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Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo

Marble courtyard of Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo ringed by keel-arched arcades, with a minaret and dome in evening light
Photo: Mohamed Ouda, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free, no ticket
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Daily, roughly 9:00–17:00 between prayers (unofficial)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Friday
No visitors during midday prayers — come before or after
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Dress
Shoulders and knees covered; women cover their hair
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Shoes
Off at the entrance; carry them in a bag
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Headscarves
Usually handed out at the gate (unofficial)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Metro
Bab El Shaaria (Line 3), about 1 km on foot
Landmark
Opposite Al-Hussein Square and Khan el-Khalili
Payment
Nothing to pay at the door; small Egyptian pounds for tips
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
30.04573, 31.26270YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

970–972built by the Fatimid general Jawhar — the first mosque of the new city of Cairo
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia (Al-Azhar Mosque)
≈ 20,000worshippers fit inside
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaWikidata Q312342
1979listed by UNESCO as part of Historic Cairo
SourceEnglish Wikipedia (Al-Azhar Mosque, Historic Cairo)
1171Saladin ended Fatimid rule and the mosque turned from Ismaili Shia to Sunni
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
1266Sultan Baybars restored the Friday sermon after almost a century
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
3 minaretsMamluk minarets over the facade: Aqbugha, Qaytbay and the double-headed al-Ghuri
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaMIT course on Cairo architecture
1930sthe original Fatimid mihrab, with Quranic inscriptions, was found under later plaster
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia (1933)MIT (“discovered in 1930's”)
2018a Saudi-funded restoration lasting more than three years was completed
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaDaily News Egypt
“The resplendent”the usual reading of the name, linked to Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia (link unconfirmed in Arabic sources)Russian Wikipedia

Is Al-Azhar Mosque free? Entry and opening hours

Yes, entry is free. There is no ticket office — this is a working mosque, not a museum. If someone at the gate asks for an “entrance fee”, politely decline; a small tip is only fair for whoever minds your shoes or lends you a scarf.

There are no published visiting hours. The mosque is open all day for worship, and visitors are generally let in between prayers, roughly 9:00 to 17:00 — unofficial, so treat it as a guide. Stay out of the prayer hall while a prayer is on, and skip Friday midday, the main prayer of the week.

There is nothing to pay by card here. Bring small Egyptian pounds for tips, and keep your card for the paid sights of the day.

Can non-Muslims visit Al-Azhar Mosque?

Yes. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome in the courtyard and the prayer hall outside prayer times, as long as they are modestly dressed and quiet. There is no separate tourist route — you share the space with worshippers and students, which is exactly the appeal.

A few manners go a long way: don’t walk in front of someone praying, don’t take close-up photos of people without asking, and keep your voice down in the prayer hall. Photography of the building itself is fine.

How to get to Al-Azhar Mosque

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on footdestinationStreet view

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On foot

More tips

  1. From Tahrir Square, the easiest option is Uber, Careem or inDrive — about 3 km, 15–25 minutes depending on traffic. Set the pin to “Al-Hussein Square” rather than the mosque itself: cars struggle to stop on busy Al-Azhar Street.
  2. By metro: from Sadat under Tahrir Square take Line 2 two stops to Attaba, change to Line 3 and ride one stop to Bab El Shaaria. From there it is about 1 km on foot, 15–20 minutes through the old streets.
  3. From Al-Hussein Square, the mosque is across Al-Azhar Street — use the pedestrian underpass rather than crossing the traffic.
  4. Enter from the square in front of the mosque — ask at the gate which door is open to visitors — leave your shoes, put on a scarf if needed and step into the courtyard.
  5. To leave, walk back through the underpass into Khan el-Khalili and order your ride from a quieter street beyond the market.

What to see inside

  • Bab al-Muzayyinin, the Barbers’ Gate — the historic main entrance, named after the barbers who once shaved students’ heads here; Wikipedia notes it has been used less since the 2018 restoration.
  • The marble courtyard with keel-shaped Fatimid arches and carved stucco — the classic view of the mosque.
  • Three Mamluk minarets: Aqbugha’s, Qaytbay’s and, most striking, Sultan al-Ghuri’s double-headed minaret.
  • Qaytbay’s Gate opposite the main entrance, leading from the courtyard to the prayer hall.
  • The prayer hall, a forest of marble columns, many reused from older Roman and Coptic buildings.
  • The Fatimid mihrab with Quranic inscriptions, uncovered under later plaster in the 1930s.
  • The skyline of Islamic Cairo from the courtyard — neighbouring minarets and domes, including Al-Hussein’s.

A thousand years in one courtyard

Al-Azhar was the first mosque built in Cairo. The Fatimids started it in 970, a year after founding the city, and held the first Friday prayer in 972. The name is usually read as “the resplendent”, a nod to Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter, from whom the dynasty claimed descent.

Teaching began almost at once, and out of those study circles grew Al-Azhar University, one of the oldest continuously running centres of Islamic learning in the world. The university long ago outgrew the mosque, but the mosque remains its symbol.

The mosque started out Ismaili Shia. When Saladin ended Fatimid rule in 1171 it lost its role as the city’s main mosque, until Sultan Baybars brought back the Friday sermon in 1266 — this time as a Sunni institution. Every era added something: the Mamluks madrasas and minarets, the Ottomans gates and a second prayer hall, the khedives a new facade. The result is not one style but a millennium of Cairo architecture around a single courtyard. A major Saudi-funded restoration was completed in 2018.

Is Al-Azhar Mosque worth visiting?

Yes, if you are heading to Khan el-Khalili or walking Al-Muizz Street anyway: it is free, right across the road, and half an hour in the courtyard is a calm break from the busiest quarter in Cairo. Few places in the city let you see a thousand years of history still in daily use.

The honest downsides: there is no lavish decoration, and it is less grand than the Muhammad Ali Mosque. If you only care about the pharaohs, a look at the minarets from the street will do. And don’t plan it for Friday midday — you won’t get in.

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Al-Azhar vs the Muhammad Ali Mosque

Al-Azhar Mosqueyou are hereIslamic Cairo, opposite Khan el-Khalili970–972, added to for a thousand yearsFreeFatimid courtyard, Mamluk minarets30–40 minutes
Muhammad Ali MosqueInside the Citadel, on the hill1830–1848Included in the 550 EGP Citadel ticketOttoman dome, city views≈ 1.5 h with the Citadel

Muhammad Ali is about the dome and the view; Al-Azhar is living history. If you only have time for one and you are going to the bazaar anyway, pick Al-Azhar — it’s free and on the way.

Cairo’s mosques and churches compared

Every place of worship in Cairo rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Al-Azhar Mosqueyou are here4530 minFree—
Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque441 h 30 min550 EGP, students 275 EGP32 min walk
Hanging Church421 hFree5.5 km

Museum, Citadel and old Cairo in a day

The Egyptian Museum in the morning, the Citadel at midday, then Al-Azhar and the bazaar opposite towards evening. Add them in one tap — YesGo sets the timing and transfers.

  1. Egyptian Museum2 h 30 min · EGP 550, students EGP 275
  2. 59 min walk from the previous stopCairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque1 h 30 min · 550 EGP, students 275 EGP
  3. 32 min walk from the previous stopAl-Azhar Mosqueyou are here30 min · Free
  4. 4 min walk from the previous stopKhan el-Khalili1 h 30 min · Free

4 places · about 7 h 35 min with walks · 95 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Khan el-Khalili

Cairo, Egypt

1 h 30 min · Free · 4 min walk

How to do it right

  • Late afternoon before the sunset prayer gives the softest light on the minarets and a warm marble courtyard.
  • Wear socks — the courtyard marble heats up in the midday sun.
  • For the best photo of al-Ghuri’s double-headed minaret, stand in the far corner of the courtyard.
  • Pair it with Khan el-Khalili, just across the road and liveliest in the evening.
  • Start the day at the Cairo Citadel — it is 10–15 minutes away by car.
  • Women: a light scarf you can keep on your shoulders saves a stop at the gate.

Questions

Is Al-Azhar Mosque free to visit?

Yes. There is no ticket and no ticket office. A small tip is fair only for someone who minds your shoes or lends a scarf.

What are Al-Azhar Mosque opening hours?

It is open daily. There are no official visitor hours; visitors are usually let in roughly 9:00–17:00, between prayers (unofficial).

Can non-Muslims enter Al-Azhar Mosque?

Yes, into the courtyard and prayer hall outside prayer times, provided you dress modestly.

What is the dress code at Al-Azhar Mosque?

Shoulders and knees covered, shoes off at the entrance, and women cover their hair. Scarves are usually available at the gate.

Is Al-Azhar Mosque open on Fridays?

Yes, but visitors are not let in during the Friday midday prayer. Come in the morning or later in the afternoon.

How do I get to Al-Azhar Mosque?

Uber, Careem or inDrive to Al-Hussein Square, 15–25 minutes from Tahrir. Or the metro to Bab El Shaaria (Line 3) and about 1 km on foot.

How long do you need at Al-Azhar Mosque?

30–40 minutes for the courtyard, minarets and prayer hall; half a day with Khan el-Khalili and Al-Muizz Street.

Is Al-Azhar Mosque near Khan el-Khalili?

Yes — directly across Al-Azhar Street, linked by a pedestrian underpass to Al-Hussein Square.

How old is Al-Azhar Mosque?

It was built in 970–972 under the Fatimids, making it Cairo’s first mosque. Gates, minarets and halls were added into the 20th century.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Al-Azhar Mosque, Historic Cairo; Wikidata Q312342
  • MIT, Religious Architecture and Islamic Cultures: Al-Azhar Mosque page
  • Daily News Egypt — completion of the restoration
  • Wikivoyage: Cairo/Islamic Cairo — entry, dress, getting around the district
  • Sputnik8: Al-Azhar Mosque — entry and hours
  • English Wikipedia: Cairo Metro Line 2 and Line 3 — Sadat, Attaba, Bab El Shaaria
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedWe found no official visitor page or ticket for the mosque, so entry, hours and the dress rules are marked “checking”. Free entry is confirmed by Wikivoyage and Sputnik8; a few sites mention a fee for foreigners, which we could not confirm. The prayer hall’s columns, the Ottoman gates and the Barbers’ Gate detail rely on English Wikipedia alone. Hours differ between guides — 8:00–17:00, 9:00–17:00 or 6:00–19:00 — so we give roughly 9:00–17:00. On minarets, the English Wikipedia infobox counts five while MIT describes three Mamluk minarets over the facade; we mention the three you see. The founding year is 970 in Wikipedia and 969 at MIT. We leave out the floor area: English Wikipedia gives 15,600 m², Russian 7,800 m². The walk from the metro is our estimate from Wikipedia coordinates. We do not show the prayer-times block, which uses the Turkish calculation method; Egypt uses its own.

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