Half Day Tour

Welcome to Cairo, the city of 1000 minarets. Explore the majestic Islamic monuments of this medieval Muslim city with an expert guide to explain their rich history. Experience the wonderful atmosphere of the Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque, the Al-Rifa’i Mosque, the Sultan Hassan Mosque, the Al-Azhar Mosque, and the Mosque of Emam Al Hussein.

This tour includes door-to-door transfers by AC vehicle; however, it excludes any entry fees. Enjoy Islamic Cairo’s finest Muslim monuments with an expert guide and, last but not least, test your haggling skills at the Khan Khalili bazaar. Cairo is famous as the “city of a thousand minarets,” and that’s demonstrated by its existence as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A trip into Islamic Cairo is a trip into the city’s history, from Fustat (lit. Pavilion), Egypt’s first Muslim capital, to the over-thousand-year-old walled city, Saladin’s Citadel, founded by 12th-century leader Saladin the Ayyubid, and beyond. The basic terms “Islamic Cairo,” “Old Cairo,” and “Coptic Cairo” can look confusing. However, mosques are a must-see for any visitor to Islamic Cairo. You can also explore fountain schools (known as Sabil-Kuttabs), old city gates, lively buzzing markets, and a lot more.

Tours generally blend auto transfers with walking. In Islamic Cairo, especially for single travelers, wearing loose clothing that covers their shoulders, arms, and legs will make them feel more at ease. Modest gear is important when visiting mosques. Islamic Cairo is a challenging area for visitors who depend on wheelchairs, but some sites do have ramps and road access.

To see the main sights of the massive Islamic Cairo in one day, you need to book a tour. The area can be fascinating after dark. There’s more to Islamic Cairo than simply mosques. Take in the atmosphere in the ancient Khan Al-Khalili souq; enjoy a whirling dervish show at the 16th-century dome of Sultan Al-Ghuri; drink coffee, tea, or mango at the Fishawy old coffee house; and then, after dark, take a memorable walk in Al Mu’izz Li-Din Allah street.

On this 2.5-hour private guided walking tour, you’ll travel back in time to the glory days of Islamic Cairo and see some of the medieval and Ottoman city’s greatest religious monuments. Admire ancient mosques and madrasas, medieval city walls and gates, Ottoman-era houses, mausoleums, and markets, and conclude at the famous Khan al-Khalili bazaar. Explore the history of Islam in Cairo on this best-selling tour and stare up at the medieval fortress and visit four of the mosques it houses to see diverse monumental styles. Your expert guide creates a significant historical atmosphere throughout the tour. Enjoy hearing how everything here in Islamic Cairo was built and evolved. 

Look at the renowned Sultan Hassan Mosque, as well as its modern rival, on the opposite side, the Mosque of Sheikh Rifa’I, constructed in the Mamluk style to seem ancient and pompous. From your Egyptologist guide, you will also learn more about the Islamic traditions and contemporary customs in Cairo and witness the greatness of the area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Duration: Flexible

Depart Time: Depart between 9:00 am and 11:00 am OR 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Departure Location: Al-Azhar Park – Please meet at the main entrance, before continuing on with your guide through the metal-detecting system

Return Location: Khan al-Khalili Bazaar

Required Info: Customer’s Name & Hotel details

Morning departures should be made between 9 and 11 a.m., while afternoon departures should be made between 5 and 7 p.m. As you may enter working mosques, please dress modestly – long, loose clothes that cover arms and legs – and wear shoes that are easy to remove. Women should also bring a scarf to cover their hair. 

Please be aware that a few sites will be closed to the public at 5 p.m. You’ll start your tour of some of the highlights of historic Cairo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by strolling through the park and admiring the remains of the medieval city walls, built by Saladin’s Ayubbid dynasty. As you only have two hours for this tour, you’ll admire most of the sites from outside; either choose two to visit or ask your guide for recommendations. 

From al-Azhar, you’ll see the Mosque of Aslam al-Silahdar, the Aqsunqur Mosque (Cairo’s answer to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque! ), the Altunbugha al-Maridani Mosque, the Ahmad al-Mihmandar Mosque, and the Qijmas al-Ishaqi mosque, which you may well recognize from Egypt’s 50-pound bill.

A. Al Azhar Park

• Central fountain View
• Climb up the Telescope which is the highest point of the park to view a birds’ eye view of Cairo from the top
• Driving tour
• The Citadel view restaurant & the geometric park ***
• The artificial lake
• The Ayyubid city wall
• The mosque of Aslam
• Qijmas al-Isaaqi (the mosque featured on the Egyptian LE.50 EGP banknote)

B. Optional Rickshaw tour below the park

• Al Mihmandar mosque and al-Mihmandar Sabil Kuttab
• Al Sayyeda Fatima
• Al Tunbugha al-Maridani mosque
• Aref bek mosque
• Umm al-Sultan Shaaban madrasa & the Ottoman house of al-Razzaz
• The blue mosque
• Khayer bek complex
• Alin Aq palace
• Darb Shoughlan school
• Optional return back to al Azhar Park for an optional lunch at the Citadel-view restaurant or at the lakeside café ***

C. Walking tour below the park into al-Darb al- Ahmar historic district

• Walk to Bab Zweila gate
• Al-Saleh Talaei mosque
• Farag Ibn Barquq Madrasa-Sabil-Kuttab
• The tent makers’ covered market
• Al-Kurdi masjid
• Visit one handmade carpet factory outlet and one tent-maker’s workshop
• Sabil-Kuttab of Nafisa al-Bayda and Sugar street
• Caravanseri of Nafisa al-Bayda
• Al-Muayyad masjid
• Walkthrough the cotton market
• Muhammad Ali Pasha’s Sabil
• The fruit seller’s masjid
• Abu Hashem Restaurant ***)
• Jamal al-Din al-Dahabi’s Ottoman house
• Kafur al-Zimam small masjid
• Walkthrough the handcrafting area for mother-of-pearl accessories (inlaid jewelry boxes, backgammon and chess game-boards, tea trays, tea coasters, photo frames, paper clips, camel bone figures…etc.)
• Emam Dardir’s Ottoman house & mosque
• Walkthrough the vegetable covered market
• Abul-Dahab Complex
• The Caravanseri of Sultan al-Ghuri
• Al-Ghuri complex (Madrasa, Masjid, Mausoleum, Sabil-Kuttab, dome and house)
• A nice walk through the fabric and spice markets
• Khan al-Zarakishah
• Al-Azhar mosque and university (the oldest surviving Islamic University in the world) D)- Khan el-Khalili tourist bazaar:
• Walkthrough Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
• Emam Al-Hussein’s mosque and square
• Take a break at the ancient renowned café of al-Fishawi (since 1773)
• Naguib Mahfouz restaurant ***
• Back to the al-Azhar Street (main road) for transfer ***

You can choose your convenient time of lunch from among lunch options listed above under numbers: 4, 18, 31, or 47 marked with three asterisks – Lunch duration is approximately 1 hour and lunch cost is not included in the tour price – Total tour duration is approximately 2.5 hours, excluding lunchtime

Highlights:

• Area of principal Islamic landmarks & monuments in Cairo
• Medieval citadel overlooking the city beneath
• Some of the city’s grandest & most notable mosques
• Influences from many civilizations during its turbulent past
• Exclusive guide for a personalized experience

Additional Info:

• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking
• Round trip transportation is available from most centrally located Cairo hotels. Please arrange pickup from your hotel or a nearby location when you call to confirm your reservation. A moderate amount of walking is involved
• Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• If you will not be arriving at your destination within the specified reconfirmation period, please reconfirm with the local service provider prior to travel, or upon arrival at your destination. Please note that departure times and locations may vary slightly.

TRAVEL TIP: Due to very low wages, “Baksheesh” or tips/gratuities are an integral part of life in Egypt. It is useful to carry small notes with you at all times. If you are unsure who, or how much to tip, please do not hesitate to ask your tour guide for guidance.

• Experience a private and expertly qualified Egyptologist guide.
• Private Tour

• Entrance fees (generally around 100 LE)
• Food and drinks
• Gratuities (recommended)