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…
Museum of Islamic Art
One of the largest collections of Islamic art in the world, with Quran manuscripts, Mamluk glass, Fatimid ceramics and astrolabes across 25 galleries.
At a glance
- Type
- Art museum
- Area
- Bab al-Khalq, Cairo, Egypt
Good to know
- 25 galleries
- Quran manuscripts
- Mamluk glass lamps
Why we recommend it
The Museum of Islamic Art at Bab al-Khalq holds more than 100,000 objects from across the Islamic world, about 4,500 of which are on display in 25 galleries. The building, completed in 1902, also houses the national library. In January 2014 a car bomb aimed at the police headquarters across the street badly damaged the façade and many objects, and after careful restoration the museum reopened in January 2017.
The displays are arranged by period and material, which makes it easy to follow the development of Islamic art in Egypt from the Umayyads and Fatimids through the Mamluks to the Ottomans. Highlights include rare Quran manuscripts, some written in silver ink, a lustre-painted Fatimid dish, carved woodwork and stucco from Cairo's old houses and mosques, and astrolabes from the 14th to the 18th centuries. The enamelled Mamluk glass mosque lamps are among the finest anywhere, and seeing them here explains the lamps you will notice hanging in the city's mosques.
The museum suits anyone exploring Islamic Cairo and is worth visiting before or after a day at Al-Muizz Street or the Citadel. It is usually much less crowded than the pharaonic museums, so you can look closely at the objects. Allow one and a half to two hours. The galleries are well lit and labelled in Arabic and English, and the calm, air-conditioned rooms are a welcome break on a hot day.
Check the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for current opening times and ticket prices before you go, as these change from time to time. Photography rules may differ from the archaeological sites, so ask at the entrance. The museum shop is small but useful for books on Islamic art and architecture.
The museum faces Port Said Street at Bab al-Khalq, on the western edge of the historic city. Bab Zuweila and the southern end of Al-Muizz Street are a short walk east through busy market streets, and Khan el-Khalili is around fifteen minutes on foot. Downtown and Tahrir Square are a short taxi ride away. The streets around Bab al-Khalq are lively with traffic and street trade, so a taxi drop-off at the main entrance is the easiest approach. Combining the museum with a walk through the historic city in the same afternoon works well, as the objects in the galleries come from buildings very like the ones you will pass.
Museum of Islamic Art FAQs
What is in the museum?
More than 100,000 objects of Islamic art, with around 4,500 on display in 25 galleries.
Was the museum damaged?
Yes, a 2014 bombing damaged it, and it reopened in January 2017 after restoration.
How long should you allow?
About one and a half to two hours.
Is it crowded?
It is usually quieter than the pharaonic museums.
What are the highlights?
Quran manuscripts, Mamluk glass lamps, Fatimid lustreware and astrolabes.
How do you get there?
By taxi to Port Said Street at Bab al-Khalq, or on foot from Bab Zuweila.
What can you combine it with?
Al-Muizz Street, Bab Zuweila and Khan el-Khalili.