Islamic Cairo: what the quarter is
Historic Cairo, the medieval core often called Islamic Cairo, joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The listing covers a whole urban landscape of mosques, madrasas, gates and streets, not a single ticketed attraction. Khan el-Khalili is part of it, and so are the monuments on this page.
The easiest way to see it is on foot, gate to gate and mosque to mosque. A guide helps with the history, so look at the Islamic Cairo tours if you prefer to have it explained. Without one, plan around two or three highlights rather than trying to see everything.
Bab Zuweila: the southern gate
Bab Zuweila (also spelled Bab Zuwayla) is the southern gate of the Fatimid city wall. Badr al-Gamali built it in 1092. The two minarets that rise above it belong to the neighbouring al-Muayyad Mosque, built between 1415 and 1421, so the skyline you see is a mix of two eras.
The ticket costs EGP 100 for foreign adults and EGP 50 for foreign students. Egyptians pay EGP 10 and EGP 5. The gate is open daily 09:00–17:00. Climbing a minaret is not guaranteed on every day or for every visitor, so do not plan your trip around it. Restoration work in the nearby Harat al-Rum area covers 30 buildings, so you may see scaffolding.
Our pick: medieval Islamic Cairo
A four-hour route through the old mosques and the coffeehouse quarter, ending at the bazaar.
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.
Islamic Cairo tours
Gates, mosques and old lanes with a guide, plus combinations with the bazaar, with live prices and availability.
Sultan Hassan Mosque and Al-Rifai
The Sultan Hassan complex stands on Salah al-Din Square, opposite the Al-Rifai Mosque. It dates from 1356 to 1362 and combines a mosque and a madrasa.
One combined ticket covers both Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai. It costs EGP 220 for foreign adults and EGP 110 for foreign students, and Egyptians enter free. The hours are daily 09:00–17:00. Visits can pause around prayer times, so keep some flexibility. For most visitors the combined ticket is the right choice, because the two mosques face each other.
Tickets for Islamic Cairo 2026
Foreign visitor prices unless noted, adults and students.
| Site | Foreign adult | Foreign student | Egyptian adult | Egyptian student | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bab Zuweila | EGP 100 | EGP 50 | EGP 10 | EGP 5 | 09:00–17:00 |
| Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai | EGP 220 | EGP 110 | Free | Free | 09:00–17:00 |
| Al-Muizz Street area ticket | EGP 220 | EGP 110 | EGP 20 | EGP 10 | 09:00–17:00 |
If you want more than two or three stops, add the area ticket from Al-Muizz Street. Buy online, in the Experience Egypt app or on site; paid tickets are not refundable.
The gates, and what Old Cairo means
Bab al-Futuh
The northern gate at the start of Al-Muizz Street. Pair it with the street walk.
Al-Muizz Street →Bab Zuweila
The southern gate, with two minarets above it and its own ticket.
Old Cairo is something else
The name Old Cairo also covers Al-Fustat, home to the Coptic and Jewish sites. Do not use it as a nickname for the bazaar quarter.
Coptic Cairo →Pharaonic Egypt is elsewhere
The pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum belong to a Giza day, covered at Giza Plateau.
Combining the sights
A simple day: start at Bab al-Futuh, walk Al-Muizz Street to Bab Zuweila, then continue to Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai. Add the bazaar for lunch. Bring a headscarf and keep shoulders and legs covered in every mosque.
Islamic Cairo: frequently asked questions
What is Islamic Cairo?
It is the historic core of Cairo, listed by UNESCO in 1979 as Historic Cairo. It includes gates, mosques, madrasas and the bazaar quarter.
How much is Bab Zuweila?
EGP 100 for foreign adults and EGP 50 for foreign students in 2026. Egyptians pay EGP 10 and EGP 5. It is open daily 09:00–17:00.
Can I climb the minarets?
Not on every day or for every visitor. Ask at the gate, and treat a climb as a bonus.
What does the Sultan Hassan ticket include?
One combined ticket for Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai: EGP 220 for foreign adults, EGP 110 for foreign students, and free for Egyptians.
Is Old Cairo the same as Islamic Cairo?
No. Old Cairo usually means Al-Fustat, with the Coptic and Jewish sites. Islamic Cairo is the medieval city around the bazaar.