Saladin's Citadel
Begun in 1176, with views over the city and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour Islamic Cairo & Khan el-Khalili Private Day Tour
Medieval Cairo in one day: the Citadel, Sultan Hassan, Al-Azhar, Al-Muizz Street and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, with a private guide.
- Duration
- About 6 hours
- Sites
- Citadel, Sultan Hassan, Al-Azhar, Al-Muizz Street, Khan el-Khalili
- Pick-up
- Hotel in Cairo or Giza
- Language
- English (other languages on request)
From, per person$506 or more travellers
- Starts any day
- Free quote, no obligation
- Change anything you like
About this tour
Cairo was founded by the Fatimids in the 10th century, and this day follows the city as it grew outward from that first walled core to the hilltop Citadel. You move from the Mamluk-era mosques at the foot of the Citadel to the Fatimid streets and the market in a single, well-paced route, so you see how one period gave way to the next.
It suits travellers who want a day away from the pharaonic sites, shoppers, photographers, and anyone interested in architecture. It fits well on the afternoon after a flight or on a day when the weather is too hot for the desert.
It is not a relaxed stroll. There is a lot of walking, some of it uphill and on uneven paving, and you take shoes off at every mosque. The old streets are narrow and busy, so the day is a poor fit for visitors who find crowds uncomfortable.
Sultan Hassan Mosque
A portal 38 m high, built between 1356 and 1363
Al-Azhar Mosque
Founded in 970 and finished in 972, with a university attached
Al-Muizz Street
About 1 km between two Fatimid gates, lined with medieval monuments
Khan el-Khalili
The bazaar dating from the late 1300s, with the Fishawi café
Choose your own pace
Time to shop, or to sit for tea, is built in
How the day runs
- 1
Around 9:00Pickup and the Citadel
Saladin began the Citadel in 1176, and later rulers kept adding to it. The Mosque of Muhammad Ali, built between about 1830 and 1857 and modelled on a mosque in Istanbul, is the one you see on the skyline. Your guide also takes you into the older mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad, completed in 1318, which still looks much as it did in the 14th century.
- 2
Late morningSultan Hassan and the Rifai Mosque
At the foot of the Citadel, the Sultan Hassan mosque-madrasa has four iwans around a central courtyard, with four madrasas opening off it, one for each Sunni school of law. Its entrance portal is 38 m high, and it was angled so that it could be seen from the Citadel. The Rifai Mosque, finished in 1912, stands right beside it, so your guide can show you five and a half centuries of building in one square.
- 3
MiddayAl-Azhar Mosque
Al-Azhar was one of the first buildings of the new city, begun in 970. Its courtyard is paved in marble, with arches dating to 1138, and the mosque has five minarets built by different rulers. Your guide explains how it became the centre of a university that is still running.
- 4
Early afternoonAl-Muizz Street and lunch
You walk along the street that the Fatimids laid out, from the gate of Bab Zuweila towards Bab al-Futuh. On the way you pass the complex of Qalawun from 1285, the mosque of al-Hakim from 1013, and Bayt al-Suhaymi, an old merchant's house. Lunch is a stop in a local restaurant of your choosing.
- 5
AfternoonKhan el-Khalili
The bazaar began in the 1380s, founded by Jaharkas al-Khalili, a master of the stables under Sultan Barquq. Today it is a market of souvenirs, antiques and jewellery next to a goldsmiths' souk. Your guide helps you with prices and shows you the Fishawi café, open since 1773, and tells you about Naguib Mahfouz's novel Midaq Alley, which is set in the district.
How much does this tour cost?
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $80 |
| 2 travellers | $65 |
| 3 to 5 travellers | $55 |
| 6 or more travellers | $50 |
In US dollars, per person, for a private trip. The price in your written quote, made for your dates and group, is the one that counts. International flights are not included.
What’s included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned vehicle
- Private Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to the Citadel and the mosques visited
- Bottled water
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- Lunch and drinks
- Purchases in the bazaar
- Camera fees at some sites
- Tips
Booking policies
Important information
Dress for mosques
Cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a light scarf for covering the hair inside active mosques. You remove your shoes at the door, so wear socks and slip-on shoes.
Prayer times
Active mosques restrict visitors during prayer, and midday prayer on Fridays changes the order of the day. If Friday is your only option, tell us and we will adjust the route.
Walking
Expect several kilometres of walking, with steps and uneven stone. Keep valuables in a front bag, because the bazaar is crowded.
Shopping
Prices in the bazaar are agreed by bargaining. Your guide can show you where the better workshops are, and there is no pressure to buy anything.
Payment and deposit
- Prices are in US dollars and the price in your written quote is the one that counts.
- The deposit is 30 percent of the total price (50 percent for trips that start from 18 December to 5 January).
- The balance is due 15 days before arrival. If you book later than that, the full amount confirms the booking.
- Payment instructions come with your written quote.
Cancellation and refund
Send every cancellation by email so that we can confirm it in writing. The charge is a percentage of the tour price, and anything you paid above it is refunded.
| Days before arrival | Normal dates | 18 Dec to 5 Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Until 61 days | 20% | 35% |
| 60 to 31 days | 35% | 50% |
| 30 to 15 days | 50% | 75% |
| 14 to 1 days, or no-show | 100% | 100% |
A bank and payment fee of 6 percent is deducted from every refund. Full rules: terms and policies.
Children
- Children under 3 travel free.
- Children from 3 to 11.99 years pay 50 percent of the tour price.
- From 12 years, travellers pay the adult price.
Please give the age of every child at the time of travel when you ask for a quote.
Travel tips
Know before you go
Start early
Pickup around 8:00 gets you to the pyramids before the heat and the coach groups.
Wear
Closed shoes, a hat and sunscreen, expect sand, steps and uneven ground.
Extra tickets
Entry inside the Great Pyramid is an optional ticket bought on the day.
Photos
Photos are free outdoors; some tombs charge for cameras. Drones are not allowed.
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
A Fantastic Tour of Egypt
“The entire trip was seamlessly executed.”
Best tour guide!!
“He made our trip to the pyramids and Alexandria fun and memorable.”
Amazing 2 week trip
“My friends and I spent two weeks in Egypt and he was with us every step of the way.”
FAQ
Questions about this tour
Still unsure? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person from our team will answer.
Is Islamic Cairo safe for visitors?
It is an ordinary sightseeing day with a guide. The streets are crowded, so we keep to well-used routes and your guide tells you where to watch your bag.
Do I have to cover my head?
Women need a scarf in active mosques, and men and women must cover shoulders and knees. A light cotton scarf in a bag is enough.
Can I do this tour on a Friday?
Yes. Prayer times change the order of the day, so your guide sets the route to suit them, and we confirm it with you the evening before.
Is there time to shop for gifts?
Yes. Tell your guide how long you want in the bazaar and the rest of the day bends around it.
What does this tour skip?
The Mosque of Ibn Tulun and the old churches of Coptic Cairo. Our Coptic Cairo day tour covers the churches.
Make it a trip
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Before you go
Guides for this trip
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Free and no obligation, from our team in Giza.