Mosque · AD 642
A founding site in Fustat.
Cairo
A spacious Fustat mosque linked to early Islamic Egypt and reshaped by centuries of expansion and rebuilding.
Get to know this place
Mosque · Built AD 642
Amr ibn al-As Mosque belongs to the founding story of Fustat in the seventh century, when Egypt gained its first Islamic capital. It began as a place of prayer and community gathering, then underwent repeated enlargement and rebuilding. The institution is much older than most of the fabric standing today.
A broad courtyard and arcaded prayer spaces define the visit. Rather than searching for one celebrated decorative feature, look at the repeated columns and the scale of the gathering space. Its Old Cairo surroundings place that continuing religious role within a much longer urban history.
Details worth pausing for
Broad courtyard
Columned arcades
Prayer space
Fustat setting
Hours, prices and practical details
Visits pause during prayer times, so avoid Friday noon prayers.
Tips and things to know
Combine it with the religious quarter, allowing time between the sites.
Good to know
Address and directions
Amr ibn al-As Square, Fustat, Old Cairo
Nearest landmark: Old Cairo
Nearest metro: Mar Girgis
The best route depends on your starting point. Navigate to Amr ibn al-As Square, Fustat, Old Cairo; for Historic Cairo sites, expect to walk the final part through narrow streets.
Get directions ↗The places closest to Amr ibn al-As Mosque, to make a day of it.
Abu Serga ChurchChurch and crypt in Old Cairo.600 m · about 8 min on foot
Saint George Greek Orthodox ChurchA round dome above Old Cairo.650 m · about 9 min on foot
Ben Ezra SynagogueEveryday documents behind a synagogue's history.650 m · about 9 min on foot
Distances and times are estimates from where each place sits on the map; the actual route may differ.
Stops close to each other, in an order we tried. Follow it as it is, or make it your own.
Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0
A suggested route · Faith & spirituality
A mosque, churches and a synagogue within a few steps of one another: the story of an Egypt where everyone lived side by side. A short, quiet route for a Friday or Saturday morning.
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