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Historic house · Ottoman · 1794

Bayt Al-Sinnari

Under reviewWe are still reviewing this place, so check hours and prices before you go.

An Ottoman house tied to the making of Description de l’Égypte

Cairo

Free entryVisit 60 minUsually quietA hidden gem
Hours & pricesGetting there
Courtyard facade at Bayt al-Sinnari, Bayt Al-Sinnari Courtyard facade at Bayt al-Sinnari Photo: Clemens Schmillen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Carved stone entrance at Bayt al-Sinnari, Bayt Al-Sinnari Carved stone entrance at Bayt al-Sinnari Photo: Clemens Schmillen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bayt al-Sinnari in Sayyida Zeinab, Bayt Al-Sinnari Bayt al-Sinnari in Sayyida Zeinab Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0
Bayt Al-Sinnari, a view Bayt Al-Sinnari, a view Photo: Clemens Schmillen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Courtyard facade at Bayt al-Sinnari01 / 04

Bayt al-Sinnari is a late-18th-century Ottoman house in Sayyida Zeinab, closely linked to the French Expedition when its scholars used it for their work. Today the Bibliotheca Alexandrina operates it as a cultural centre.

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Get to know this place

The story of this place

Historic house · Ottoman · Built 1794

At the end of Monge Lane in Sayyida Zaynab, Bayt al-Sinnari opens into the courtyards, reception spaces and wooden screens of an Ottoman Cairene house. It belonged to Ibrahim Katkhuda al-Sinnari before the French expedition requisitioned it in 1798 for members of its Commission of Sciences and Arts, whose work contributed to the Description de l’Égypte.

The house later gained a new cultural role under the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Exhibitions, talks and workshops now form part of its programme, bringing contemporary activity into spaces associated with domestic life and scientific study.

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Don’t miss

Details worth pausing for

  • The courtyard, mashrabiyyas and Ottoman domestic architecture

  • The connection to the scientific commission and Description de l’Égypte

  • Current talks, workshops and cultural performances

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Hours & prices

Hours, prices and practical details

Visit information has not been fully verified. Confirm hours and prices before going.
Free entryNo ticket is needed to enter.
Opening hours
Sunday – Thursday
09:00 – 17:00
Friday – Saturday
Closed
Amenities
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Before you go

Tips and things to know

Tips

  • Check the Sinnari House/Bibliotheca Alexandrina programme before going.

  • Official working hours are Sunday-Thursday, 9-5, but events can run in evenings or weekends.

  • Combine it with Sayyida Zeinab or Ibn Tulun.

Good to know

  • Office hours do not guarantee that every part of the house is open for free wandering; access varies with events and installations.
  • Some workshops and events require registration or separate fees.
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Getting there

Address and directions

Monge Lane, Sayyida Zeinab, Cairo

Nearest landmark: Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque

Nearest metro: Al-Sayeda Zeinab

From Sayyida Zeinab metro station, head toward Monge Lane near the mosque; the final section is easy on foot or by a short taxi.

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