Al-Azhar Mosque Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Al-Azhar Mosque. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Old Cairo and Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, Moez Street and Azhar Tour
• Islamic Cairo Walking Tour: Khan el Khalili, Al-Azhar Mosque
• Private Day Tour Visiting Coptic, Islamic Cairo, Khan El-Khalili
• Fatimid Islamic Cairo Day Tour
• Private Half-Day Tour to Islamic Cairo

Both Muslim and non-Muslim visitors can enter Al-Azhar free of charge, although there’s a small fee for looking after your shoes. If you’d like to enjoy the expertise of a guide, prices start at around US$25 per person for a private walking tour or US$45 for a private driving tour with lunch.

Completed around 972 AD, Al-Azhar Mosque has been a hub of Islamic learning and devotion for over a thousand years. The complex is famous for its early Islamic architecture, as well as its history dating back to Egypt’s Fatimid Caliphate. Today, it forms a key part of Cairo’s Muslim heritage.

Yes. Al-Azhar Mosque can be easily reached by taxi or rideshare from any location in Cairo, including the international airport. However, visiting independently means you risk missing out on understanding the landmark’s history. If you can, visit the mosque on a tour to hear commentary from a guide.

Yes. As with mosques in North Africa and the Middle East, dress conservatively to show respect for the religious setting. That means long, loose pants for men and shirts covering the arms and shoulders. Women should keep their chests, shoulders, and knees concealed. Head coverings are not required.

That depends. The mosque is open daily from sunrise to sunset. If coming as a tourist, it’s a good idea to avoid Muslim prayer times, especially on Fridays, when the structure is busiest. Aim for a quiet morning, as the area gets very hot at midday.