Placeholder — replace with a photo from the visit
Historic house · Ottoman
Bayt Al-Suhaymi
A Cairene home opens its doors four centuries later
Behind a quiet doorway in al-Darb al-Asfar, Bayt al-Suhaymi shows how an affluent Ottoman-era Cairene house controlled light, air and privacy through courtyards, mashrabiyyas and reception rooms.
About this place
The first part of the house was built in 1648 by Sheikh Abd al-Wahhab al-Tablawi; a later section was added in 1796 and the two were eventually joined. The complex includes a courtyard, wooden mashrabiyyas, a maq‘ad, reception halls, a bath, wells, a waterwheel and domestic objects.
It works especially well after Al-Muizz because you move from public façades into the private world behind them. Notice how openings, mashrabiyyas and courtyards manage light and ventilation.
Much of Historic Cairo is experienced through mosques and madrasas; Bayt al-Suhaymi shows the other side—how people actually lived inside a substantial urban home.
Visitor information
- Opening hours
- Sunday — 09:00 – 17:00
Monday — 09:00 – 17:00
Tuesday — 09:00 – 17:00
Wednesday — 09:00 – 17:00
Thursday — 09:00 – 17:00
Friday — 09:00 – 16:00
Saturday — 09:00 – 17:00 - Payment
- Card
- Amenities
- Toilets · Guides
| Tickets | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptian | 10 | 2026-09-06 |
| Egyptian student | 5 | 2026-09-06 |
| Foreign | 220 | 2026-09-06 |
| Foreign student | 110 | 2026-09-06 |
Highlights
- The courtyard and wooden mashrabiyyas
- The maq‘ad and reception rooms
- Domestic details including the bath, waterwheel and mill
Tips from the visit
- Combine it with Al-Muizz; the entrance is inside al-Darb al-Asfar lane.
- Late-morning light works beautifully in the courtyard and mashrabiyyas.
- Friday closes earlier, at 4:00 PM instead of 5:00 PM.
Worth knowing
- Some stairs and passages are narrow and uneven.
- The Al-Muizz area ticket does not include Bayt al-Suhaymi; a separate ticket is required.
Location & getting there
Al-Darb al-Asfar Lane, off Al-Muizz Street, Al-Gamaliya, Cairo
Nearest landmark: الدرب الأصفر – شارع المعز
Nearest metro: باب الشعرية
Enter Al-Muizz from the Bab al-Futuh side and turn into al-Darb al-Asfar. Bab El Shaaria is the most practical metro connection, followed by a short taxi or walk.
30.0524, 31.2626
Open in Google Maps ↗Nearby
Since opening in 1902, the Tahrir museum has become part of Egyptology’s own history. Although the Tutankhamun collection has moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum, its halls still hold exceptional objects spanning ancient Egyptian history.
Ahmad Ibn Tulun’s mosque is one of Cairo’s oldest surviving mosques, and immediately beside it two Ottoman houses form the Gayer-Anderson Museum. Together they move from monumental open space to intimate rooms dense with detail.