Citadel of Saladin
قلعة صلاح الدين
A hilltop fortress built by Saladin in 1176 and the centre of Egyptian power for 700 years, with an alabaster mosque and a terrace overlooking the whole city.
The Citadel of Saladin was built between 1176 and 1183 on high ground at the foot of the Mokattam Hills to defend against the Crusaders. Until the 19th century it was the residence and political centre of Egypt's rulers. The most striking building is the Muhammad Ali Mosque (also known as the Alabaster Mosque), completed in 1848. Its huge Ottoman-style dome and two slender minarets are an icon of the Cairo skyline. Inside, you'll find a gilded dome with painted decoration and a huge chandelier. The clock tower in the courtyard was a gift from the French king in exchange for the Luxor obelisk. The citadel also houses the Mosque of an-Nasir Muhammad (in Mamluk style from the 14th century), the Military Museum and the Police Museum. From the western terrace you can look out over the mosques of the old city, and on a clear day you can see the Giza Pyramids. Admission for foreign adults is about EGP 550. Opening hours are 08:00 to 17:00. Mosques close briefly for prayers, so avoid visiting at midday on Fridays. A suggested route is to go up to the terrace first for the panorama, then visit the Muhammad Ali Mosque (remove your shoes, and women should wear a headscarf), and finally the an-Nasir Mosque and museums. The visit takes about 2 hours. A 15-minute walk below the citadel brings you to the Sultan Hassan Mosque and the Rifa'i Mosque, where Iran's last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, is buried. It's worth visiting both together. A taxi from Khan el-Khalili takes about 15 minutes.
Opening hours
08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
- Al-Rifa'i Mosque
- Gayer-Anderson Museum
- Al-Azhar Park
- Mosque of Ibn Tulun
- Bab Zuweila
- Cave Church (Monastery of Saint Simon)
- Al-Azhar Mosque