Private Tour

Hidden Gems of Coptic Cairo, Cave Church & Egypt’s Oldest Mosque

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

This tour takes you through the heart of Old Coptic Cairo, a place rich in history and spirituality. You’ll visit the Church of Abu Serga, built above the cave where the Holy Family once took shelter, explore the Hanging Church, and discover the famous Cave Church of St. Simon carved into the Moqattam Mountains. The Monastery of St. Simon, the largest of the cave churches, even has an amphitheater that can seat 20,000 people. You will also visit Egypt’s oldest mosque, adding a unique Islamic historical perspective to your journey. This combination of historic sites, spiritual significance, and impressive architecture makes the experience unforgettable. At the end of the tour, you’ll return comfortably to your hotel.

Additional Info

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

This tour includes a visit to the Monastery of Saint Simon (the Cave Church) in Cairo. To reach the site, we must drive through an area commonly known as Garbage City. This area can be very busy, visually challenging, and not very clean, and there may be unpleasant odors at times. We believe in being fully transparent with our guests, so please consider this carefully before booking. If you feel uncomfortable passing through such areas, this tour may not be suitable for you. Alternatively, you may choose to skip the Cave Church visit. Please make sure you are aware of this information before confirming your booking.

Important Note: Please be aware that if you book the tour on a Friday during prayer times, there is a high chance that the mosque included in the program will not be accessible for a visit.

Cancellation Policy

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

What To Expect

Fort of Babylon

The Babylon Fortress, located in Cairo, Egypt, is an ancient Roman fortress that dates back to the 1st century AD. Originally built to protect the city from invasions, it stands as a significant historical landmark showcasing the blend of Roman and Egyptian architectural styles. Over the centuries, it has served various purposes, from military stronghold to a site for Christian worship, reflecting the diverse history of the region. Today, it remains a popular tourist attraction, offering visitors a glimpse into Egypt's rich past.

10 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

The Hanging Church

The Hanging Church, also known as Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, is a historic church located in Old Cairo, Egypt. Dating back to the 3rd century AD, it is one of the oldest churches in Egypt and is renowned for its unique architectural design, which appears to "hang" over the ruins of two ancient towers. The church is an important religious and cultural site for Coptic Christians, and it contains beautiful artwork, intricate woodwork, and ancient artifacts. As a symbol of Egypt's Christian heritage, the Hanging Church attracts visitors from around the world who come to admire its beauty and significance.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Bottled water

All Fees and Taxes

Licensed tourguide

Gratuities ( Tipping ) not obligated but appreciated

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

tour with a Nile Felucaa ride

Felucaa : You will have a relaxing experience by enjoy sailing in the Nile on a felucca boat
Felucaa ride in the Nile
Pickup included

Car + Tour Guide + fees

Car with a tourguide : Includes Car + tourguide + fees
Pickup included

Tour with lunch

traditional lunch included: Includes Car + tourguide + lunch + entry fees
Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

23 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Spiritual Adventure
Edwina J,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Spiritual tour for us. Our tour guide explained and answered all of our questions and gave us time to observe and pray.
Coptic Cairo at it's best!
Nicolene R,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This is a very good presentation of Coptic Cairo led by a enthusiastic tour guide and Egyptologist, fair amount of walking and sights included.Highly commendable! Fascinating sights and well presented!
Amazing
Curious44181393791,,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This is a must do tour. My guide was friendly, knowledgeble and great with kids/family. Amazing experience, arrived on time and the churches are breathtaking.
Old Cairo adventure
Ditas R,,Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our first day in Cairo started out to be a wonderful experience, thanks to Yemani, our driver. He went above and beyond the call of duty. His communication was excellent. He possessed the knowledge about the places we visited and pointed out interesting information about various places on our way and gave us some valuable insights. He ensured that we were comfortable and safe and we were able to go at our pace.
Awesome Egypt tour - a must do with Abdu
jwade2017,,Aug 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What an amazing tour this was. Our guide Abdu was excellent. He was very knowledgeable about everything and he was so polite. If I had to rate him out of 10 it was an 11. We loved going to the Cave Church what an experience, we loved Coptic Cairo and the Cavern Church and the Hanging Church. We added on two extras which was not an issue for Abdu and we went to the Citadel and the Civilisation Museum. Both of these are a must if you are in Egypt. There were so many highlights but seeing where Joseph Mary and baby Jesus hid for three months in Egypt was very special. Another highlight was the sharing a coffee break with Abdu and learning so much about the culture of Egypt. If you are planning on visiting Egypt consider this tour and make sure you ask for Abdu.
Fantastic tour and guide
Waiming S,,Jul 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
First off, Abdu was an amazing tour guide. He spoke English very well, patiently answered our many questions, and was so informative about each site he took us to visit. He has a lot of passion about the history, which made the tour feel even more special. We were never pressured to visit specific shops, which was a relief. Highly recommend you book this tour and, if possible, ask for Abdu!
freespirit1120,,Jul 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
First off, Abdu was an amazing tour guide. He spoke English very well, patiently answered our many questions, and was so informative about each site he took us to visit. He has a lot of passion about the history, which made the tour feel even more special. We were never pressured to visit specific shops, which was a relief. Highly recommend you book this tour and, if possible, ask for Abdu!
Worth seeing in Cairo
I9379KQcharlesw,,Mar 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great tour, and would recommend it. It’s good to see more than the pyramids and in Cairo the mosques and other religious buildings are a great addition.
Fab tour guide
jennyrQ6294FE,,Feb 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Lovely tour guide who was very knowledgeable and great fun with my daughter which meant I could relax and enjoy the tour.
Definitely worth it
Davidpeinao,,Nov 20, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was great, the guide was super friendly and strived to meet all of our needs and made sure we were comfortable at all times. His explanations were very detailed