Cairo Citadel
Cairo Citadel
4.5
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
This massive stone fortress, built by Salah ad-Din in the 12th century, was crowned with the Mosque of Mohammed Ali 700 years later.
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Restaurants
903 within 3 miles
El Fishawi
529
0.5 mi$ • Cafe • Egyptian
Citadel View Alain Le Notre
62
454 ft$$ - $$$ • Middle Eastern • Egyptian
Naguib Mahfouz Cafe
490
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Middle Eastern • Egyptian
Studio Misr Al-Azhar Park
61
497 ft$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • Barbecue • Middle Eastern
Khan El Khalili
239
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Middle Eastern • Egyptian • Vegetarian Friendly
Gad Restaurants
121
0.4 mi$ • Fast Food • Middle Eastern • Egyptian
Kababgy El Azhar Farahat
82
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Barbecue • Middle Eastern • Egyptian
Egyptian Pancake House
62
0.4 mi$ • Egyptian
Khan El Khalili Restaurant
85
0.5 mi$$$$ • Middle Eastern • Egyptian • Vegetarian Friendly
Nagib Mafouz
133
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Middle Eastern • Egyptian
Attractions
197 within 6 miles
Al-Azhar Park
935
56 ftParks
Al-Azhar Mosque
369
0.4 miReligious Sites
Sharia Al Mu'izz Li-Din Allah
271
0.7 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Manzil Zienab Khatoon
17
0.3 miHistoric Sites
Wekalet El Ghouri Arts Center
111
0.4 miConvention Centers
El Set Wasela House
1
0.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities
12,647
1.9 miSpeciality Museums
Khan Al-Khalili
4,005
0.5 miFlea & Street Markets
Midan Hussein
107
0.4 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
447
0.8 miHistoric Sites • Religious Sites
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,236 reviews
Excellent
633
Very good
421
Average
138
Poor
33
Terrible
11
Jazzumbo
Romania1,646 contributions
Mar 2020
The fortress is located on the Mokattam hills, overlooking the city of Cairo. It is supposed to offer the visitors a panoramic view of the metropolis. I visited the place in a sunny afternoon of March and the pollution of the city ruined the entire perspective. I have seen just a bunch of buildings and towers hidden in dust and smog.
The entrance fee for foreigners is 180 Egyptian Pounds, however for the locals seems tobe much cheaper, according to my driver.
The citadel, which was the seat of Egyptian Government and the residence of its rulers for about 700 years, is hosting nowadays the Egyptian Military Museum, which I did not visit as it was temporary closed or something. The most impressive building in the citadel is the Muhammad Ali Mosque, which, however, has nothing to do with the famous American boxing champion. Another remarkable edifice inside the citadel is Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque.
The construction of the citadel begun in 1176, under the rule of Salah ed-Din, (Saladin for Europeans) and this is why it is also named The Citadel of Saladin.
The entrance fee for foreigners is 180 Egyptian Pounds, however for the locals seems tobe much cheaper, according to my driver.
The citadel, which was the seat of Egyptian Government and the residence of its rulers for about 700 years, is hosting nowadays the Egyptian Military Museum, which I did not visit as it was temporary closed or something. The most impressive building in the citadel is the Muhammad Ali Mosque, which, however, has nothing to do with the famous American boxing champion. Another remarkable edifice inside the citadel is Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque.
The construction of the citadel begun in 1176, under the rule of Salah ed-Din, (Saladin for Europeans) and this is why it is also named The Citadel of Saladin.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Linda Y
Frisco, TX5,286 contributions
Jan 2020
There’s no overlooking this massive fortress that sits perched above Cairo. The Citadel has a long history that started when Saladin began building the fortress in 1176 to protect the city from the Crusaders. The Mamluks and Ottomans each added their own touches, and Egyptian rulers lived here until about the 1870s. Afterwards, the Citadel was used as a military garrison before being converted into a tourist attraction. While several museums are located at the Citadel, many tourists, like us, come primarily to see the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The views of Cairo alone are worth a visit here.
Written April 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DEK_29
Brisbane, Australia1,087 contributions
Jan 2020
We toured the Citadel of Salah ad-Din on a pre-planned Cairo tour through Misr Travel in January. The day itself was cold and foggy with showers. Yet this do not impede our sightseeing. We wandered around the citadel without being hassled by many sellers and touts. However, the main problem for us was the uneven ground and I did notice that in many places that need repair. The buildings including the mosques have the familiar color tinge of Cairo. The Mosque of Muhammad Ali actually looks a deep sand beige and not the alabaster white that it once was. Sand, wind and rain have eroded parts of the buildings. Worthwhile as a place to view the Islamic section of old Cairo. Plenty of sellers and touts are to be found just outside the entrance, so you have to run the gauntlet.
Written April 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Musicians Mum
279 contributions
Mar 2022
Visited as optional add on "Islamic Cairo and Citadel of Saladin" to Small group uk tour.
Parked up,through the security gate,hussled by local uguide allocated by tour operator ,who took us to the mosque and gave lecture.
Yes Mosque is pretty. Inside and out.
The clock in the courtyard is of French origin and swapped for an obelisk(Now in Paris).The view from the courtyard is panoramic .BUT ..citadel means to me towers /walls / turrets / battlements / guns /arrow slits / palace complex etc.During the 20 mins free time allowed I found an entrance gate looking very"castle like" .,another mosque entrance .I asked whether we get to see the citadel proper and no.The Military museum (thrilling) was closed and nothing in the rest of the citadel is apparently open to look at.
Very dissapointing.
Parked up,through the security gate,hussled by local uguide allocated by tour operator ,who took us to the mosque and gave lecture.
Yes Mosque is pretty. Inside and out.
The clock in the courtyard is of French origin and swapped for an obelisk(Now in Paris).The view from the courtyard is panoramic .BUT ..citadel means to me towers /walls / turrets / battlements / guns /arrow slits / palace complex etc.During the 20 mins free time allowed I found an entrance gate looking very"castle like" .,another mosque entrance .I asked whether we get to see the citadel proper and no.The Military museum (thrilling) was closed and nothing in the rest of the citadel is apparently open to look at.
Very dissapointing.
Written April 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hyoga83
Bordeaux, France684 contributions
Mar 2022
Please note it is extremely annoying and long to reach by foot, the entrance is far from everything. And to leave the area taxis just propose rip-off prices, and Uber drivers have it difficult to stop by...
So surprised with the reviews of this place! It feels almost like a tourist trap, extremely expensive for what it is. Thankfully it was included in the Cairo Pass we had, as the only worthwhile thing is the view. The mosque is nice, but not worth the price or hussle.
So surprised with the reviews of this place! It feels almost like a tourist trap, extremely expensive for what it is. Thankfully it was included in the Cairo Pass we had, as the only worthwhile thing is the view. The mosque is nice, but not worth the price or hussle.
Written April 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CPaM68
Texas632 contributions
Jan 2022
On the west wall of the courtyard is a huge iron clock that was given as a gift in the 1840s to the Turkish ruler of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, by the French King, Louis Philippe. The clock was given in exchange for the ancient Egyptian obelisk that now stands at Place de la Concorde in Paris. The clock has rarely worked and probably never will, but in 2021 the Council of Antiquities announced that it was going to be repaired. It is one of the oldest of its type in the world. Photos are allowed. (PaM)
Written June 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
podrozniczka60
New Jersey14,458 contributions
Dec 2021
The Citadel area is on a high elevation point towering over Cairo. Medieval Islamic-era fortification was built to protect against the invading Crusaders.
Mohammed Ali's Alabaster Mosque - a 19th century imposing magnificent mosque - defines the area. We did not get a chance to visit the museums clustered here but Citadel itself is a remarkable landmark.
Mohammed Ali's Alabaster Mosque - a 19th century imposing magnificent mosque - defines the area. We did not get a chance to visit the museums clustered here but Citadel itself is a remarkable landmark.
Written January 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dalbir_S_Virdi
Navi Mumbai, India3,027 contributions
Jan 2020
This is a very important part of Egyptian History but its not as popular among the Tourists as other attractions. In fact most Travel Agents and Guides do not allocate enough time to visit this place. If you are planning your own itinerary, make sure you allocate 2-3 hours for this place. The whole Citadel is built over a Hill and can be seen from a far distant place - specially the Minarets. Its spread over a vast area and surrounded by a Wall which gives the appearance of a fortified area. It in fact was used as a Fort by Saladin. There are several Mosques inside - of which Md. Ali Mosque is the most beautiful. The Slender Minarets are part of this Mosque. The Islamic part of Egyptian History, which is more modern history, is yet to find the right place in its books.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
dr_j_now
Germantown, WI583 contributions
Sep 2019
This wasn't necessarily on our personal radar, but it was part of the group tour so obviously we came. It's worth seeing; it's an amazing old site overall and very impressive, especially considering when it was all built. If visiting the area, be sure to dress and act appropriately here especially, as the Mohammad Ali Mosque is one of the main buildings here and must be visited if you're here. Even though it's an impressive building, it is really a bummer that they used limestone from the Great Pyramids to construct it. From the courtyard we got lucky and it was apparently a "clear" day (still quite hazy) and we had a nice view of the city, including the Pyramids in the distance. Overall it was definitely worth a short stop.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
HeyD82
Finland58 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
We visited the Citadel in Cairo mainly because we wanted to see the Mosque of Mohammed Ali. The entry fee was 180 Egyptian pounds which we thought was way overpriced for what you get to see. The entry fee covered the Mosque of Mohammed Ali and another mosque. There were also a few museums (4) in the area that were included in the fee but only 1 of them was open. No doubt the Mosque of Mohammed Ali is beautiful and the view of Cairo from here is pretty interesting but the entry fee really is too much considering that it's almost the same (200 Egyptian pounds) as to visit the pyramids of Giza. In addition to this there were no free restrooms to use inside the complex as the ladies outside the restrooms kept asking for money to use them. One might wanna consider visiting another Cairo sight for this money unless you really just wanna see the Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Then there is no other choice ;).
Written December 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hello. My name is Amr, a local guide, and I have a car. I can go anywhere in Egypt and organize the days and places of the visit for you, Alexandria, Cairo, Giza, the desert, the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, Dahshur, the Egyptian Museum and the Museum of Ancient Civilization. . The old church, Memphis Museum, Salah El-Din Citadel or Muhammad Ali Mosque, Old Cairo, Ibn Tulun Mosque, Amr Ibn Al-Aas, There is also a pick-up service at the airport. boarding a large boat wandering the Nile River with a meal and watching the artistic performances in the boat, and visiting any place in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria and anywhere In Egypt, there is also camping in the desert, entering the desert in a 4x4 vehicle, as well as climbing sandy mountains by car, skiing on sand and swimming in a lake within the desert and waterfalls. And visit nature reserves inside the desert so that you can see my Facebook page, and I will send you photos of places and any other details you want as well. I will make you try Egyptian food, grills and Egyptian sweets and try everything and I will also protect you from exploiting the sellers when buying anything to get the cheapest prices. I will accompany you in all places and make you live an unforgettable travel experience with me. This is the name of the Facebook page / Step by step for tourism
vincenzo c
Messina, Italy341 contributions
Salve desideravo sapere se l ingresso alla Cittadella è libero o si paga grazie
waywardpines
Naples, Italy1,434 contributions
Ingresso a pagamento circa 3 euro a persona
Dimitris375
Athens, Greece522 contributions
The military museum inside the citade seems to be closed for renovation? Anyway you can surely see some exhibits in the yard(tanks etc) but do we know certainly if the entrance to museum interior is open or when it is programed to open again?
Thanks
AleidaWilhelmina
The Hague, The Netherlands75 contributions
I really have no idea! The citadel and the mosques are worth visiting anyhow..
I'd just like to ask how much is for a guide? Do they provide services for a guided tour ?
Dorothy S
24 contributions
We booked a tour of "Islamic Cairo" through EMO tours for about $25 each.(there were only two of us). Pick up and drop off at our hotel. All entrance fees and shoe storage. Well worth the money. We spent over six hours visiting the Citadel and about five mosques. Having a guide who is Islamic gives you great insight into the history, traditions and culture. Never felt like I was being lead around like in a big group. He actually helped us push off the regular hustlers around the mosques. The tour include the market Khan al Khalili where we spent as much time as we wanted. Had Turkish coffee at the old Fishawi's Sheesha shop and falafel there. There is a rich history in Cairo to be discovered. Made the reservations on line before arrival. Excellent company and guide. We covered a lot of territory in a short time. Had we went on our own we would have missed a lot. We were also allowed into some areas inside mosques that were "locked" to see special tombs which I don't think we would have been able to do on our own. Our guide obviously knew the caretakers. We meet several Imams who were eager to talk to us. One actually sang a moving prayer that echoed inside the dome. Great stuff.
Bernardetematos
Sao Paulo, SP552 contributions
Citadela e Mesquita são próximos? Paga se para entrar ?
Como é o lugar em termos de segurança ? Vou em novembro? O calor é muito grande?
Jacqueline L
South Africa7 contributions
Hi, Jacqueline. What would you like to know about this attraction? Could I visit the Citadel on my own and buy a ticket at the door?
Mikeh53
San Diego, CA51 contributions
As you can tell from the others it is very easy to get around the citadel. I would do some research as there is interesting history surrounding the structure.
Mike
TiffanydeKlerk
Johannesburg, South Africa
Hi, my name is Tiffany. I am looking to travel to Cairo in late February, early March 2017. I am putting together a budget so I would like to find out what the entrance costs are for various sights. I prefer to do certain monuments on my own and not go with a tour. What is the cost of entrance to this site?
MontherYASEEN
Amman, Jordan1,702 contributions
I can't remember Almost 5 $ or very close to this price
Cairo Citadel
Frequently Asked Questions about Cairo Citadel
- Cairo Citadel is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- We recommend booking Cairo Citadel tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 738 Cairo Citadel tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Cairo Citadel:
- (1.33 mi) The St. Regis Cairo
- (1.44 mi) Freedom Hostel
- (0.80 mi) Le Riad Hotel de Charme
- (2.09 mi) Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo
- (1.55 mi) The Australian Hostel
- Restaurants near Cairo Citadel:
- (0.09 mi) Citadel View Alain Le Notre
- (0.09 mi) Studio Misr Al-Azhar Park
- (0.52 mi) Naguib Mahfouz Cafe
- (0.47 mi) El Fishawi
- (0.46 mi) Khan El Khalili