Qalawun Complex
Qalawun Complex
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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- Bab El Shaaria • 9 min walk
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768 within 3 miles
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233 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
28 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
12
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Nad.
World748 contributions
Nov 2019 • Family
At the heart of the Egyptian Capital Cairo, Qalawun Complex is allocated. A number of 700 years old mosques and historical islamic buildings which established by fatimic regime in the Middle Ages. The place is well arranged and secured by the Egyptian forces. We really liked our one hour tour.
Tip: for those in company with young children or unable to walk, there is a golf electric car available at the area.
Tip: for those in company with young children or unable to walk, there is a golf electric car available at the area.
Written November 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOQ2010
Massachusetts3,771 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
Complex one cannot miss while strolling down Al Muizz street .This is the most happening part in old Islamic cairo ,alot of vendors and seating place too.Interiors are nice to look at but needs cleanliness and upkeep.
Written October 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hossam EL-Naggar
Alexandria, Egypt95 contributions
Jan 2020
The place reflects the interest of the governor Qalawun in maintaining his name in the history and the high quality of the people who construct this complex actually it a place person should visit
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan P
Sacramento, CA243 contributions
Nov 2019
Complex has different mosques and rooms. Place was built over 1000 years ago. The Khalili Market is close by so if in the area for that reason, stop and see this place.
Written December 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
greekcypriot2009
Athens, Greece8,970 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
Qalawun brought the Golden Age for the Mamluks and founded a dynasty that endured on the throne for a whole century.
His edifice speaks for itself.
His edifice speaks for itself.
Written May 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo
Madrid, Spain8 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
We have been at the oldest Islamic building. This is one of the best place we have seen in Cairo , we loved the design of the building. Looking very old
Written March 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
limegreenchalk
Macon, GA299 contributions
Jan 2020
If you are interested in medieval art and architecture, the Qaluwun complex is a must-see. It's on the al-Muizz St ticket, so you can see other medieval mosques/buildings in the area after you've seen this one.
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BobPraz
Toronto, Canada238 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
This is the largest and most noticeable medieval monument along this section of al-Mu'izz street, and one of the most beautiful.
Inside, the mausoleum is on your right as you enter and the madrassa on the left; at the back of the complex is the former hospital (maristan), of which there are only partial remains. All of this was part of the same enormous building complex, which was reportedly built in only 13 months in 1284-85.
The mausoleum is the main highlight; it's one of the largest and most lavishly decorated in Cairo; there are new details everywhere you look. On the other side, the madrassa seems less ornate (possibly much-reconstructed after being ruined), but the main prayer area has a beautiful mihrab with glass and gold mosaic, plus more stucco and coloured glass windows up along the walls.
When I visited in 2012 you were able to visit the remains of the maristan (hospital) at the back of the site, but this time it was closed; which is a pity, because even though what remains is less substantial, it still gave you an idea of what the overall complex was like. There was also a lovely restored fountain and stucco-carved window in that section.
The interior of this complex is visited on the same ticket as seven other monuments along this street. (Ticket is 100 Egyptian pounds for a regular adult, I think; maybe more.) I suspect a lot of people wonder whether the ticket is worth the price; it is! Even if you only visit a few of the monuments (easy to do in an hour or two, depending on how long you like to pause to take pictures, etc), it's worth it. (And the upside of an official ticket is that you also don't need to contend with demands for baksheesh!)
Inside, the mausoleum is on your right as you enter and the madrassa on the left; at the back of the complex is the former hospital (maristan), of which there are only partial remains. All of this was part of the same enormous building complex, which was reportedly built in only 13 months in 1284-85.
The mausoleum is the main highlight; it's one of the largest and most lavishly decorated in Cairo; there are new details everywhere you look. On the other side, the madrassa seems less ornate (possibly much-reconstructed after being ruined), but the main prayer area has a beautiful mihrab with glass and gold mosaic, plus more stucco and coloured glass windows up along the walls.
When I visited in 2012 you were able to visit the remains of the maristan (hospital) at the back of the site, but this time it was closed; which is a pity, because even though what remains is less substantial, it still gave you an idea of what the overall complex was like. There was also a lovely restored fountain and stucco-carved window in that section.
The interior of this complex is visited on the same ticket as seven other monuments along this street. (Ticket is 100 Egyptian pounds for a regular adult, I think; maybe more.) I suspect a lot of people wonder whether the ticket is worth the price; it is! Even if you only visit a few of the monuments (easy to do in an hour or two, depending on how long you like to pause to take pictures, etc), it's worth it. (And the upside of an official ticket is that you also don't need to contend with demands for baksheesh!)
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kazi Y
Dhaka City, Bangladesh127 contributions
Feb 2020
The Qalawun complex is a massive complex in Cairo, built by Sultan al-Mansur Sayf al-Din Qalawun in 1284–1285. The Complex was considered one of the most beautiful buildings at that time, where it included a school (Madrasah), a hospital (Bimaristan) and a mausoleum, with a beautiful Dome. The Mausoleum of “Sultan Qalawun”is considered the 2nd most beautiful mausoleum, after the “Taj Mahal”in India. It is widely regarded as one of the major monuments of Islamic Cairo and of Mamluk architecture, notable for the size and scope of its charitable operations as well as for the richness of its architecture. The interiors of the mosque are quite impressive and beautiful. You have to buy a single ticket that allows you access to this complex and many other buildings.
Written April 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mathias S
332 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
Qalawun was one of early, major mamluk sultans. He captured crusaders' Tripoli in 1289 and prepared an expedition against the main crusaders' capital, Acre, which was completed after his death by his son Al-Ashraf Khalil in 1291. This was the end of crusaders' states, although they did hang on in Arwad island until 1302, and Armenian Cilicia, associated with them, lasted much longer, as well as Cyprus and Aegean islands.
While Qalawun destroyed crusaders, his mosque, with a school and an hospital, has some gothic influences.
You may be surprised with relatively high price for entry, especially since it's so much higher for foreigners than for Egyptians. I didn't visit the mosque originally for that very reason. But it's worth it. The ticket is valid for other places along the Al-Mu'izz street too. The interiors of the mosque are quite impressive and beautiful.
While Qalawun destroyed crusaders, his mosque, with a school and an hospital, has some gothic influences.
You may be surprised with relatively high price for entry, especially since it's so much higher for foreigners than for Egyptians. I didn't visit the mosque originally for that very reason. But it's worth it. The ticket is valid for other places along the Al-Mu'izz street too. The interiors of the mosque are quite impressive and beautiful.
Written April 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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