Private Islamic and Coptic Old Cairo Day Tour

Hoogtepunten

Inbegrepen

Route

1. You climb to the Citadel of Saladin, the limestone fortress begun in 1176, and into the Mosque of Muhammad Ali at its center, its alabaster walls and twin Ottoman minarets crowning the skyline since the 1840s. Under the great central dome your guide explains the ruler who reshaped modern Egypt. From the terrace, Cairo spreads out below you to the pyramids on a clear day. Modest dress is needed inside the mosque, and shoes come off at the carpet's edge.

   2 uToegang inbegrepen

2. You visit the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, built in the 9th century and one of the oldest and largest mosques in Egypt, its vast open courtyard ringed by simple pointed arches. The unmistakable feature is the spiral minaret, with an external staircase winding up the outside, modeled on the ancient ziggurats of Iraq. Climb it for a sweeping view over the rooftops. Far quieter than the Citadel, it is a favorite of architects and photographers alike.

   1 uToegang inbegrepen

3. Down in Coptic Cairo you reach the Hanging Church, so named because its nave is built over the gatehouse of the Roman fortress of Babylon and appears to hang above the passage. Parts date to the 7th century, and inside are inlaid screens, icons, and an ark-shaped wooden roof. Your guide walks you through the narrow lanes of the old Christian quarter around it, among the oldest churches in Egypt. Calm and shaded, it is an easy walk.

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4. You finish at the Gawhara Palace, built in 1814 beside the Citadel as the residence and reception hall of Muhammad Ali. Inside are gilded ceilings, period furniture, royal portraits, and a famous clock given by King Louis-Philippe of France. It offers a glimpse of how Egypt's 19th-century rulers lived, a different register from the ancient temples and a fitting end to a day spent moving through Cairo's many layers.

   45 minToegang inbegrepen

Annuleren

Gratis annuleren tot 24 uur voor aanvang, met volledige terugbetaling.

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Goed om te weten

How it compares in Caïro

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 10229 experiences we list in Caïro.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 3025 of 10229.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Caïro

Caïro is de uitgestrekte hoofdstad van Egypte aan de Nijl, waar de piramiden van Gizeh samenkomen met moskeeën, bazaars en farao-schatten.

Aan de westrand van de stad rijzen de piramiden van Gizeh en de Grote Sfinx op uit het woestijnplateau, met de trappiramide van Saqqara en de ruïnes van Memphis verder naar het zuiden. De grote musea van Caïro, het Egyptisch Museum aan het Tahrirplein en het enorme Grand Egyptian Museum naast het plateau, bewaren voorwerpen uit duizenden jaren.

Top-ranked sights in Caïro: Egyptian Museum (Museum of Egyptian Antiquities), Saqqara (Sakkara), Khan El-Khalili.

See all 10229 experiences in Caïro