Cairo Trip Overview
Travel back in time to the glory days of Islamic Cairo, and see some of the medieval and Ottoman city’s greatest religious monuments, on this 2-5 hour private guided tour. Admire ancient massive mausolea, such as but not limited to Qalawoun Complex, Qaytbay complex, Barquq complex…etc.
Greet your private guide at the main gate of your hotel at a time of your choosing: 9am-11am is recommended. As you may enter working mosques, please dress modestly – long, loose clothes that cover arms and legs – and wear shoes that are easy to remove: women should also bring a scarf to cover their hair. Please note that a few sites close to the public at 5pm.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 to 5 hours
Starts: Cairo, Egypt
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Cairo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Travel back in time to the glory days of Islamic Cairo, and see some of the medieval and Ottoman city’s greatest religious monuments, on this 2-5 hour private guided tour. Admire ancient massive mausolea, such as but not limited to Qalawoun Complex, Qaytbay complex, Barquq complex…etc.
Greet your private guide at the main gate of your hotel at a time of your choosing: 9am-11am is recommended. As you may enter working mosques, please dress modestly – long, loose clothes that cover arms and legs – and wear shoes that are easy to remove: women should also bring a scarf to cover their hair. Please note that a few sites close to the public at 5pm.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Qalawun Complex, El-Gamaleya, Qism El-Gamaleya, Cairo 11511 Egypt
You’ll start your tour of some of the highlights of historic Cairo Massive Mausolea, by strolling through the Qalawun Complex (a massive complex in Cairo, Egypt, built by Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun in 1284–1285. It is located at Bayn al-Qasrayn on al-Mu’izz street and includes a hospital (bimaristan), a madrasa and his mausoleum. It is widely regarded as one of the major monuments of Islamic Cairo and of Mamluk architecture, notable for the size and scope of its charitable operations as well as for the richness of its architecture).
We will walk through the famouse literary Bayn al-Qasrayn district and plaza that once upon a time ran between two former palace complexes that used to stand here, constructed in the 10th century by the Fatimid dynasty in medieval Islamic Cairo, within present day Cairo, Egypt. It was an original element in the Fatimid Caliphate’s plan for a new palace-city, named al-Qahirah (today’s “Cairo”), and later became the site of many monumental buildings …
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Madrassa of Al-Nasir Muhammad, Passage Inside Salah Al Din, Cairo 11511 Egypt
We will also enjoy visiting some of or passing by some of the following monuments:
Al Nasir Muhammad Madrassa, Barquq Mosque, Kamelia school, the Turkish bathhouse of Sultan Inal, Sabil Kuttab Abdul-Rahman Katkhuda, Bashtak Palace, Sabil of Muhammad Ali Pasha, Al Saleh Najmuldin minor mausoleum, Khusraw’s Sabil-Kuttab, Saleheya Madrasa (Theological School for adults), and Saleheya street (Precious stone vendors).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Mosque of Sultan Al-Ashraf Barsbay, Muizz Street El-Gamaleya, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Continue to the Northern Cemetery (the City of the Dead) to see the funerary complex of Sultan al-Ashraf Qaytbay a complex built by Sultan Qaytbay, completed in 1474. Considered one of the most beautiful and accomplished monuments of late Egyptian Mamluk architecture.
Proceed to The massive Khanqah and Mausoleum of Sultan Faraj Ibn Barquq, It was here that Sultan al-Nasir Faraj built this khanqah, with the intention of urbanizing the site, but before his plans could be realized, he died. The khanqah took so long to complete (eleven years),
If time permits we will take you on a visit to the Mausoleum of Imam Shafei.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sharia Al Mu’izz Li-Din Allah, Al Moez Ldin Allah Al Fatmi, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi Street or al-Muizz street for short, is a major north-to-south street in the walled city of historic Cairo, Egypt. It is one of Cairo’s oldest streets as it dates back to the foundation of the city (not counting the earlier Fustat) by the Fatimid dynasty in the 10th century, under their fourth caliph, Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah (after whom the street is named). Historically, it was the most important artery of the city and was often referred to as the Qasaba (or Qasabah). It constituted the main axis of the city’s economic zones where its souqs (markets) were concentrated. The street’s prestige also attracted the construction of many monumental religious and charitable buildings commissioned by Egypt’s rulers and elites, making it a dense repository of historic Islamic architecture in Cairo. This is especially evident in the Bayn al-Qasrayn area, which is lined with some of the most important monuments of Islamic Cairo.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Khan Al-Khalili, Cairo Egypt
Khan el-Khalili is a famous bazaar and souq (or souk) in the historic center of Cairo, Egypt. Established as a center of trade in the Mamluk era and named for one of its several historic caravanserais, the bazaar district has since become one of Cairo’s main attractions for tourists and Egyptians alike. It is also home to many Egyptian artisans and workshops involved in the production of traditional crafts and souvenirs.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Madrasa of Sultan Barquq, El-Gamaleya Bayn al-Qasrayn, al-Mu’izz street, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Barquq or Mosque-Madrasa-Khanqah of Az-Zaher Barquq is a religious complex in Islamic Cairo, the historic medieval district of Cairo, Egypt. It was commissioned by Sultan al-Zahir Barquq as a school for religious education in the four Islamic schools of thought, composed of a mosque, madrasa, mausoleum and khanqah. The complex was constructed in 1384-1386 CE (786 to 788 AH), with the dome added last. It was the first architectural facility built during the time of the Circassian (Burji) dynasty of Mamluk Sultanate.
The complex is situated in the traditional area of Muizz Street. Along with the Complex of Sultan Qalawun and the Madrasa of al-Nasir Muhammad, with which it is contiguous, it forms one of the greatest arrangements of Mamluk monumental architecture in Cairo, in the section of al-Mu’izz street known as Bayn al-Qasrayn.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, Maydan Salah al-Din, Cairo 11511 Egypt
The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan is a monumental mosque and madrasa located in the historic district of Cairo, Egypt. It was built between 1356 and 1363 during the Bahri Mamluk period, commissioned by Sultan an-Nasir Hasan. The mosque was considered remarkable for its massive size and innovative architectural components, and is still considered one of the most impressive historic monuments in Cairo today.
Stop At: Mosque-Sabil of Sulayman Agha al-Silahdar, Muizz Street, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Mosque-Sabil of Sulayman Agha al-Silahdar or Mosque-Sabil-Kuttab of Sulayman Agha al-Silahdar is a complex of mosque, sabil and kuttab established during the era of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Islamic Cairo, the historic medieval district of Cairo, Egypt. It is located at the beginning of Burjouan alley of the famed Muizz Street. On the other side it faces the extension of Al-Nahasin Street leading to the Bab Al-Shaareya square.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Al-Hakim Mosque, Cairo Egypt
The Mosque of al-Hakim, nicknamed al-Anwar (lit. ’the Illuminated’), is a major Islamic religious site in Cairo, Egypt. It is named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985–1021), the sixth Fatimid caliph and 16th Ismaili Imam. This mosque originally started being built by al-Aziz, the son of Mu’izz, and the father of al Hakim, in 990 A.D. It was named after Al Hakim because he had finished and established it.
This Fatimid style mosque was built over the span of twenty years with considerable communal effort. It is located in Islamic Cairo, on the east side of Muizz Street, just south of Bab Al-Futuh (the northern gate).
Stop At: Bab al-Futuh, 154 Al Moez Ldin Allah Al Fatmi 154 المعز لدين الله الفاطمي, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Bab al Futuh (Conquest Gate) is one of three remaining gates in the walls of the old city of Cairo, Egypt. It was finished in the year 1087 and faces north.
Duration: 10 minutes
