Old Cairo (Coptic Cairo)
Old Cairo, often called Coptic Cairo, is one of the city’s oldest and most historically layered quarters — home to some of Egypt’s most significant Christian heritage sites, many dating back to the earliest centuries of Christianity in Egypt.
The Hanging Church
Officially known as Al-Muallaqa (“The Suspended”), the Hanging Church earns its name from its unusual construction — built directly atop the gatehouse towers of the Roman-era Babylon Fortress, suspended over the passageway between them. It’s considered one of the oldest churches in Egypt and remains an active place of worship today.
St. Sergius Church (Abu Serga)
According to Coptic tradition, the crypt beneath St. Sergius Church is where the Holy Family sheltered during their flight into Egypt, making it one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in Coptic Christianity.
The Coptic Museum
Home to the world’s largest collection of Coptic Christian artifacts, the Coptic Museum showcases textiles, manuscripts, and artwork tracing the development of Coptic art and culture from its earliest days through the centuries.
Ben Ezra Synagogue
Blending Coptic and Islamic architectural influences, Ben Ezra Synagogue is famous as the site where the Cairo Geniza was discovered in the 19th century — an extraordinary archive of medieval Jewish manuscripts and documents that reshaped historians’ understanding of Jewish life in the medieval Islamic world.
A Legacy of Coexistence
Old Cairo also carries an inscription tied to Amr ibn al-As, the Arab general who led the Muslim conquest of Egypt in the 7th century — a reminder of the area’s long history as a place where different faiths and communities have coexisted.
Visiting Old Cairo
These sites sit close together, making Old Cairo an easy half-day walk covering centuries of religious history in a compact, walkable area — often paired with a visit to nearby Islamic Cairo.
