In fact, Embarking on the Half-Day Islamic Cairo Walking Tour in Fatimid Cairo is a journey of discovery through the heart of Egypt’s rich historical tapestry. As you step onto the cobblestone streets. You immerse yourself in the legacy of an ancient civilization. Where every step whispers tales of resilience, culture, and architectural marvels. Enjoy Half-Day Islamic Cairo Walking Tour in Fatimid Cairo.
What are you waiting for? Come and enjoy our incredible tour. It’s a lifetime adventure that will take you to another world. Our prices are affordable and your comfort is our target. Get your friends and enjoy the tour and trust me you will be amazed, We have more and more for you. And always remember that “We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us.”
Private guided Tour to El-Muez street is the main street of the old Islamic medieval city. There is so much to see in this street, and probably one full-day is not enough to take in all the attractions of this street, however, in this half-day tour. We will show you the most important and beautiful sites, and also see the outside view of each attraction in the street, and get info about the history of each.
Moreover, this walking tour is not merely about sightseeing. It’s a pilgrimage into the heart and soul of Islamic Cairo. It’s a reminder that our world is a mosaic of diverse cultures, faiths, and traditions that coexist harmoniously, painting a beautiful canvas of unity amidst diversity. The tour fosters an understanding of the significance of cultural heritage. Teaching us the importance of preservation and respect for the past, to inform and shape our future.
In fact, In the end, this Half-Day Islamic Cairo Walking Tour isn’t just a stroll through historic streets. It’s an encounter with the majesty of human achievement. An inspiration to cherish our own cultural heritage and to embrace the beauty found in our collective diversity. It’s a lesson that the past is a treasure trove of lessons. Each step taken in its embrace propels us toward a more enlightened future.
Ancient Egypt Tours representative pick you up from your hotel in Cairo, start one of our Cairo; Giza Tours, transferred to visit Once you exit the mosque of Al-Hakim, continue north and walk through one of the Northern gates of the citadel, Bab al-Futuh. When you reach the other side, turn right and follow the city wall for just a few minutes until you reach the second gate called Bab El Nasr. Walk through it to re-enter Islamic Cairo.
Spend the next 30 or so minutes walking south down El-Gamaleya Street and Khan Gaafar Street and witness a more genuine side of Islamic Cairo with fewer tourists around. Trays of freshly baked bread being carried upon heads, donkey’s pulling carts and authentic street food stalls can all be seen here.
Mausoleum of Sidi Zou It is a mausoleum dating back to the Mamluk era, and it was famous for an Egyptian saying that says, “Taste is the only way out of Egypt.” The stories about the owner of the shrine are limited to 3 stories, between a merchant and a fatwa from the guarded fatwa, or a blessed person or a man of Moroccan origin. To bury him where he fell.
Also known as Muizz Street, this is one of Cairo’s oldest streets. At approximately one kilometer long, this beautiful street features all kinds of colourful shops selling African spices, old antiques, clothing and perfumes to name a few. Feel free to wander into one or two of the side streets to find more interesting shops.
This is the most touristy street in Islamic Cairo but it’s extremely pretty and as it continues north on our Islamic Cairo walking tour map; it contains a number of interesting sites.
Turn back onto El Moez Street and continue walking north on our Islamic Cairo walking tour map. As you reach the most Northern point of El Moez Street, you’ll see the impressive mosque of Al-Hakim on the right. The mosque, which was started in 990 and completed in 1013, is the second largest Fatimid Mosque in Cairo.
Like all mosques in Cairo, it’s free to go inside, but if you want to head up one of the tall minarets then you’ll need one of the key keepers to take you up for a small tip. This is worth doing as the views up there are pretty impressive.
Qorkamas dome It is an ancient tall mausoleum dome of unknown origin, whose location was next to the main door of the Al-Hakim Mosque, in a place that blocks the entrance to the mosque.
People were confused about its origin, some of them said that it belongs to Prince Muhammad Qurqamas, or that it belongs to the sheikh seeking to be adjacent to his soil, which is now known by his name, or that it is the soil of the emir of the armies, Badr al-Jamali, due to the splendor of its construction and height, or that it is a cemetery that the ruler built for himself and was not buried in it, and later became known as the cemetery of the courier.
As for the Egyptian Antiquities Authority, it registered it in the name of the Qerqamas Dome, although Karkamas is buried in his tomb located in the cemetery east of Cairo, next to the Khanqah of Sultan Faraj bin Barquq. Since this dome is alien to the construction of the Al-Hakim Mosque and its entrance is distorted, it was dismantled in October 1980 as part of the project to renovate the Al-Hakim Mosque, and was transferred to the Al-Ghafir cemetery, where it was rebuilt between the Sultan Al-Ashraf Barsbay Mosque and the tomb of Jani Bey Al-Ashrafy.
Mosque, Sabil and Book of Suleiman Agha Al-Silahdar The main facade of the mosque is located on the western side of it, and it contains the entrance to the mosque and its annexes.
It ascends to the mosque by several stairs. It is rectangular in shape and divided into two squares. The outer western square includes a courtyard surrounded by four porticos on its four sides covered by small domes based on marble columns.
The courtyard is covered with a wooden roof in the middle with a rattle for ventilation. The eastern square is the qibla iwan covered by a wooden ceiling with simple decorations. In the middle of this iwan is a hollow mihrab carved entirely of marble, and next to it is a wooden pulpit.
The bench of the amount occupies the entire western wall facing the qibla wall, and it is made of wood. As for the minaret, it is located on the main facade next to the door of the mosque. It is cylindrical in the Ottoman style and consists of two floors. The facade of the sabil is round, covered with gilded marble, and has four copper windows
It was established by Prince Mustafa Jaafar al-Silhdar, who is the chief dignitary of the coffee merchants in the Dhi al-Fiqar Katkhuda Agency.
The house was built in the place of a coffee house called “Al-Mawardi Coffee”, which was within the endowments of Al-Khawaja Shehab Atta, so Haji Mustafa Jaafar and its surroundings bought it to build his house, and the house is currently used as an administrative headquarters for the North Cairo area for Islamic and Coptic antiquities.
Aqmar Mosque The building was not at first a comprehensive mosque, and the Friday sermon was not delivered on its pulpit except in Ramadan in the year 799 AH / 1396 AD after it was repaired and renovated by Prince Yalbugha al-Salmi in the year 1396 AD by the order of Sultan Barquq.
Ali Pasha, and at the end of the 19th century it was in a dilapidated state. The Committee for the Preservation of Arab Antiquities restored and renovated the mosque and preserved its decorations in 1928.
The Supreme Council of Antiquities also renovated it and removed the buildings in front of its facade so that the decorations of the facade appeared completely. Al-Aqmar is one of the suspended mosques. When it was built, there were shops under it, and it is located in the Al-Nahhasin area on Al-Moez Street.
From the Qalawun Complex, continue north on El Moez Street until the street forks. In the middle of the forked road is Sabil-Kuttab of Katkhuda, an interesting looking building containing a public fountain, an elementary Quran school, and an adjoining residential wing.
Built in 1744 by a forward-thinking Egyptian architect, Sabil-Kuttab of Katkhuda is an excellent example of the Ottoman and Mamluk style of architecture. The narrow structure has been described by some architects as “The treasure of Ottoman architecture“.
This building’s exterior is more impressive than from the inside, so save some time by not going in.
From the courtyard, walk West along Sidi Al Dardirai Street and Al Kahkeen Street until you reach Al Motaz Ldin Allah Street which runs north to south. Follow it south and simply enjoy a more local and authentic side to Islamic Cairo.
It’s along here where you’ll be greeted by more genuine welcoming smiles and hellos. There’s nothing really of interest to tourist shoppers here so there is less hassle than the previously visited market streets further north. The area is a real feast for the senses and a photographers playground.
Hamam of Inal ” Inal bath The bathroom is built in the style of Islamic public baths in the Middle Ages. It consists of a simple entrance that leads to a broken corridor that leads to the cold room, where the dressing is taken to prepare for bathing, and there are seating and lockers for keeping personal belongings, and that room leads to another corridor that leads to the warm room.
The heated room, w]hich was used in both the cold and hot rooms shallow domes to maintain the circulation of hot air. The heated room is characterized by an octagonal area in the middle of the basin and perpendicular to it are four iwans for sitting and four entrances in the corners that lead to khans, each with basins and terraces.
Take the left fork on the road passing Sabil-Kuttab of Katkhuda on your right and continue walking north on El Moez Street. Look out for Al Dabeeba Street on the right where you’ll clearly notice an interesting looking cafe named Cafe al-Lord.
A well-known cafe in Islamic Cairo, Cafe al-Lord is only frequented by tourists so is not the most authentic Egyptian experience you’ll find in the area.
But if pictures of Egyptian movie stars and life-size statues of famous figures is your thing, then feel free to rest your feet and drink tea or Turkish coffee at this overpriced but popular cafe.
It’s a stunning building with such amazing attention to detail and reminiscent of the Gothic style. This is definitely a highlight on our Islamic Cairo walking tour map.
The Textile Musem The only one of its kind in the Middle East, this interesting museum features textiles from ancient Egypt and the Roman, Coptic and Islamic eras.
The collection starts at the very beginning, with Pharaonic diapers, and moves on through beautifully embroidered Coptic tunics and great embroidered Kiswat (the panels that adorn the Kaaba in Mecca). It’s a small museum, but well worth a peek for anyone with an affinity for weaving and fabric.
We finish our Islamic Cairo walking tour map at the southern gate of Bab Zuwayla. Considered a major landmark, Bab Zuweila is one of three remaining gates in the walls of the Old City and is the last remaining southern gate. Its name comes from Bab, meaning “Door”, and Zuwayla, the name of a clan of Berber soldiers from the western desert, who were entrusted with guarding the gate. Back to hotel We recommend arriving at sunset so you can watch the sun drop over the city from one of the two towering minarets. The views up there were the best we found in Cairo.
| Adults Numbers | Price/Person |
|---|---|
| Single | 60 $ |
| 2 -3 | 40 $ |
| 4 – 6 | 35 $ |
| 7 – 10 | 30 $ |
| 11 – 15 | 25 $ |
Tour price currency is set to USD but you can pay in Euro or British pound. The prices quoted per person per tour all-inclusive of tax and prices are always updated to ensure you receive the lowest price possible. Once your tour is confirmed we guarantee the price will not be changed.
0 – 05.99 free of Charge.
6 – 11.99 pay 50% of tour price.
12+ pay full tour price as per adult person.
Children policy is not applied on all kinds of transportation (Flight, train or bus) full ticket payment is required
We are offering a considerable down payment of just 25% to secure your spaces on the tour including domestic flight ticket, and other travel-related services. The remaining balance can be paid up to two days prior to your arrival date or in cash upon arrival at the destination. Therefore, making your booking a risk-free investment.
Ancient Egypt Tours does not charge a cancellation fee for tours and excursions canceled for ‘force measures reasons such as volcanoes, earthquakes, or reasons beyond control. If cancellation happens due to personal or business reasons and Ancient Egypt Tours has already incurred costs on your behalf, these costs will not be refunded to you.
To receive a full refund, travelers may cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time in the local time zone. No refunds will be given after that time period.
Flight & train tickets are nonrefundable
After your tour is confirmed, we will email final confirmation and voucher to print and bring with you. Details will include contact numbers of your tour operator and customer care and additional information for your convenience.
