Cairo Stopover Tour: Coptic and Islamic Cairo

You can see many of the city’s Islamic and Christian landmarks in just a few hours, making Cairo an ideal stopover. Educate yourself on Egypt’s rich Coptic and Islamic heritage by visiting ancient churches and mosques.

Highlights

• A few hours stopover in Cairo is enough to see a lot of Islamic and Christian monuments in the city
• Visit old churches and mosques
• Receive comprehensive ideas about the Coptic and Islamic history of Egypt.

Cairo Stopover Tour: Coptic, Islamic Cairo

This tour will give you a comprehensive view of the history of Christianity and Islam in Egypt. You will be picked up from the airport. Your guide will start the tour in the Coptic area.

Christianity in Egypt is as old as Christianity itself. In Coptic Cairo, you will visit old and beautiful churches that are witnesses to Coptic history. The Hanging Church,1500 years old, is situated above one of the towers of the Babylon fortress.

It is one of the most beautiful churches in Cairo. Then, have a look at the cave where Mary the virgin and Jesus Christ took shelter from Herod. The church of St Sergius (Abu Serga) was built on top of the cave to commemorate this great incident. Finally, feel the religious tolerance in Egypt by visiting Ben Ezra synagogue, the oldest Jewish temple in Cairo. You will learn there about the history of the Jewish community in Egypt.

Then, you will visit some of the most beautiful mosques in Cairo. The first one is the Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan. Built in 1356 and intended to be a mosque and a school for teaching students about Islam, the mosque is distinguished with its tall and huge walls and arches, the extensive use of marble, and splendid towers and dome. Your guide will give you a brief history of the basic principles of Islam.

Then, drive to the mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun. That mosque was built in 879. It has a unique tower which you can climb up to see a panoramic view of the city. The extensive area inside the mosque and the arcades are just amazing to see. At the end of the tour, you will be driven back to the airport.