Cairo Citadel, Sultan Hassan & Cave Church Private Day Tour
Licensed local guidesNo hidden feesFree to ask · 30% deposit to confirm
- DurationFull day, about 8 to 9 hours
- PickupYour hotel in Cairo or Giza, 8 AM
- Tour typePrivate, from 1 traveler
- TransportPrivate A/C vehicle
- All tickets includedNo payments on the day
- MealsLocal lunch, water & soft drinks
Islamic & Coptic Cairo in one private day
Cairo Citadel Tour with the Cave Church: Overview
There is a Cairo most visitors never see, a city of towering domes, medieval fortresses and a church carved into a mountain. Our private Cairo Citadel and Cave Church tour shows you that city in one unforgettable day, with an Egyptologist guide, a private car and every entrance ticket already included.
The day begins high above the city at the Saladin Citadel, the fortress Salah al-Din began in 1176 to defend Cairo during the Crusades, and the seat of Egypt’s rulers for nearly 700 years. Step inside the Muhammad Ali Mosque, the Alabaster Mosque whose domes and twin minarets crown the Cairo skyline, and stand on the terraces where the whole city spreads out beneath you.
Just below the Citadel, you visit two giants of Islamic architecture side by side: the 14th-century Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, one of the greatest medieval buildings in the Islamic world, and the Al-Rifai Mosque, resting place of Egypt’s royal family. After a lunch of Egyptian dishes at a local restaurant, the road climbs into the Mokattam hills to the Cave Church of Saint Simon the Tanner, a vast amphitheater carved into the living rock, where thousands of worshippers can gather beneath the cliff.
Along the way, your guide brings every place to life: the sultan who built a mosque to outshine all others, the French clock that came to Cairo in exchange for an obelisk, the legend of the mountain that moved in the 10th century, and the community of Manshiyat Naser, Cairo’s famous recyclers, who built the monastery with their own hands. You do not just see Cairo, you understand it.
Everything is arranged for you, from hotel pickup to the last ticket, so you can simply enjoy the day. Pair it with our 6-day Western Desert oases tour or a White Desert day trip from Cairo for the full contrast of city and desert.
Why travelers love it
Tour Highlights
Here is what makes this Cairo Citadel tour so special:
- Explore the Saladin Citadel, Cairo’s great medieval fortress.
- Step inside the Muhammad Ali Mosque, the famous Alabaster Mosque.
- Enjoy panoramic views over Cairo from the Citadel terraces.
- Visit the Sultan Hassan Mosque-Madrasa, a masterpiece of Mamluk architecture.
- See the Al-Rifai Mosque, resting place of Egypt’s royal family.
- Lunch on Egyptian dishes at a local restaurant.
- Discover the Cave Church, one of the largest churches in the Middle East, carved into the Mokattam hills.
- Private Egyptologist guide, private car and all entrance tickets included.
More than a tour
See Cairo Through Local Eyes
What makes this Cairo Citadel tour different is not only where we take you, but how we take care of you:
- Stories, not just datesYour Egyptologist guide tells the stories of sultans, saints and city legends that turn monuments into living history.
- Two faiths, one cityExperience Islamic and Coptic Cairo side by side and see how both shaped the city’s identity.
- Nothing to pay on the dayEvery entrance ticket is already included, so there are no queues for tickets and no surprises.
- Taste of CairoLunch at a local restaurant where Cairenes eat, with Egyptian dishes and soft drinks included.
- Door to doorPrivate pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Cairo or Giza in an air-conditioned car.
- At your own paceIt is a private tour, so there is always time for one more photo, one more question or a slower walk.
Your day, step by step
Cairo Citadel Tour Itinerary
The order below is the usual route of the Cairo Citadel tour. On Fridays and during prayer or church services, your guide may adjust the order so you can visit every site comfortably.
- 18:00 AM
Hotel pickup in Cairo or Giza
Meet your Egyptologist guide and driver at your hotel and set off in a private, air-conditioned car.
- 2Morning
Saladin Citadel
Explore the Citadel of Salah al-Din, built on the Mokattam hills from 1176 to protect Cairo and later the home of Egypt’s rulers for centuries. Walk its historic walls and courtyards and enjoy panoramic views over the city, on clear days as far as the Giza Pyramids.
- 3Morning
Muhammad Ali Mosque
Step inside the Alabaster Mosque, commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha in the 19th century in Ottoman style. Admire its great central dome, glowing chandeliers and the courtyard clock tower presented by King Louis-Philippe of France, and visit the tomb of Muhammad Ali himself.
- 4Late morning
Sultan Hassan & Al-Rifai Mosques
Just below the Citadel stand two of Cairo’s most impressive mosques. The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, built in the 14th century, amazes with its colossal entrance and soaring courtyard. Next door, the Al-Rifai Mosque, completed in the early 20th century, is the resting place of members of Egypt’s royal family.
- 5Midday
Lunch at a local restaurant
Take a break for lunch at a local restaurant and taste Egyptian dishes, with soft drinks included.
- 6Afternoon
The Cave Church of Saint Simon the Tanner
Drive into the Mokattam hills through Manshiyat Naser, home of Cairo’s Zabbaleen recycling community, to the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner. Its main church is a huge amphitheater carved into the rock and one of the largest churches in the Middle East. Hear the 10th-century legend of the moving of the Mokattam mountain and admire the carvings on the cliffs.
- 7About 5:00 PM
Return to your hotel
Your driver takes you back to your hotel in Cairo or Giza, with plenty of stories to share over dinner.
All-inclusive, no surprises
What’s Included & Excluded
We include everything you need for this Cairo Citadel tour, so you never have to buy a ticket or arrange anything yourself.
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Private professional Egyptologist guide
- All entrance tickets: Saladin Citadel (including the Muhammad Ali Mosque), Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai Mosques
- Visit to the Cave Church of Saint Simon the Tanner
- Lunch at a local restaurant with a soft drink
- Bottled water and soft drinks during the tour
- All taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tips for your guide and driver (optional)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Extra food or drinks you order yourself
Truly all-inclusive: every entrance ticket on the itinerary is already in the price. You will not pay anything at the gates.
Private tour prices
Cairo Citadel Tour Prices
This Cairo Citadel and Cave Church tour is private, so the price per person drops as your group grows. All prices are in US dollars and include every entrance ticket, your guide, private transport and lunch.
| Group size | Per person | Group total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveler | $170 | $170 |
| 2 travelers | $110 | $220 |
| 3 travelers | $90 | $270 |
| 4 travelers | $80 | $320 |
| 5+ travelers Best value | $75 | $375 for 5 |
- All entrance tickets included, nothing to pay at the gates
- Confirm with a 30% deposit; pay the rest in cash on the day
- Traveling with children? We quote family prices on request
Free to ask, no payment now
Check Availability
Send your preferred date and group size for the Cairo Citadel tour. We personally confirm availability, the final price and pickup details in writing before you pay anything.
Before you go
Good to Know
- Dress codeFor the mosques and the church, wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Women should bring a scarf to cover their hair in the mosques.
- Shoes offShoes are removed inside the mosques, so slip-on shoes make the day easier.
- Fridays & servicesMosques are busy during Friday midday prayer, and the church holds services on some days; we plan the order around them.
- WalkingExpect easy to moderate walking, with some steps at the Citadel and the Cave Church.
- PhotosPhotography is generally allowed. Please be respectful of worshippers and follow any signs on site.
- What to bringComfortable shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat and a camera.
Plan with our local guides: read our Grand Egyptian Museum tips, the best things to do in Cairo and our Egypt itinerary for 7 days.
Organized by a local team you can trust. Our trips are planned by Eyad Elzaghandi, a licensed Egyptian tour guide, and our team of local guides. Meet the team.
Add the desert to your Egypt trip. From Cairo, a private White Desert day trip takes you to Egypt’s most surreal landscape.
See the day tripQuestions travelers ask
Cairo Citadel Tour FAQ
Are entrance tickets included?
Yes. All entrance tickets on the itinerary are included: the Saladin Citadel (with the Muhammad Ali Mosque) and the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai Mosques. The Cave Church visit is included too, so you pay nothing at the gates.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. On this Cairo Citadel tour you travel with your own group only, with a private Egyptologist guide and a private air-conditioned car.
How long is the tour?
The Cairo Citadel tour takes about 8 to 9 hours, with hotel pickup at around 8:00 AM and return at around 5:00 PM.
What is the Cave Church in Cairo?
The Cave Church is the main church of the Monastery of Saint Simon the Tanner in the Mokattam hills. It is a Coptic Orthodox church carved into the rock and one of the largest churches in the Middle East.
Why is it called the Alabaster Mosque?
The Muhammad Ali Mosque is known as the Alabaster Mosque because of the alabaster panels that cover much of its walls.
What should I wear?
Clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Women should bring a scarf for the mosques. Shoes are removed inside the mosques.
Can we do this tour on a Friday?
Yes. Mosques are busy during Friday midday prayer, so your guide adjusts the order of the visits to make sure you can see every site.
Is lunch included?
Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant with a soft drink is included, plus bottled water and soft drinks during the day. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
How do I book and pay?
Send a request with your date and group size. Once we confirm availability and the final price, you secure the tour with a 30% deposit through an official PayPal invoice and pay the remaining balance in cash on the day. See our booking & payment policy and cancellation policy.
Discover the Cairo Beyond the Pyramids
A medieval fortress above the city, mosques that changed the skyline and a church carved into a mountain, all in one private Cairo Citadel tour, with every ticket included. Let us show you the Cairo that most visitors miss.