Home > Cairo > Private Tour: Coptic Cairo, The Hanging Church, Abu Serga, Ben Ezra
USD $34.00
Private Tour: Coptic Cairo, The Hanging Church, Abu Serga, Ben Ezra
Cairo, Egypt
Discover the ancient sites and culture of Coptic Christians on a private tour through Old Cairo. Visit Abu Serga where the Holy family sort refuge, and Ben Ezra, one of the oldest synagogues in Cairo. Learn about Christian life in Egypt, a country where Christianity is a minority.
he Hanging Church is built into the walls of the water gate of the Roman fortress and is possibly the oldest Christian church in Egypt. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it is one of Cairo's most beautiful churches. Continue to the Monastery and Church of St George This is not an old church, dating from 1909, but there has been a church in Coptic Cairo dedicated to the Martyr since the 10th-century. It is one of the few remaining circular churches in the Middle East.
Your next stop is the Abu Serga, one of the places where the Holy Family rested after fleeing Israel from King Herod. There are 24 marble columns lining the central court, and a series of 12th-century icons depicting the 12 apostles.
Ben Ezra Synagogue is one of the oldest in Egypt. Set in a shady garden, it was built on the site of 4th-century Christian church. The synagogue was severely damaged by Arabs after the 1967 war with Israel, but it has been almost completely renovated.
At the end of the tour you will visit the fascinating Coptic Museum, which is located in an area of great historical importance within the precinct of the Babylon Fort. Occupying over 8,000 sq meters the museum features almost 16,000 objects of importance to the Copts of Egypt.
This is a private tour allowing you to determine the amount of time spent at each of the sites. In addition you have the chance to visit a Papyrus Institute to see how this famous artwork is made and have the chance to purchase genuine items if you wish.
The tour really is worth its money - the history in Cairo and especially in this Coptic sector is really amazing! The churches are wonderful, the Coptic Museum very intersting. Hussein was a great guide, he answered all our questions and was patient allowing us to take the time we needed. Thank you!
Review by: HyuckWoo K, February 2018
It's really terrible tour. We are waiting for driver more than one hour at hotel lobby. Agency never contact us even Mr. Mohammad as our tour guider try to call agency. I have send Email about this problems during tour and after tour but no reply.
Review by: Alexandra A, January 2018
Loved this tour such an incredible range of theological history. Thanks again to South Sinai the best agents, drivers and tour guides we could have ever hoped for.
Review by: Andrea S, November 2017
This was a great personalized tour that focused on the major sites within Coptic Cairo with room to customize additional stops based on my preferences. My guide Rhonda was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about not just Coptic Cairo but Egypt in General. She is very well-traveled so was able to provide perspective about Egypt within an international context. I enjoyed my morning with her very much and would recommend the tour to anyone looking for a one-on-one or small-group tour with an easy-going, pleasant and very experienced guide.
Review by: Bram D, November 2017
No value for money.
Review by: Megan R, January 2017
A great tour. I learned a lot and they took us to the airport because traffic was bad the day of our tour.
Review by: juliolsl, December 2016
Super tour.
Review by: Cecilia T, August 2016
It was a nice tour, we were picked up from our hotel at 9 am, we met our tour guide where our tour started, he gave an overview what we're doing that day. It's kind of odd that we have to wait for our tour guide.The tour lasted about 3 1/2 hours only and then were dropped off to our hotel by the driver. It's a lot of extra we have to pay such as if you want to use your camera to take pictures you have to pay 50 Egyptian pounds.
Review by: Rudy T, June 2016
Guide was rushing
Review by: Nida T, May 2016
This was a good, short tour. The sights are not very huge or grand, but it gives you a good idea of the area of Coptic Cairo. I wasn't sure about all the facts and stories that our guide was telling us. He did talk a lot, and mostly we wanted to look around.
Review by: Stephannie B, May 2016
We had an excellent guide for our half day tour of Coptic Cairo. We saw all of the sites listed and we were given lots of information about each from our guide. This tour shows you this part of the city in a snap shot.
Review by: Lorna R, October 2015
Great tour with a wonderful guide and exactly what we needed upon arrival in Cairo. We had the bonus of driving through some local areas on the way to get a little local flavor!
Review by: Paul R M, June 2015
Surprisingly I found this the most interesting of trips whie visiting Cairo. Thoroughly recommend this tour. Guide was very open minded on religion and its continued influence in modern Eygpt.
Review by: Michael, March 2015
Excellent tour! Tarek was knowledgable, patient and still as enchanted by the rich history as I was seeing it for the first time.
Review by: Jocelin E, March 2015
We had a fantastic tour of Coptic Cairo with our excellent guide, Amgad. He was very well informed, and able to answer all of our questions. Amgad's english was perfect, and he was very passionate about his work. It was an amazing experience - one that we won't forget.
Review by: Carol Z, January 2015
Tour guide was very knowledgable and went at a good pace.
Review by: Elaine P, December 2014
The experience was wonderful and the guide made the tour. Not enough finger time to describe. All of Egypt was magnificent and the people!!!
Review by: Jeanette S, October 2014
Amazing Tour! We had a great guide Fouad Salah. Very knowledgeable. I was overwhelmed standing at the entrance to the cave where The Holy Family lived for 3 months. Love it all Coptic Caire, The Hanging Church, Abu Serga, Ben Ezra. Owsome.
Review by: RE H, April 2013
Excellent tour with knowledgeable guide. Pickup and drop-off were punctual and the tour stops covered very well. The sights were far less crowded than many other Cairo tours. Thoroughly enjoyed by all of us.
Review by: Jeannie C, March 2013
The guide was very pleasant and knowledgeable. I enjoyed the tour.
Review by: Chris, September 2012
Interesting tour. Punctual guide.
Review by: Carolyn F, July 2012
A bit disappointing! The tour guide spent more time bragging about his knowledge and talking politics with friends along the way than telling me info. about the sites. He also took me to a lot of places to buy stuff ( no obligation to buy of course but....!)He seemed to discourage any activities that required being out in the sun any longer than the minimum. I would advise checking out the guides you arrange a bit more thoroughly!!
Review by: Kay P T, April 2012
This tour was wondeful. The guide was very friendly, helpful and extremely well informed about the history of the times, area, activites, and the items in the museum. Would recommend this tour and guide to everyone.
Review by: Luiz R, January 2012
The guide was kind and helpful. The best of the tour was the visit to the Coptic Museum.
Review by: PETER B, August 2011
Henry our guide is a Coptic Christian and so he brought an extra dimension to our tour. The tour was excellent, uncrowded and easily walked. The churches steeped in early christian history. Bravo Viator
Review by: Gregory B, August 2011
An extremely interesting and valuable tour to gain an insight into the history of this part of Cairo. Excellent guide and service, would highly recommend this to all.
Review by: John g K, June 2011
The tour company's Khaled Lofty is the most expert and friendly Egyptologist in Cairo and the driver was superb, a must for Cairo traffic.
Review by: John g K, May 2011
The tour company's Khaled Lofty is the most expert and friendly Egyptologist in Cairo and the driver was superb, a must for Cairo traffic.
Review by: PETER B, May 2011
Henry our guide is a Coptic Christian and so he brought an extra dimension to our tour. The tour was excellent, uncrowded and easily walked. The churches steeped in early christian history. Bravo Viator
Review by: Ebony C, May 2011
The tour covered the stated areas, but it would be better to have a Coptologist leading the tour to avoid filtering the narrative through the lens of Islam. Coptic history predates Islam of course and reversing the direction of influence could cause confusion for someone who doesn't know much about the history of Christianity in the region. Further, a Coptologist could provide a more detailed history of each site. In several instances we felt the tour guide could have had more precise answers or described the significance of certain artifacts beyond the captions listed under the objects themselves. For example, the distinctions between Coptic coffins and trunks to hold robes, hats, and other religious clothing. Also, the difference between a confessional and a storage space in the Coptic church. Do Copts have confessionals? And the circumstances in which new testament bibles were found. The Hanging Church was amazing and has a tremendous history behind it that is more interesting than the foundation less design of the building itself. Spending more time on the relics, designs, and icons, in the church would have been helpful. She was otherwise a pleasure to spend time with and certainly knows quite a bit about the history of Islam in Egypt and collaboration between Muslims and Copts (a timely reminder). I would love to take a tour of Islamic Cairo with her and no doubt others would enjoy it as well.
Review by: William Y, May 2011
Well guarded area, takes a few hours to go through the four or five areas (church, museum, original street- 18 feet below, another church). Well worth it to see that there are Christians still in Cairo (about 10% called Coptics) and that this area had great importance in history. Ties Cairo as the crossroads of the middle east. You will enjoy this tour.
Review by: Carol P, May 2011
Good tour, just a shame that the guide was distracted and spent most of the time on his phone.
Review by: Deborah Anne J, February 2011
My tour guide was incredible but there wasn't really much to see as far as the church went.
Review by: Klaus K, February 2011
Excellent organisation and very knowledgeable tour operators. Pick-up and transportation always on-time and well organised. Sometimes a bit rushed. The places that tour guides take you during or after tours for "shopping" was nothing for us.
Review by: Diana V, January 2011
VERY positive experience with Viator. Heba was an excellent guide, very thorough, excellent English, and included the Coptic Museum as well. I would highly recommend her for anything!
Review by: Douglas D, December 2010
Initially had a few problems getting in touch with the operator re hotel to be picked up from but that was solved and the tour was excellent. We were the only two so we had personal attention. The tour guide was not only knowledgeable and friendly but a Copt herself. There was a atmosphere of quietness which is a pleasant feeling in Cairo. We thought the price was a bit high but ...would recommend the tour itself.
Review by: L J H, December 2010
We enjoyed the tour very much. The Viator staff were punctual and courteous, and the guide was knowledgable. If we have one complaint it is being told of a "complimentary tour" after the booked one was complete - to discover that it was to be subjected to the perfume manufacturers, etc! I realise that this is how the system works here, however.
Review by: Deborah Anne J, December 2010
My tour guide was incredible but there wasn't really much to see as far as the church went.
Review by: Stephen R, November 2010
The guide was very good, but the tour began 60 minutes late and ended far too early. We expected to see the Coptic Museum, but it was somehow omitted from our tour.
Review by: Klaus K, November 2010
Excellent organisation and very knowledgeable tour operators. Pick-up and transportation always on-time and well organised. Sometimes a bit rushed. The places that tour guides take you during or after tours for "shopping" was nothing for us.
Review by: Lesley M, November 2010
Enjoyed this day very much. Guide very good and informative, friendly. Also driver very friendly and polite and helpful.
Review by: Gregory B, November 2010
An extremely interesting and valuable tour to gain an insight into the history of this part of Cairo. Excellent guide and service, would highly recommend this to all.
Review by: Stephen H, November 2010
Tour guide Ans was very knowledgable, good tour, very happy .
Review by: Alan H, October 2010
excellent tour guide 5 stsr tour
Review by: Kim-Janine H, October 2010
I was extraordinarily impressed by the Coptic Quarter of Cairo. I was amazing to bring to life stories you learned about in church. The Hanging Church and the Coptic Museum are absolute musts along with Ben Ezra which is absolutely beautiful.
Review by: Athelstan B, October 2010
Many thanks to our guide Shereif for making this segment of the trip both educational and enjoyable.
Review by: Clair F, August 2010
I love church history so it was really relevant to me, the buildings are stunning and highly decorated. definately worth seeing. There are some stalls and shops on the way to Ben Ezra absolutely filled with fantastic crafts, but you must haggel. someone tried to sell me a gold hand of fatima neckless for 250 english pounds !! I managed to buy a similar one in CityStars shopping mail, hallmarked for 80 english pounds!!
the only dissapointment is NO CAMERAS in some of the venues, so you cant share your experience with friends back home.
Review by: Anonymous, August 2010
GOOD.
Review by: Anonymous, United States of America, July 2010
Again the guide the same as for my other Cairo trips was excellent. She was extremely informative and really a delight to be with. She has so many insights into this part of Cairo and was very open to responding to all my questions. The tour company was again highly reliable.
Review by: Allyson W, July 2010
Beautiful, All religions in one area. I recommend this tour as your first tour in the country. you get alot of history and the tour is about 4 hrs so you get back to your hotel to get some rest from the long flight to Cairo.
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