Escape the hustle and bustle of Islamic Cairo and the modern city centre and take the metro to the southern suburbs to the peaceful and shady Coptic Christian quarter with its many beautiful churches and nooks and crannies.
The small Coptic city is now mostly a tourist attraction, but you'll still find plenty of places of sacred tranquillity. The cleanliness and general well-kept nature of the district is also a big advantage over the rest of Cairo.
An ancient Christian sanctuary
Even though Egypt is a majority Muslim country, a fairly large Christian minority has persisted here for many centuries, which gradually broke off into the mainly Coptic Orthodox Church. Parts of Old Cairo have been a focus for Egyptian Christians since roughly the 3rd century BC, both before and during the Islamic era.
Most of the local monuments were built during the 7th century AD, and during the 11th century the seat of the Coptic Pope, which otherwise was and is in Alexandria, was moved to Cairo's Coptic Quarter.
What to see here - churches and museums
Although the Coptic City is very small in size and you can hardly find it on the map of Cairo, you can admire 9 Coptic Orthodox churches, a Coptic museum and even a Jewish synagogue.
- The Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary (mainly known as theHanging Church) - the oldest surviving church in Coptic City dates back to the 3rd century and is the only one in the form of a basilica. It is the seat of the Coptic Bishop of Cairo and is one of the most important Coptic churches in the whole country.
- TheChurch of Saints Sergius and Bacchus - the second oldest church dating back to the 4th century
- St George's Church - the largest and the first visible church when you come in from the metro. It dates back to the 10th century and is part of the local largest monastery
All the churches have similar looking interiors with distinctive wooden panelled ceilings and brown and white brickwork.
An important monument within the Coptic Quarter is the well-preserved ancient Roman Babylonian fortress built around 30 BC.
A visit to the Coptic Museum, which contains the world's largest collection of Coptic art, is also highly recommended.
Entrance fees and opening hours
You can wander the streets of the Coptic Quarter without restrictions 24 hours a day. They are, after all, a public space, as a few hundred locals still live here.
The churches themselves are usually open between 9:00 and 16:00, as is the museum.
There is no entrance fee to the Coptic Quarter or any of the churches. The only time you need to buy a ticket for 230 egp is when visiting the Coptic Museum (see the official website).
How to get to the Coptic Quarter?
The Orthodox city is very accessible from the centre by metro, which will get you there faster and incomparably cheaper than a taxi. A ticket from the city centre works out at 5 egp.
The "Mar Girgis" station is right on the edge of the Coptic Quarter and you will see the first churches as soon as you get off the metro.
Accommodation in the Coptic Quarter
If you were thinking of living in this quiet and peaceful neighbourhood, you will be disappointed. You won't find any guesthouses or private apartments here and the nearest relevant accommodation is in central Cairo, see the detailed tips in the Accommodation in Cairo chapter.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Cairo.
