The Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo holds one of the largest collections of Islamic art in the world, with more than 100,000 objects from Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Spain and beyond. It’s on Bab al-Khalq Square, at the edge of Islamic Cairo, in a beautiful 1903 building.
Quick facts: it’s open every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the ticket office closes at 4:00 pm. Tickets for foreign adults cost roughly EGP 200–340, and students pay half; check the current price before you go. Plan 1.5 to 2 hours. There’s no strict dress code.
| Where | Bab al-Khalq Square, on the edge of Islamic Cairo, a short taxi ride from Downtown |
|---|---|
| Time needed | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Ticket | Sold at the gate. Not on the ministry list we checked in October 2026, so confirm the price on the day |
| Don’t miss | Mamluk glass lamps, the wooden mihrabs, the ceramics and the scientific instruments |
| Pair with | Al-Muizz Street, Khan el-Khalili or the Citadel |
The collection began in 1881, under Khedive Tewfik, when objects saved from old mosques and houses were gathered in the arcades of the Mosque of al-Hakim. In 1903 it moved to its own neo-Mamluk building in Bab al-Khalq, which it shared with the national library (Dar al-Kutub).
In January 2014 a car bomb aimed at the police headquarters across the street badly damaged the façade and many objects. The museum was restored with international help and reopened in January 2017 with new galleries and displays.
The museum is on Bab al-Khalq Square, on Port Said Street, between Downtown Cairo and the old Islamic city. Bab Zuweila and the southern end of Al-Muizz Street are about a 10-minute walk east, and Khan El Khalili is about 1.5 km to the north-east.
Yes. Even visitors who don’t usually like museums enjoy it, because the objects are beautiful and well displayed, and it’s rarely crowded. It’s the best place in Cairo to understand the art you’ll see in the city’s mosques and palaces.
It’s especially worth it if you’re visiting Islamic Cairo, the Citadel or the Sultan Hassan Mosque; many objects inside came from buildings like these.
Come in the morning, soon after 9:00, when it’s quietest. On Fridays the museum closes for the midday prayer, roughly from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, so plan around it. It’s an indoor visit, so it works well in summer and in the hottest part of the day.
There’s no strict dress code: it’s a museum, not a mosque. Normal, modest clothes are fine, with shoulders and knees covered, as in the rest of Cairo. Wear comfortable shoes, and leave large bags at the hotel, because they may be checked at the entrance.
Yes. The museum has security checks at the entrance and guards inside. Bab al-Khalq is a busy area with heavy traffic, so take care crossing Port Said Street, and use an app or agree on a taxi fare in advance.
Opening hours: every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; the ticket office closes at 4:00 pm. On Fridays it closes for the midday prayer, and during Ramadan it closes earlier, at about 3:00 pm.
Tickets: foreign adults pay roughly EGP 200–340, and foreign students with a valid card pay half. Many Egyptian museums now take cards only, so bring a bank card. Prices change, so check the official Egymonuments site or the ticket office before your visit.
The best way to see it: start in the rooms arranged by period, from the Umayyads to the Ottomans, then see the themed rooms on science, water and gardens. A guide or the museum’s labels help you connect the objects to the buildings you’ll see outside.
Book a nearby tour: the museum is not included, but you can see the Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque, Sultan Hassan and Khan El Khalili with a local guide on our Christian and Islamic Cairo day tour, and visit the museum on your own another morning.
A car bomb aimed at the police headquarters across the street damaged the building in January 2014. The museum was restored and reopened in 2017.
About 1.5 to 2 hours for the highlights.
Yes, if you plan to see Islamic Cairo. The objects explain what you see in the mosques and on Al-Muizz Street.
Phone photos are usually allowed without flash. Check the current rules at the gate.
Book this experience: Christian and Islamic Cairo Day Tour from $30.
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The Museum of Islamic Art is one of the great collections of its kind, and the best way to understand the mosques, houses and markets of Islamic Cairo. Give it a couple of hours before or after a walk along Al-Muizz Street.
So, why wait? Book your Christian and Islamic Cairo Day Tour with us today and experience the best that Cairo has to offer.
Pyramids of Giza | Ibn Tulun Mosque | Mosque Madrassa of Sultan Hassan | Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (Al Manial Palace) | The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization | Mosque of Mohamed Ali | Nile River in Egypt | Sharia Al Muizz Li Din Allah | Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo | The Egyptian Museum in Cairo | Khan Al Khalili | Al Azhar Mosque | Grand Egyptian Museum | Cairo Tower | Al azhar park | Downtown | Zamalek Island
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