Hotels near Al-Azhar Mosque

Founded in 970 CE by the Fatimid general Jawhar al-Siqilli, Al-Azhar is the second-oldest continuously operating university on Earth and the most respected centre of Sunni Islamic scholarship. The mosque opens to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times - usually 9 AM to 4 PM, closed Friday noon to 2 PM - and entry is free. Five minarets rise from successive sultanates, and the central courtyard's flagstones reflect the Mamluk and Ottoman renovations. Step into the prayer hall to see the original Fatimid mihrab tucked behind later additions. Guides at the door offer 30-minute tours for around 100 EGP. Sundays through Thursdays you may glimpse students debating texts in the surrounding madrasas.

Pro Tip: Cross the pedestrian bridge over al-Azhar Street directly into Khan el-Khalili and combine the two visits in one half-day loop.