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Mosque · tulunid
Ibn Tulun Mosque and the Gayer-Anderson Museum
A ninth-century mosque beside two houses full of stories
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.
About this place
The Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun was built between 876 and 879 CE on Jabal Yashkur, with a vast courtyard and distinctive spiral-access minaret. Next door, the Gayer-Anderson Museum occupies two historic houses dating to 1545 and 1631, filled with furniture and art collected from Egypt and abroad.
Begin with the mosque for its scale and quiet, then enter the museum. The contrast between the mosque’s open geometry and the houses’ mashrabiyyas and furnished rooms is the strongest part of the visit.
Few places in Cairo offer such a clear contrast side by side: monumental ninth-century Tulunid architecture and the intimate interiors of Ottoman-era Cairene houses.
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 – 17:00
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 | 100 | 2026-09-06 |
| Foreign student | 50 | 2026-09-06 |
Highlights
- Ibn Tulun’s courtyard and minaret
- Mashrabiyyas and courtyards in Gayer-Anderson
- Historic furnished rooms across the two houses
Tips from the visit
- The mosque itself is free; the listed ticket is for Gayer-Anderson Museum.
- Visit the mosque first, then the museum before its ticket office closes at 4:00 PM.
- Ask on site whether minaret access is available, as access can change.
Worth knowing
- Shoes must be removed in prayer areas and modest clothing is expected.
- Some museum passages and stairs are narrow.
Location & getting there
Ahmad Ibn Tulun Square, Sayyida Zeinab, Cairo
Nearest landmark: مسجد أحمد بن طولون
Nearest metro: السيدة زينب
From Sayyida Zeinab metro station, take a short taxi to Ahmad Ibn Tulun Square. The museum entrance is immediately beside the mosque.
30.0288, 31.2496
Open in Google Maps ↗Nearby
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