If you visit the older areas of Cairo you see Christian sites that are not on the usual itinerary. Make sure you retain a guide to get the most out of your time. Without a guide, these places are just another church. Make sure you find a person with good English skills.

I visited this neighborhood together with my visit of the Citadel and 3 mosques. There is no fee to visit this neighborhood. Note the adequate signage that shows where the attractions are located. When lost, ask the locals and Security Guards. They are kind and helpful. There are ancient Christian Churches, a Sinagogue to visit, Bookstores, Shops and restaurants here.

Coptic Cairo is the center of ancient Christianity in Egypt. Our tour group visited this neighborhood and went to the Hanging Church. It was raining on the day we visited, which is rare and only happens a few times a year in Cairo. Our tour guide told us that the church is said to be the location where Joseph and Mary sought refuge from King Herod when they escaped to Egypt. It was interesting to see the church.

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.

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.

We enjoyed this area and found a lot of shaded walkways in the 45 degree heat. There are numerous churches, a synagogue and museum to see. Around 2-3 hours are sufficient to view the main attractions. There is a metro stop and many small restaurants and shops to get drinks, etc.

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.