Coptic Cairo
Coptic Cairo
4.5
About
Once known as the Roman stronghold of Babylon, Cairo’s oldest section is the ancient heart of the Coptic Christian community featuring five original churches, the first mosque built in Egypt and the oldest synagogue, all representing three of the major world religions.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Coptic Cairo
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
660 within 5 kms
Attractions
226 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,137 reviews
Excellent
1,344
Very good
610
Average
149
Poor
21
Terrible
13
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
emanuelaboh
Cagliari, Italy299 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Complex of great historical interest, where it is possible to admire very ancient and evocative buildings and places of worship.
The complex is well connected by the Cairo metro (cheap and efficient) Mar Giris stop, line 1.
It is enclosed within a wall. Moving through the alleys you can visit, among the most noteworthy things: the Coptic cemetery, the convent and church of San Giorgio, the churches of Santa Barbara and San Sergio e Bacco.
From different entrances you can directly access perhaps the two most beautiful stages: the Coptic museum and the Suspended Church.
In short, there is a lot to visit, so take your time, at least 3 hours.
Only for the museum there is an entrance ticket, any other requests for money from improvised people are to be ignored (unless you want to make a donation to the interested person).
In the surrounding area there are very touristy clubs and restaurants.
The bathrooms are inside the museum.
The complex is well connected by the Cairo metro (cheap and efficient) Mar Giris stop, line 1.
It is enclosed within a wall. Moving through the alleys you can visit, among the most noteworthy things: the Coptic cemetery, the convent and church of San Giorgio, the churches of Santa Barbara and San Sergio e Bacco.
From different entrances you can directly access perhaps the two most beautiful stages: the Coptic museum and the Suspended Church.
In short, there is a lot to visit, so take your time, at least 3 hours.
Only for the museum there is an entrance ticket, any other requests for money from improvised people are to be ignored (unless you want to make a donation to the interested person).
In the surrounding area there are very touristy clubs and restaurants.
The bathrooms are inside the museum.
Written April 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
groverm7
Bethesda, MD30 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
All sights in the Coptic quarter of Cairo are easily accessible by foot. We combined it with the visit to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) since it was a short three minute Uber ride. Except the Coptic museum, all other sites like the Hanging Church, Synagogue, Tavern church etc arer free entry. This quarter of Cairo is a must see along with everything else that the city has to offer.
Written November 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
class s
Perth, Australia2 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Coptic Cairo is the heart of ancient Christianity in Egypt, and it was a ripper of a day when our tour mob hit up this neighbourhood. We popped into the Hanging Church, and would you believe it, it was bucketing down rain—a rare sight in Cairo, happens about as often as a blue moon! Our guide spun us a yarn about how Joseph and Mary supposedly sought refuge here from King Herod when they made their dash to Egypt. Seeing the church was a fair dinkum experience!
Written October 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
japanese doremi
Chuo, Japan16,111 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
This is "Old Cairo", one of the faces of the "Historic District of Cairo".
The whole area known as the "Coptic District" in the south of Cairo city is called "Old Cairo".
This is an area where historic religious buildings remain, centered around "Coptic (primitive Christian)" Christian churches that are descended from ancient Roman times.
I only wandered around a little, mainly around the "Coptic Museum", and although this may be obvious, I felt a different atmosphere from Islamic Cairo throughout the area.
This is truly another face of Cairo. If you're interested, please visit.
The whole area known as the "Coptic District" in the south of Cairo city is called "Old Cairo".
This is an area where historic religious buildings remain, centered around "Coptic (primitive Christian)" Christian churches that are descended from ancient Roman times.
I only wandered around a little, mainly around the "Coptic Museum", and although this may be obvious, I felt a different atmosphere from Islamic Cairo throughout the area.
This is truly another face of Cairo. If you're interested, please visit.
Written April 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert D
Brooklyn, New York5,465 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
Coptic Cairo, in the old part of the city, has a mosque, synagogue, and 7 churches. The Copts are Eastern Orthodox Christians. There is a lot to see here and most of it is within an easy walking distance. Be sure to visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which dates to the 12th century. It was rebuilt in the late 19th century. (Photography inside is prohibited.)
The Cavern Church is also known as Abu Serga Church. Inside the church is the cavern where the holy family stayed for three months. The Hanging Church, which was built in the late 4th century atop the towers of the Roman Fortress of Babylon is also worth seeing.
Don't miss the Coptic Museum. There were many beautiful exhibits on display. You need at least an hour to see them. Savor such beautiful objects as an Acanthus frieze, 6th century, from the Monastery of St. Jeremiah in Saqqara. You can see Coptic tapestries and the most ancient Book of Psalms known in the Coptic language, which dates from the 4-5th centuries.
The Cavern Church is also known as Abu Serga Church. Inside the church is the cavern where the holy family stayed for three months. The Hanging Church, which was built in the late 4th century atop the towers of the Roman Fortress of Babylon is also worth seeing.
Don't miss the Coptic Museum. There were many beautiful exhibits on display. You need at least an hour to see them. Savor such beautiful objects as an Acanthus frieze, 6th century, from the Monastery of St. Jeremiah in Saqqara. You can see Coptic tapestries and the most ancient Book of Psalms known in the Coptic language, which dates from the 4-5th centuries.
Written April 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vale1308
Forli, Italy798 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
In Cairo Coptal the main attraction is a spectacular religious architecture, the Suspended Church, named after its elevated position on the archaic Roman fortress of Babylon. Very ancient, inside the icons and decorations are enchanting and so are the thirteen columns indicating Jesus and the 12 apostles. It is a very important place of worship for the Coptic community of Egypt.
Automatically translated
Written June 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marco C.
Santa Maria, Portugal4,208 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
Coptic Cairo. What a fascinating place. It's unmissable.
What marked me most was the church (ABU SERGA or Church of Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus) that has the cave underground and where the holy family hid when they fled the massacre carried out by King Herod. Before going down to this cave, the well from where, allegedly, the holy family got its water supply is also duly marked.
"After he had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt; stay there until I tell you, because Herod will look for the child to kill ."
Matthew 2:13
What marked me most was the church (ABU SERGA or Church of Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus) that has the cave underground and where the holy family hid when they fled the massacre carried out by King Herod. Before going down to this cave, the well from where, allegedly, the holy family got its water supply is also duly marked.
"After he had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt; stay there until I tell you, because Herod will look for the child to kill ."
Matthew 2:13
Written June 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan C
Melbourne, Australia1,535 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
We visited the Khan El Khalili market, the Egyptian Museum and the Cairo Citadel on the same day as we visited Coptic Cairo and this component only took about an hour and a half. Our tour of Coptic Cairo included the Hanging Church, the Church of St Sergius and Bacchus and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. These Coptic Christian and Jewish sites date from the 3rd to 9th centuries AD but have been extensively rebuilt in later times. They are all close together in walking distance of each other. You also get to see some of the surrounding architecture. There were a lot of visitors on the Saturday morning when we visited and, of course, Sunday wouldn't be an alternative because services would be held then.
I think these three are just a few of the possible sites to visit on this theme (though these three appear to be listed on most of the the tours I looked at) as there is also the Church of St Barbara and the Coptic Museum which I have seen on other tours. The ruins of the Roman Fortress of Babylon are not accessible but you can view it from the outside and we saw the Church of St. George from the outside too. If you have a special interest in the topic it would be worthwhile researching it and either seeing them by yourself or getting a tailored tour. Otherwise this brief glimpse might be all that is required.
I think these three are just a few of the possible sites to visit on this theme (though these three appear to be listed on most of the the tours I looked at) as there is also the Church of St Barbara and the Coptic Museum which I have seen on other tours. The ruins of the Roman Fortress of Babylon are not accessible but you can view it from the outside and we saw the Church of St. George from the outside too. If you have a special interest in the topic it would be worthwhile researching it and either seeing them by yourself or getting a tailored tour. Otherwise this brief glimpse might be all that is required.
Written April 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
geelongexpat
Melbourne, Australia1,300 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
Interesting Neighbourhood to wander around. Entrance is free. You wander around looking at different churches and getting lost in tight alleys. The churches are air conditioned which was welcome relief on summer days.
Written July 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aspoe093
Pierre, SD731 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
I really enjoyed Coptic Cairo. It's free to get in unless you are going to visit the museum. We didn't visit the museum but visited all the churches there. Make sure that you do some research so you know what the church is about and why it's important. This was a great stop in Cairo
Written January 20, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
l l
Hello. My name is Amr, a local guide, and I have a car. I can go anywhere in Egypt and organize the days and places of the visit for you, Alexandria, Cairo, Giza, the desert, the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, Dahshur, the Egyptian Museum and the Museum of Ancient Civilization. . The old church, Memphis Museum, Salah El-Din Citadel or Muhammad Ali Mosque, Old Cairo, Ibn Tulun Mosque, Amr Ibn Al-Aas, There is also a pick-up service at the airport. boarding a large boat wandering the Nile River with a meal and watching the artistic performances in the boat, and visiting any place in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria and anywhere In Egypt, there is also camping in the desert, entering the desert in a 4x4 vehicle, as well as climbing sandy mountains by car, skiing on sand and swimming in a lake within the desert and waterfalls. And visit nature reserves inside the desert so that you can see my Facebook page, and I will send you photos of places and any other details you want as well. I will make you try Egyptian food, grills and Egyptian sweets and try everything and I will also protect you from exploiting the sellers when buying anything to get the cheapest prices. I will accompany you in all places and make you live an unforgettable travel experience with me. This is the name of the Facebook page / Step by step for tourism
Written July 15, 2021
As missas acontecem aos domingos das 07:30 às 10:00 hs
Quarta feira das 06:00 às 08:00 hs
Sexta feira das 07:30 às 10:30 hs
Sábado das 07:00 às 09:00 hs
Written August 6, 2019
How long did you spend (or would you recommend spending) exploring around the churches and museum here?
Written January 30, 2019
We were visiting the place as a family of five with a 6yo and two teenagers so we took our time to visit all churches and attractions and that was for about three hours. We followed that by visiting the handicrafts center and a short walk to Amr Ibn Al-Ass Mosque. So we arrived there at around 10 and we left the area by 4pm
Written January 31, 2019
I saw your response to my description of Old Cairo. I think what you wrote is fair. If someone is interested in seeing old churches and understanding something of the history of Christian Egypt than Old Cairo is an excellent place to go to but if the interest for this is not there one should not go but that applies to all locations one visits, religious or non-religious. Wishing you all the best.
Written April 29, 2017
I agree with you. Best wishes.
Written April 30, 2017
Did you use a tour company? If so which one.
Thanks, Laura
Written November 9, 2015
Laura we used Private Guide Ayman Ahmed. You can look him up on facebook or through Trip Advisor. I highly recommend him. He is professional, polite, punctual, speaks English, has amazing knowledge of Egypt and Egyptology and caters to your needs. We were only in cairo 4 days and covered so much. He has "special" access to several sites and pyramids and makes suggestions to maximise your visit. If you would like more information I will gladly supply more.....Well worth booking Ayman. :)
Written November 10, 2015
Que posibilidades hay y en caso donde encontrar arte religioso (cristiano:catolico)
Written April 10, 2015
Hola! mira en este barrio el Copto hay un par de tiendas, pero en la mayoría venden cosas egipcias, es decir artesanías propias de la cultura, faraones en miniaturas, pirámides, etc. lo que encuentras en la mayoría de los bazares.
Pero si encontrarás algunos locales donde venden cosas católicas. Es un barrio pequeño, y como está amurallado no hay pierde que no veas los locales. Al entrar al sitio, antes de la parte amurallada encontrarás un par de tiendas y restaurantes, aquí nosotros vimos un par de tienditas donde vendían arte religioso católico, dentro igual, ojalá y encuentres lo que específicamente buscas.
Lo que es un hecho es que en ninguna otra parte de la ciudad es probable que encuentres más arte religioso católico porque es una ciudad completamente musulmana.
Cada vez que recuerdo mi visita en estos lugares me emociono, si vas a ir a Egipto será el viaje de tu vida. Saludos
Written April 10, 2015
Cual es la posibilidad de conseguir una biblia en árabe egipcio
Written April 10, 2015
Hola, supongo que en la Mezquita de Alabastro tendrán. Suerte
Written April 13, 2015
Showing results 1-10 of 10
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing