad Ali’s family, using imported building materials from Europe, such as Italian marble.

• Cairo Citadel - The Citadel of Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) is one of the most iconic monuments in Islamic Cairo and among the most impressive medieval defensive fortresses. Its strategic location on the Muqattam Hills provided a formidable defensive position and offers, as it still does today, an unrestricted panoramic view of Cairo.

Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi was the first to order the construction of a fortress over the Muqattam Hills in (572 AH/1176 AD), but it was not completed during his lifetime. This was achieved during the reign of Sultan al-Kamel ibn al-Adel (604 AH/1207 AD), who decided to reside there, making it the official residence of Egypt’s rulers. In the mid-nineteenth century, Khedive Ismail moved the official residence to Abdeen Palace in downtown Cairo.

• Private transportation
• Guide on site
• Bottled water
• Entry Fees
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Gratuities

Discover Cairo’s profound religious heritage on our Day Tour of Historical Religious Sites and Khan El Khalili. Explore renowned landmarks like Abu-Sergah and St. Barbara, the Hanging Church, and the ancient Ben Ezra Synagogue. Experience the cultural importance of Amr Ibn Elas, El Sultan Hassan Mosque, Al-Rifa’i Mosque, and The Citadel of Cairo. Seize the chance to immerse yourself in the spiritual legacy of Egypt’s capital.

• Entrance fees -Depending on the Tour Options Chosen

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.