Cairo Half Day Tours visit Islamic Cairo & ancient mosques

Embark on an exciting, cultural journey into the heart of Egypt with this Half Day Trip to Islamic Cairo. Explore its enigmatic beauty, learn about its remarkable history, and create unforgettable memories.

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Salah El-Din Castle - Starts at 10:00 am. You’ll be picked up from your hotel by our expert tour guide and transferred to the Citadel of Salah El Din in Cairo. Here, you’ll visit the Mohamed Ali Mosque, considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Cairo. It’s also known as the Alabaster Mosque because its outer walls are covered in alabaster stone.

  • Al Rifai Mosque - Next, you’ll visit the famous Al-Rifa’i Mosque, located opposite the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, which dates back to around 1361. This mosque was designed to complement the older structure and was part of a 19th-century campaign by Egypt’s rulers to associate themselves with the glory of earlier periods in Egypt’s Islamic history and to modernize the city.

  • Al-Azhar Mosque - Then, you’ll drive to Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, also known as the Mosque of the Most Resplendent. Commissioned by Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah of the Fatimid Caliphate for the newly established capital city in 970, its name is thought to refer to the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah, a revered figure in Islam given the title az-Zahrā, meaning the shining or resplendent one. It was the first mosque established in Cairo, a city now nicknamed “the City of a Thousand Minarets.”

  • Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan - You’ll also visit the El Hussein Mosque in Cairo, a revered mosque believed to be the burial site of the head of the prophet Muhammad’s grandson.

  • Khan Al-Khalili - Finally, you’ll visit the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. The numerous shops in this district are known for trading fine brassware, copper, perfumes, leather, silver, gold, antiques, and much more.

The tour concludes with a drop-off at your hotel in Cairo.

What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Experienced tour guide
  • Refreshments including bottled water
  • All entry fees included
What's Not Included
  • Tipping
  • Personal Items
  • Lunch at Local restaurant (Optional)
Additional Information

Embark on an exciting, cultural journey into the heart of Egypt with this Half Day Trip to Islamic Cairo. A bustling hub of enchanting mosques, fascinating museums, and captivating historic sites, Islamic Cairo is truly a treasure trove for history enthusiasts and culture seekers alike. From stunning architectural marvels to the intricate artwork adorning its walls, Islamic Cairo offers a profound insight into Egypt’s rich Islamic heritage. Join us in this half-day trip to explore its enigmatic beauty, learn about its remarkable history, and create unforgettable memories.

  • Entrance fees -Depending on the Tour Options Chosen
Location
Salah El-Din Castle
Island of the Pharaoh
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(37 Ratings)
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434mireyar
Mar 8, 2024
The best - We had an amazing day on Old Cairo! From the Cave Church, St George and all the other holy sites. We even took a tour to garbage city. Our guide Sayed Mahmoud was spectacular! He really knows the area and we learned so much on this tour. The resturant he took us to was seriously the best food all week. Thank you Emo Tours! Ww had an unforgettable day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kt_kit_kat
Dec 29, 2023
An enlightening and enjoyable experience - The beautiful Islamic architecture was breathtaking. If you have a passion for Islamic art and architecture this tour is a must. The intricate patterned decor and high rised domes were mesmerising. Our guide Asma had a wealth of knowledge, she gave us an excellent historical journey.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zsofiabeata_t
Dec 2, 2023
I would do it again and again - Hebe was a great tour guide and a beautiful person inside and out. It was a Friday which is prayers day - I didn’t know that - so there were thousands of people mostly children. It was a very authentic experience that I very much enjoyed but if crowds make you uncomfortable, choose another day of the week. Otherwise it’s a must do, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the Islamic culture.
Review provided by Viator
Kris_r
Oct 7, 2023
A fascinating day exploring - Our tour guide was Deena. We did the Islamic tour of Cairo, visiting the Citadel and several mosques in the area. She was very passionate about Egyptian history and was very knowledgeable about the sites we saw. We learned a lot of new things from this tour. Our guide was also very accommodating to our schedule. We had a lot of fun.
Review provided by Viator
Lisette_l
Jun 14, 2023
Would definitely go again - This was a memorable trip. We traveled and toured Al-Rifa'i Mosque, Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, Mosque of Muhammad Ali as well. Unfortunately our toddler and baby were passed out when we reached Amr ibn Al-A'as Mosque. So we didn’t get a chance to tour it. We took some great photos and history nonetheless. Our guide Marwa was very helpful with the kids while giving us a great tour.
Review provided by Viator
Zakira_m
Jan 3, 2023
Travelling back in time - The guide Muhsin was amazing His knowledge was deep and he spoke good English I would certainly recommend him
Review provided by Viator
Emily_g
Dec 11, 2022
Fabulous tour - Sam was great! - Sam was an incredible tour guide! Super knowledgeable about all sites. We were on a shorter timeline, so he kindly accommodated - picked us up at our hotel at 8:30am and dropped us back off by 12:30pm (12:20pm). He was very kind. Would definitely recommend!!
Review provided by Viator
Paul_s
Nov 17, 2022
Interesting sites, great guide - The guide we had, Reina, was excellent. We visited several mosques, and she was very informative about all. We went to the market. My wife and I were interested in some specific items (masks for me), and she helped us find the perfect ones. She also treated us to an authentic Egyptian meal. If you are in Cairo, you should definitely take this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Mohammed_n
Jan 12, 2023
Okay tour of mosques in Cairo - We saw all the amazing sites in Islamic Cairo, but did not have a very good experience with the tour guide. His English was quite poor and so he didn't do a good job of explaining what we were seeing and their history. When I asked him questions, he often responded with "I don't know". I ended up reading the Lonely Planet guide at each stop rather than listening to him. I wish he had given us more time to properly see everything, rather than rushing us, especially at Khan el Khalili. I would have also preferred he let us eat lunch privately as a family. Overall, this tour is good to transport you from site-to-site with an Arabic-speaker, but don't expect to learn new things about the sites you are seeing.
Review provided by Viator
Heba_s
Nov 17, 2022
Just horrible! - The tour guide assigned to us from Emo Tours was terrible! His name was Mohammed. It was a six hour tour that was only three hours due to his lack of guidance. We only saw the Salah El-Din Castle and Al Rifai Mosque. We were not taken to the other two mosques on the Viator itinerary. When walking us around the mosques, he was on his phone the whole time and only wanted to take photos of proof that he took us to a mosque for his reviews. He took us to Khan Al-Khalili but he made it a bad experience telling us everything there is fake and “made in China”. He kept telling us that he can take us to places off the itinerary. He only showed us the first two mosques in 15 minutes. He was not helpful and completely neglecting during the tour. On the ride back, he put his AirPods in and listened to music and bragged about his wife being a doctor and then begged for a tip because he has two kids. He was not being engaging as our tour guide. I would not recommend him to help other tourists as this was a bad experience. I reached out to Emo Tours and they refuse to give me back a refund for basically a 15 minute tour. Very poor customer service! But expected! Choose another tour agency!!
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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