Hotels near Mosque of Ibn Tulun

Built between 876 and 879 CE for Ahmad ibn Tulun, this mosque is the oldest in Cairo to retain its original layout and the third-largest by area in the world at 26,318 square metres. The fired-brick construction borrows from Samarra in Iraq, and the spiral minaret at the north corner is the only one of its kind in Egypt - climb its 130 external stairs for a 360-degree view across Old Cairo. The central courtyard fountain (sabil) sits beneath a 1296 Mamluk dome. Entry is free, donations welcome, and shoe coverings sit at the door. The adjacent Gayer-Anderson Museum (a restored 16th-century mansion built into the mosque wall) costs 200 EGP and pairs well as a 45-minute add-on. Open daily 8 AM to 5 PM.

Pro Tip: The minaret stairs are external and exposed - climb before 11 AM in summer to avoid hot stone, and skip if you have vertigo or fear of open edges.