Visit El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church, or the Monastery of St Simon, on a private tour that also explores the magnificent churches of Coptic Cairo. You’ll see some of Cairo’s most important Christian sites, including the Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, the Church of Saint Barbara, and the Hanging Church, while going beyond sightseeing for a glimpse of ‘garbage city,’ a fascinating Cairo neighborhood that most visitors overlook entirely.

Easy to book Free cancellation Running every day Discover Giza Pyramids, Sphinx Enjoy your time to visit the famous and oldest churches in Egypt Private Guide Private deluxe car Easy and safety

In the morning pick up from your hotel in Cairo and visit the Monastery of Saint Simon, also known as the Cave Church of Zabbaleen. It is located in the Mokattam Mountain, a short drive through the so called “Garbage City’ – a large population of garbage collectors or Zabbaleen that live there. Several churches have been built into the caves found in Mokattam, First we visit, Saint Simon the Tanner Hall and St. Mark’s Church. This huge cave was discovered in the year 1974. It was full of hundreds of tons of stones even up to the ceiling of the cave (which is 17 meters high from the ground), and was later prepared to contain two stores: 1. The upper story is the St. Simon the Tanner Hall, with seating capacity of 2000 people for spiritual meetings. The walls are decorated with many wonderful pictures engraved on the rocks representing scenarios from the Bible Then we continue and visit the Cathedral of Virgin Mary and St. Simon the Tanner. After the tour transfer back to your hotel.

You will be picked up from the hotel to visit the Coptic Cairo where you can see some churches like the hanging church which dates back to the 7 century built on the top of one of the towers of the Roman fortress. Then you continue to see St George church also built on a tower of the same fortress and has a circular shape. You will explore the Crept Church or St Sergios church which has the cave where the holy family had as a shelter or a hidden place from the Romans at that time. You will visit St Barbara church which was built in the 5th or the 6th century. You will see the unique synagogue in the place of Ben Ezra. According to local folklore, it is located on the site where baby Moses was found. Then you will be driven to see the Monastery of St Simon which has 7 churches the most important are the summer and the winter churches, both were dug in the mountain having the shape of caves.

Step back in time and explore the spiritual heart of Cairo on this unforgettable Half-Day Tour to Old Cairo Churches and St. Simon Monastery. Travel with your expert guide through Coptic Cairo, home to some of the oldest Christian churches in Egypt. Visit the iconic Hanging Church, suspended above a Roman fortress gate, and the sacred Abu Serga Church, believed to have sheltered the Holy Family. Admire the rich history and stunning architecture of the Ben Ezra Synagogue, a treasure of Jewish heritage. Then, venture to Mokattam Mountain to discover the extraordinary St. Simon the Tanner Monastery, carved into the rock with breathtaking biblical carvings and home to one of Cairo’s largest churches. Along the way, immerse yourself in fascinating stories, cultural insights, and hidden gems that most tourists never see. This is more than sightseeing—it’s a journey through faith, history, and local life that you’ll never forget.

This tour consists of recounting the stories and miracles that took place in the churches of Cairo, moving from one site to another in chronological order. During this journey, you will learn why the Virgin Mary appeared to the Coptic Pope at that time and what she asked him to do. You will also discover what happened to the Mokattam Mountain after three days of Coptic prayers.