Explore the Cave Church of Saint Simon and historic churches in Coptic Cairo. Discover hidden gems like ‘garbage city’ on this private tour of Cairo’s Christian sites.
Explore the Cave Church of Saint Simon and historic churches in Coptic Cairo. Discover hidden gems like ‘garbage city’ on this private tour of Cairo’s Christian sites.
- Coptic Cairo - At the designated time, your guide will pick you up from the hotel to begin your half-day tour of Old Cairo, also known as Coptic Cairo, which signifies Christian Cairo. This area is considered sacred because the Holy Family visited some of its locations. Despite their brief stay, the spiritual impact of their presence is still…
- Coptic Cairo - At the designated time, your guide will pick you up from the hotel to begin your half-day tour of Old Cairo, also known as Coptic Cairo, which signifies Christian Cairo. This area is considered sacred because the Holy Family visited some of its locations. Despite their brief stay, the spiritual impact of their presence is still felt. The Governor of what was then Fustat, angered by the falling idols at Jesus’ approach, sought to kill the Child. The Holy Family took refuge in a cave, over which the Church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius) was later built. This entire area, including the Fort of Babylon, is a pilgrimage site for both Egyptians and Christians worldwide. The district exudes an atmosphere of piety and devotion.
- Church of St. Barbara - Saint Barbara, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian saint and martyr from Lebanon and Greece. She is believed to have lived in the 3rd century in Heliopolis Phoenicia, now Baalbek, Lebanon. There are no references to her in early Christian writings or in the original version of Saint Jerome’s martyrology.
- Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary) - The Hanging Church gets its name from 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, diminishing the visual impact of the church’s elevated position.
- Synagogue Ben Ezra - This synagogue’s geniza, or storeroom, was discovered in the 19th century to contain a treasure trove of forgotten Hebrew, Aramaic, and Judeo-Arabic secular and sacred manuscripts. Known as the Cairo Geniza, the collection was brought to the University of Cambridge in England by Solomon Schechter. It is now divided among several academic libraries, with the majority housed at the Cambridge University Library.
- St Simon the Tanner Monastery - St. Simon the Tanner is a Coptic Orthodox saint associated with the story of moving the Mokattam Mountain in Cairo, Egypt, during the rule of the Muslim Fatimid Caliph al-Muizz Lideenillah (953–975) while Abraham the Syrian was the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- All Transfers by Private A/C latest Model Vehicle
- Lunch at local restaurants (Local Egyptian Food) (If Option Selected)
- Guide on site (If Option Selected)
- Bottle of water
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- All Transfers by Private A/C latest Model Vehicle
- Lunch at local restaurants (Local Egyptian Food) (If Option Selected)
- Guide on site (If Option Selected)
- Bottle of water
- Personal Items
- Tipping
- Personal Items
- Tipping
Embark on a private tour to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church, also known as the Monastery of St Simon, and delve into the splendid churches of Coptic Cairo. This tour includes visits to some of Cairo’s most significant Christian landmarks, such as the Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, the Church of Saint Barbara, and the Hanging Church. Additionally,…
Embark on a private tour to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church, also known as the Monastery of St Simon, and delve into the splendid churches of Coptic Cairo. This tour includes visits to some of Cairo’s most significant Christian landmarks, such as the Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, the Church of Saint Barbara, and the Hanging Church. Additionally, it offers a unique opportunity to explore ‘garbage city,’ an intriguing Cairo neighborhood often missed by tourists.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.