The Coptic Museum in Cairo (in Arabic المتحف القبطي) holds the world’s largest collection of Coptic (Christian-Egyptian) artifacts and is one of the capital’s most important museums.
Contents
History and Description
The Coptic Museum in Cairo, founded in 1908 by Marcus Simaika Pasha, is one of the main guardians of Egypt’s Christian cultural heritage. Located within the walls of the Babylon Fortress in the Coptic Quarter of Old Cairo, next to the Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa), the museum was established to preserve and promote Coptic art and culture, gathering works from churches, monasteries, and private collections across Egypt. Since 1931, the museum has been managed by the Egyptian state.
The museum hosts the largest collection of Coptic art in the world, with over 16,000 objects spanning from the 3rd to the 19th century. Exhibits include textiles, icons, manuscripts, architectural elements, frescoes, wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, and liturgical objects, all bearing witness to the development of Coptic art and its dialogue with Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic influences. A particularly important section is devoted to Coptic manuscripts, many of which are written in Greek, Coptic, and Arabic and are preserved in exceptional condition.
The museum building itself, constructed in traditional Coptic architectural style with Islamic influences, is an integral part of the museum experience. Decorative elements such as intricately carved wooden ceilings and mashrabiyas reflect Coptic design in both domestic and religious architecture. The museum has undergone several restoration and expansion phases, especially between 1983 and 2006, aimed at improving conservation and updating the displays to modern museological standards.
The Coptic Museum also plays a significant educational and research role. It houses a restoration and documentation center, and its collections are a vital resource for scholars of Coptic history, art, and religion. Its location in the heart of Christian Cairo makes it a key stop for anyone interested in learning about the Coptic community’s history and its contribution to Egyptian culture.
Further Reading
On the official website of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, you can find a museum map, while the GetYourGuide blog offers a guide to Coptic Cairo in English.
Address and Map
Coptic Museum – 3 Mari Gerges, Kom Ghorab, Old Cairo, Cairo Governorate 4244001, Egypt
Nearest metro station: Mar Girgis
Contacts
Coptic Museum
Phone: (+20 2) 27412088
Fax: (+20 2) 27412024
Email: copticmuseum.msa@gmail.com
Hours
Opening hours of the Coptic Museum in Cairo:
- Daily, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- During Ramadan, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Ticket office closes one hour before closing time
Recommended visit duration: 2–3 hours.
Prices
Ticket prices vary by nationality:
FOREIGNERS
- Adult Ticket: EGP 280
- Student Ticket: EGP 140
EGYPTIANS & ARABS
- Adult Ticket: EGP 20
- Student Ticket: EGP 10
- Free Admission: children aged 0–5; Egyptian and Arab citizens aged 60+; Egyptian and Arab citizens with special needs; orphaned children; public primary and preparatory school trips
Last update: 15 July 2025
Tickets
Skip-the-line tickets for the Coptic Museum in Cairo can be purchased online through this convenient availability calendar from GetYourGuide:
Guided Tours
Also available on GetYourGuide two guided tours of Coptic and Islamic Cairo, bookable online:
Virtual Tour
A beautiful 360° virtual tour – in Street View mode – of both the exterior and interior of the museum is available on the official website of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Guidebook
We highlight this guide related to the Coptic Museum, available online on Amazon:
The Illustrated Guide to the Coptic Museum and Churches of Old Cairo
by Gawdat Gabra
The American University in Cairo Press (2007)
308 pages
Nearby Hotels
» Discover the best hotels in Cairo near the Coptic Museum, located in the Old Cairo district, on Booking.com
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Top photo: facade of the Coptic Museum in Cairo.
Original title: Old Cairo: Coptic Museum of Cairo in Babylon Fortress, in Egypt.
By Djehouty via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)