Coptic Cairo: Address, Coptic Cairo Reviews: 4.5/5
Coptic Cairo
Coptic Cairo
4.5
Neighborhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
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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.
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Top ways to experience Coptic Cairo
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,149 within 3 miles
Al Khan Restaurant & Cafe
3
0.2 miMediterranean • Egyptian
Andrea Manasterly & Nile Peking Boat
3
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Deli • Diner
HanaDays Kitchen
2
0.2 miMediterranean • Healthy • Middle Eastern • Soups
O Sole Mio
4
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian
El Mostafa Pastry
1
0.4 mi
Fish Boat Abouzeid
43
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Egyptian
900 Degrees
23
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • European
Marrakech
5
0.5 miMoroccan • Mediterranean
Kababgy Abou Tarek
2
0.5 mi
Attia Egyptian Street Food
0.3 mi$ • Mediterranean • Egyptian
Attractions
174 within 6 miles
Coptic Orthodox Church of St. George (Mari Girgis)
225
129 ftReligious Sites
The Coptic Museum
320
183 ftArt Museums
Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary)
786
435 ftArchitectural Buildings • Religious Sites
Synagogue Ben Ezra
217
303 ftHistoric Sites • Religious Sites
Fort of Babylon
53
275 ftHistoric Sites
St. Mercurius Church (Abu Seifien)
11
202 ftHistoric Sites • Religious Sites
Souk al Fustat
11
0.2 miFlea & Street Markets
Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As
136
0.3 miReligious Sites
Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus
164
0.5 miChurches & Cathedrals
Nilometer
102
0.3 miDams
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
2,049 reviews
Excellent
1,291
Very good
583
Average
144
Poor
18
Terrible
13
Chelsea
150 contributions
Couples
This place was not on our original itinerary, but was
Recommended by our tour guide and we’re so happy we went. There was no charge to get in, but I’d definitely recommend a guide because if not you could get easily lost and miss something. Here you can see the oldest church, the hanging church and a synagogue.
Recommended by our tour guide and we’re so happy we went. There was no charge to get in, but I’d definitely recommend a guide because if not you could get easily lost and miss something. Here you can see the oldest church, the hanging church and a synagogue.
Written May 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Grumo
New York City, NY819 contributions
Friends
We had a great visit to the churches in Coptic Cairo as part of our Egypt tour with Overseas Adventure Travel.
It was incredible to see in the Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church the cave where the Holy Family stayed for three months during the Flight to Egypt. The church, built in the 4th century when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, is beautiful with stunning icons. There is a lovely latticework through which you can enter the congregation.
The Hanging Church is so named as it was built over a Roman fortress, which you can see as you approach the church. If I understand it correctly the Hanging Church is the seat of the Coptic Papacy,
Churches have the same design as temples form of temples with the “holy of holies”/altar only available to the priest. The altar is in a private room that is closed off and in front of the congregation. The priest’s words are broadcast to the congregation.
Our guide being Copt provided special insight into the history and liturgy of the Copt faith and these specific churches.
What is especially poignant are the parallels between the ancient Egyptian religion and Christianity. All we learned during visits to the ancient Egyptian temples, tombs and pyramids about rebirth, virgin birth, rebirth from an enclosed stone tomb, three gods; father, son and spirit; son of god in form of a man made the adoption of Christianity by Egyptians relatively easy.
I had always thought that Christianity’s roots were in the Old Testament with the foretelling of Christ in the book is Isaiah. Now I see the deep roots and influence of the Ancient Egyptian religion on Christianity.
If you have any interest in the history of Christianity, Coptic Cairo is a must see,
An extra treat was walking by the Ben Ezra Synagogue at the site where baby Moses was retrieved from the Nile.
Our appreciation for Copt Cairo was enhanced greatly by the explanations by our excellent guide Osama Petro. I strongly urge visitors to do research in the Copt faith and/or go with a guide.
Coptic Cairo is a good respite from the activity and intensity of Cairo.
It was incredible to see in the Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church the cave where the Holy Family stayed for three months during the Flight to Egypt. The church, built in the 4th century when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, is beautiful with stunning icons. There is a lovely latticework through which you can enter the congregation.
The Hanging Church is so named as it was built over a Roman fortress, which you can see as you approach the church. If I understand it correctly the Hanging Church is the seat of the Coptic Papacy,
Churches have the same design as temples form of temples with the “holy of holies”/altar only available to the priest. The altar is in a private room that is closed off and in front of the congregation. The priest’s words are broadcast to the congregation.
Our guide being Copt provided special insight into the history and liturgy of the Copt faith and these specific churches.
What is especially poignant are the parallels between the ancient Egyptian religion and Christianity. All we learned during visits to the ancient Egyptian temples, tombs and pyramids about rebirth, virgin birth, rebirth from an enclosed stone tomb, three gods; father, son and spirit; son of god in form of a man made the adoption of Christianity by Egyptians relatively easy.
I had always thought that Christianity’s roots were in the Old Testament with the foretelling of Christ in the book is Isaiah. Now I see the deep roots and influence of the Ancient Egyptian religion on Christianity.
If you have any interest in the history of Christianity, Coptic Cairo is a must see,
An extra treat was walking by the Ben Ezra Synagogue at the site where baby Moses was retrieved from the Nile.
Our appreciation for Copt Cairo was enhanced greatly by the explanations by our excellent guide Osama Petro. I strongly urge visitors to do research in the Copt faith and/or go with a guide.
Coptic Cairo is a good respite from the activity and intensity of Cairo.
Written May 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paul S
Redcliffe, Australia62 contributions
Taxi driver took us to this historical area of Cairo from downtown for a few $, and it was a very interesting visit. This is the old Christian area of Cairo, with a number of historically significant churches. There is the Greek orthodox church of St George, the Hanging Church, the Coptic Museum and a number of other interesting buildings. On the way out of the area there are tourist markets with the usual high-pressure hawkers.
Written March 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
982pradipb
Navi Mumbai, India409 contributions
It is a lovely area of the Cairo City where the Coptic Christians live for thousands of years. It houses churches where Jesus Christ along with his mother stayed for sometime. The area oozes history . The area has narrow alleys with book and souvenir shops for visitors .
Written February 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ChineseForFamilies
Philadelphia, PA61 contributions
The very best part of the tour is the Museum of Christianity. The mosaics and murals are drawn from churches throughout Egypt and the building itself is a work of art. Don't miss this museum as you visit the Coptic churches of Cairo. Our guide Marwa is exceptional and highly highly recommended. We traveled with her December 2019.
Written February 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Journey790702
Richmond, TX108 contributions
Couples
The Coptic church is absolutely beautiful. It was created out of the mountain literally moved by God in 725 a.d. to this location. There was a church service going on when we got there. Our driver Ahmed was punctual and started our day off with a delicious Egyptian breakfast and helped my husband obtain cigarettes.
Our guide Ehab was punctual and knowledgeable as always. We have been blessed to get him and Ahmed on most of our tours. WAHOO!!!! Ask for these two awesome people if you want to have a wonderful and informative vacation tour (Sherif Hasheem tours)
Our guide Ehab was punctual and knowledgeable as always. We have been blessed to get him and Ahmed on most of our tours. WAHOO!!!! Ask for these two awesome people if you want to have a wonderful and informative vacation tour (Sherif Hasheem tours)
Written April 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
PavelKram
Prague, Czech Republic22 contributions
Family
Hanging church, Babylon fortress and Mar Girgius church are places worth to visit. Synagogue Ben Ezra is closed due to reconstruction. Our guide Mahmoud +20 122 8232071 provided us with many interesting background details about Coptic and Christian.
Written February 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
KhrizJustTravels
Orlando, FL382 contributions
Friends
Cool sites with lots of history to check out. It can get very crowded and you can't take any pictures or video inside the hanging church. You can also find the spot where is claimed the holy family visited back in the day.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nick P
Staten Island, NY306 contributions
I went into this experience skeptical because I am not very religious anymore. But with the help of our guide I was able to understand a lot more about the significance of the neighborhood. You need a good guide (not guidebook) to advise what you need to understand. Truly loved walking the alleyways seeing the street book vendors. They led to the Hanging Church and the Cavern Church, which are brilliant. Look inside, sit and meditate. Ben Ezra synagogue was closed for renovations when we were there and our guide did not bring us to other churches, though I wish we had time.I was inspired.
Written January 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Traveller of the world
1,267 contributions
Solo
This is a lovely part of Cairo. Like a different world away from the chaotic roads nearby! I would say to take a guide as you will miss a lot of the history and important attractions which are 'dotted' around. A good idea is to do a half day guided tour. Very interesting and we learnt a lot.
Written March 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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
RICARDO M
21 contributions
Onde consigo saber os horários das missas ?
Viagens pelo mundo ... descobertas ✈️❤️
Sao Paulo, SP685 contributions
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
jaykayjaykay
Walla Walla, WA107 contributions
How long did you spend (or would you recommend spending) exploring around the churches and museum here?
LaithEM
Amman, Jordan81 contributions
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
Kees H
Cairo, Egypt26 contributions
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.
Bari U
Washington DC, DC35 contributions
I agree with you. Best wishes.
irislover04
Denver, CO35 contributions
Did you use a tour company? If so which one.
Thanks, Laura
Annette T
Adelaide, Australia16 contributions
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. :)
Elmartinez00
Toluca, Mexico734 contributions
Que posibilidades hay y en caso donde encontrar arte religioso (cristiano:catolico)
Ivan P
Mexico City, Mexico19 contributions
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
Elmartinez00
Toluca, Mexico734 contributions
Cual es la posibilidad de conseguir una biblia en árabe egipcio
Victoria M
Paris, France416 contributions
Hola, supongo que en la Mezquita de Alabastro tendrán. Suerte
quanto è distante da piazza tahrir(non trovo indicazioni)?
Michele D
43 contributions
Trova una metro e scendi a Mar Girgis
Frequently Asked Questions about Coptic Cairo
- We recommend booking Coptic Cairo tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 842 Coptic Cairo tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Coptic Cairo:
- Half-day Tour in Churches of Cairo (From $36.00)
- Private Islamic and Christian Cairo Day Tour (From $20.00)
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour of Coptic Cairo with Lunch (From $25.00)
- Private Tour of Coptic Cairo Including Saint Simon Church in Moqqatam (From $42.90)
- Tour To Citadel And Coptic And Islamic Cairo (From $23.78)
- Hotels near Coptic Cairo:
- (2.24 mi) Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo
- (1.47 mi) Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence
- (2.25 mi) Safir Hotel Cairo
- (2.99 mi) Freedom Hostel
- (2.27 mi) Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah
- Restaurants near Coptic Cairo:
- (0.16 mi) Al Khan Restaurant & Cafe
- (0.23 mi) HanaDays Kitchen
- (0.26 mi) Andrea Manasterly & Nile Peking Boat
- (0.29 mi) O Sole Mio
- (1.44 mi) Xodo
- Attractions near Coptic Cairo:
- (0.02 mi) Coptic Orthodox Church of St. George (Mari Girgis)
- (0.03 mi) The Coptic Museum
- (0.08 mi) Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary)
- (0.06 mi) Synagogue Ben Ezra
- (0.05 mi) Fort of Babylon