Coptic Cairo at a glance
Coptic Cairo lies in Al-Fustat, the area usually called Old Cairo. It is a different part of the city from the bazaar quarter, with a different story: churches, a synagogue and a museum side by side. The Hanging Church is the best-known building. It stands next to the Coptic Museum.
Many visitors add it to a day that also covers the bazaar and the mosques. If you want a guide for the whole old city, look at the Cairo tours that include Coptic Cairo.
The Hanging Church
The Hanging Church was built above the remains of a Roman fortress, which explains the name. It stands in Al-Fustat next to the Coptic Museum and is open daily 09:00–16:00.
Ask at the entrance whether a fee applies. It is a working place of worship, so services can limit access. Dress modestly with shoulders and legs covered, and keep your voice low.
Our pick: Coptic Cairo and the bazaar
The churches and the synagogue first, then the bazaar, in one private half day.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Coptic Cairo and Old Cairo tours
Guided visits to the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra and the Coptic Museum, with combinations for the bazaar and Islamic Cairo, with live prices and availability.
Ben Ezra Synagogue
The Ben Ezra Synagogue is also in Al-Fustat. It is no longer used as an active place of worship, and it is best known for its Geniza documents. It is open daily 09:00–16:00. As with the church, ask at the entrance whether a fee applies.
For a first visit, combine the two buildings with the museum in one short stretch. They stand close together in the same part of the quarter.
Coptic Museum: tickets and hours
The Coptic Museum is in Old Cairo, in the Mar Gerges area. You can reach it by metro, and the Fostat car park is the closest place to park.
| Visitor | Adult | Student |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitors | EGP 100 to 280 | EGP 50 to 140 |
| Egyptians | EGP 10 to 20 | EGP 5 to 10 |
The price for foreign adults is EGP 100 to 280 in 2026, so ask at the ticket desk which rate applies. Children under 6 enter free, and students need a valid card and must be 24 or younger. The museum opens at 09:00, and the last entry is 16:00. In Ramadan it still opens at 09:00, with the last entry at 14:00. Flash is not allowed, and tripods need permission for commercial use. Smartphone photos are free; for other cameras and video ask at the desk, because fees can apply. For most visitors, the adult price at the window is the one to plan with.
Getting there and combining the sights
Coptic Cairo is not within the bazaar quarter, so you need a taxi, a ride-hailing app or the metro to reach it. Because Old Cairo is also used as a loose name for the medieval city, check that your driver knows you mean Al-Fustat and the Hanging Church.
A typical plan: spend the morning in Coptic Cairo, then go on to the gates and mosques of Islamic Cairo and end the day in the bazaar. If you are collecting big monuments, the Saladin Citadel fits another day. Plan the morning for Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue close at 16:00, and the museum takes its last visitors at 16:00.
Coptic Cairo: frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Hanging Church?
It was built above the remains of a Roman fortress, hence the name.
What are the opening hours?
The Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue are open daily 09:00–16:00. The Coptic Museum opens at 09:00 with last entry at 16:00, or 14:00 during Ramadan.
Is the Ben Ezra Synagogue still in use?
No, it is no longer an active place of worship. It is known for the Geniza documents.
How much is the Coptic Museum?
For foreign adults the price is between EGP 100 and EGP 280, in 2026. Ask at the ticket desk which rate applies.
Is Coptic Cairo the same as Old Cairo?
It stands in the area called Old Cairo or Al-Fustat. The name Old Cairo is also used loosely, so say Hanging Church to your driver.