Sultan Hassan & Al-Rifai Mosques

Where it is & how to get there

• Taxi: At Midan Salah al-Din, below the Citadel, 20–30 minutes from downtown.
• On foot: Walk down from the Citadel in about 15 minutes.
• Tours: Usually combined with the Citadel and Islamic Cairo.

The story of the Sultan Hassan Mosque

The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan was built between 1356 and 1363, one of the largest Mamluk buildings in the world. Its huge courtyard is surrounded by four iwans, each once a school for one of the four Sunni schools of law.

Facing it, the Al-Rifai Mosque was completed in 1912 in a matching style. It holds the tombs of members of Egypt's royal family, including King Farouk, and of the last Shah of Iran.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Dress modestly; women cover their hair.
• Stand in the centre of the Sultan Hassan courtyard to feel its scale.
• Modest dress is required; women cover their hair.

What's around the Sultan Hassan Mosque

• Cairo CitadelDirectly above the mosques.
• Ibn Tulun MosqueOne of the oldest mosques in Cairo, 10 minutes away.
• Gayer-Anderson MuseumOld Cairo houses next to Ibn Tulun.
• Al-Azhar ParkGreen park with city views.

Questions travellers ask