Attraction
Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world on the edge…
Mosque of Ibn Tulun
Completed in 879, this vast mosque with a spiral minaret and an open courtyard is one of the oldest and calmest monuments in Cairo.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic mosque
- Area
- Sayyida Zeinab, Cairo, Egypt
Good to know
- Spiral minaret
- Gayer-Anderson Museum next door
Why we recommend it
The Mosque of Ibn Tulun was built between 876 and 879 for Ahmad ibn Tulun, the governor who made Egypt effectively independent of the Abbasid caliphs. It is the oldest mosque in Cairo to survive in something close to its original form, and its plain, monumental design is very different from the ornate Mamluk buildings elsewhere in the city. The whole complex, including its outer enclosure, covers more than 26,000 square metres.
The heart of the building is a huge open courtyard framed by arcades of pointed arches resting on brick piers, decorated with carved stucco. In the centre stands a domed fountain added during a restoration under Sultan Lajin in 1296. The most memorable feature is the minaret, with an external staircase that winds around a square base and a cylindrical upper section. Climbing it is usually possible and gives wide views over the domes and rooftops of the old city.
The mosque is often quiet, which makes it one of the best places in Cairo to appreciate early Islamic architecture without crowds. It suits photographers and anyone who likes space and simplicity. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, longer if you climb the minaret. Dress modestly, remove your shoes where asked, and take care on the minaret steps, which have no handrail in places.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum stands against the south-eastern corner of the mosque. It occupies two joined houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, furnished by Major Robert Gayer-Anderson, who lived here from 1935 to 1942 and left the contents to the Egyptian government. Its rooms, rooftop and mashrabiya screens were used as a location in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, and it makes an excellent pairing with the mosque.
The mosque is in the Sayyida Zeinab district, about a kilometre east of Sayyida Zeinab metro station, so a taxi is the simplest way in. The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and the Citadel are a short ride away, and the surrounding streets have small workshops and traditional cafés. Because the mosque is a little off the main tourist circuit, it is worth asking your driver to wait or arranging a return taxi by app. Late afternoon is a particularly good time, when the low sun throws long shadows across the arches of the courtyard.
Mosque of Ibn Tulun FAQs
When was the mosque built?
Between 876 and 879 for Ahmad ibn Tulun.
Can you climb the minaret?
It is usually possible, and the spiral stair gives wide views, but take care on the steps.
How long should you allow?
45 minutes to an hour, plus time for the Gayer-Anderson Museum.
What should you wear?
Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees. Women may want a headscarf.
Is it crowded?
It is usually one of the quieter monuments in Cairo.
What is next door?
The Gayer-Anderson Museum, two historic houses furnished by Major Gayer-Anderson.
How do you get there?
By taxi, or a walk of about a kilometre from Sayyida Zeinab metro station.