Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 21 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo. worth booking?
Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo. is a 4-hour experience in Cairo, Egypt, from $40 per person. It scores 71 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 21 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 71 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (21)
- Duration
- 4 hours
- From
- $40 per person
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 Cit
What you get
- Private transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Qualified Egyptologist guide
About this experience
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.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Qualified Egyptologist guide
Not included
- Gratuities
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus
The church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, who were soldier-saints martyred during the 4th century in Syria by the Roman Emperor Maximina. The most interesting feature is the crypt where Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus are said to have rested. The crypt is 10 meters deep and, when Nile levels are high, is often flooded.
30 minutes here
The Hanging Church
The Hanging Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, the Roman fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo); its nave is suspended over a passage.The church is approached by twenty-nine steps; early travelers to Cairo dubbed it "the Staircase Church". The land surface has risen by some six meters since the Roman period, so the Roman tower is mostly buried below ground, reducing the visual impact of the church's elevated position.
30 minutes here
Synagogue Ben Ezra
The Ben Ezra Synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת בן עזרא; Arabic: معبد بن عزرا), sometimes referred to as the El-Geniza Synagogue (בית כנסת אל גניזה) or the Synagogue of the Levantines (al-Shamiyin), Is situated in the Fustat part of Old Cairo, Egypt. According to local folklore, it is located on the site where baby Moses was found.
20 minutes here
St Simon the Tanner Monastery
LARGE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES ARE NOT abundant in Muslim-dominated Egypt. One of the more populous groups is the garbage scavenging Zabbaleen, who have retained their Coptic beliefs and established the largest Christian church in the Middle East at the Monastery of Saint Simon.
90 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ar, en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Twitter Egypt Travel
Know before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 21 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
21 verified traveler reviews for Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo.. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Lorin
it was a great tour and the guy was wonderful. Would recommend him to anyone. He deserves the fight. I would take another trip. You’re lucky to have him as a tour guide
via Tripadvisor
Garbage City is a part of...
Garbage City is a part of Cairo not all visitors experience. Winding through the city on our way to Cave Church was interesting & fascinating. I'm sure I've not seen so much bagged garbage in one place! The drive through the city was worth it. Cave Church was inspiring & impressive, with scenes from Scripture carved inside the walls, & ampitheater style seating. I'm glad we didn't miss out on this opportunity.
via Viator
Tour through Cairo
Dina loves her country and has spent her life learning all she can to share her knowledge with others. We traveled with our 9 year old son and his favorite part of the tour was our trip to the oil store. Learning and creating our own scents, who knew?! My husband and I enjoyed seeing inside the church cave, hanging church and synagogue. Our driver was very kind and safe. We did feel like Dina was preoccupied at times and we would suggest guides pointing things out while driving (mosques, ancient artifacts, etc) as we felt rude continually asking what things are that we are driving by.
via Tripadvisor
Our trip
Great! So friendly . Thank-you for taking us around
via Tripadvisor
Another memorable tour with Twitter Egypt Travel
Following an excellent tour the previous day with our guide. Dina, we decided to book this tour also. There is so much to see in Cairo, but we are really delighted that we took the time to visit the hanging Church, the underground church, and the Nunnery of St. George. This historic and unique area is steeped in the atmosphere of faith and prayers over centuries. The history, architecture and art are so full of meaning that will be potentially missed without a guide. And we were grateful to Dina who Is knowledgeable and passionate about the history, as well as being a lovely person.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $40 to $130
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 7
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Twitter Egypt Travel, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 71.0.
See everything Twitter Egypt Travel runsWhy this scores 71
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo.: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cairo.
How much does Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo. cost?
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Prices start at $40 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cairo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo. take?
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Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cairo is not rushed.
Is Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo. worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 71 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 21 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Cairo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo.?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo. suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo.?
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Around 7 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cairo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cairo and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo. start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cairo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cairo?
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On Outty we rank every Cairo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include All-in-One Giza Tour, inside Pyramid, sphinx, Camel ride & lunch, VIP Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx Tour –Inside the Pyramids&More, Best of Cairo Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Museum Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cairo?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cairo?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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