Islamic Cairo Tour: Citadel and Historic Mosques

This Islamic Cairo tour is a private half-day trip through the historic heart of the city, starting at the hilltop Citadel and continuing to some of its most important mosques. You are collected from your hotel and choose how much is included, from a car with driver only to guide, tickets and lunch.

What you will see

• Citadel of Salah El Din: the fortress founded by Saladin in the 12th century, with views across the city.
• Mohamed Ali Mosque: the 19th-century mosque inside the Citadel, often called the Alabaster Mosque.
• Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa’i mosques: two monumental neighbours below the Citadel, one a 14th-century Mamluk masterpiece and the other completed in the early 20th century.
• Al-Azhar Mosque: founded by the Fatimids in the 10th century and still a major centre of Islamic learning.
• El Hussein Mosque: one of the most revered mosques in Cairo, beside the old market streets.

Together these sites trace about a thousand years of the city’s history and architecture.

Good to know

Pickup and drop-off are included in every option, along with water and taxes. Because this is a private tour, your guide can adjust the pace and spend more time where you like.

Mosques are active places of worship. Shoulders and knees should be covered, shoes are removed before entering, and women are asked to cover their hair, so bring a light scarf. Visits may be paused during prayer times, especially at midday on Fridays.