Saladin Citadel

The Saladin Citadel was an truly astonishing monument and easily one of the highlights of our trip to Cairo. The engineering brilliance on display is staggering, particularly the Mosque of Muhammad Ali inside. Even having seen the Taj Mahal, I found this mosque to be one of the most exquisite marvels of history I have ever witnessed. While it is a bit of a blow to the site's "authenticity" to know that many of the stones were repurposed (or as we heard, "stolen") from the Giza pyramids, one must remember that this was the norm in those days—where the rule of law was simply the rule of the powerful. The visitor experience was a mix of modern convenience and old-world "hustle." Despite the crowds at the entrance, ticketing was relatively easy. It is important for future visitors to know that paying with a credit card is much easier than tendering cash, as the site has moved toward a cashless system. However, be wary once you are inside. The government-approved electric golf carts are run by men who, in my experience, will try to scam you. They pressure you to pay an upfront "tip"; I strongly advise against this. If you pay them at the start, they often stop showing up for you. You have to "keep it interesting" and make them feel that a reward is coming at the end to ensure they actually provide the service. The National Military Museum was also fascinating, specifically the collection of ancient USSR weaponry and aircraft. However, the presentation felt a bit like a "propaganda machine"—the subtle (and not-so-subtle) nationalistic messaging was a bit of an overkill. Even here, the issue of solicitation persists; a cop at the entrance blatantly asked me for a "tip." I had to remind him that in most countries, giving a "tip" to a police officer is regarded as a bribe, which finally made him walk away.

We visited the Citadel of Saladin on 19th October 2025, reaching around 2:00 PM during our Egypt trip from India. The entry ticket cost EGP 550 per person, and we chose a buddy ride (battery-operated car) for EGP 500 (for 3 persons) — highly recommended, as the fort complex is vast and built on a hilltop. The Citadel is a magnificent historic fortress offering a panoramic view of Cairo. Inside, we explored impressive military exhibits, including fighter planes, tanks, and missiles, which reflect Egypt’s strong military heritage. We also had a delightful interaction with a group of Egyptian schoolboys — cheerful, friendly, and curious — which added a warm local touch to our experience. A highlight of our visit was the stunning mosque inside the Citadel. Entry required covering our shoes (EGP 5 each), and the interior was truly breathtaking — peaceful, beautifully designed, and full of spiritual charm. ✅ Ambiance: ★★★★★ ✅ Administration: ★★★★★ ✅ Staff Behaviour: ★★★★★ Clean surroundings, well-maintained pathways, and courteous staff made the visit memorable. We spent about 1.5 hours, but history lovers could easily spend more time exploring. 💡 Tips for Visitors: Carry a cap or hat — it gets sunny on the hill. Opt for the buddy ride if visiting with family or kids. Cards are widely accepted at the ticket counter. A must-visit landmark in Cairo — combining history, architecture, and heritage in one majestic place. Highly recommended!

I visited the Citadel and Mosque of Salah El-Din, and it was a very enjoyable experience. What impressed me the most was the Islamic architectural decoration and the beauty of the artistic details. I also visited the Citadel Prison and the National Museum, which contains beautiful artifacts with distinctive details and presents the most important events that Egypt experienced over the last 150 years in an interesting way. One of the drawbacks of the place is the large number of stray dogs in some areas, in addition to the relatively high ticket prices. The ticket price used to be 60 EGP (1.27 USD) in 2025, but has now increased in 2026 to 550 EGP (11.69 USD), which is a significant increase. Another downside is the frequent weddings and celebrations, which sometimes affect the calm atmosphere and the overall visitor experience. Despite these drawbacks, the place remains wonderful and never boring due to the abundance of historical landmarks, and it is definitely worth visiting for anyone interested in Egypt’s rich history 🇪🇬

Beautiful place, definitely worth spending about 2 hours here. The mosque is stunning and the view of the city is amazing, we could even see the Pyramids in the distance. Tickets are 550 EGP for foreign adults, you can pay by card on the spot, no need to book in advance. For the mosque, you can buy shoe covers for 10 EGP or just leave your shoes outside. There is a military museum inside too, but sadly we didn't have time for it. Coffee is a bit pricey inside, but the restrooms are free.

Stunning place. It is quite out of the way but an Uber will take you there no bother. If you are able to walk, don’t ask to be dropped at the main entrance, instead, get dropped at the “exit” road which meets with Salah Salem Street. The main entrance will cost you 30LE which you will need in cash to give the Uber driver so he can get shouted at by the armed guards while handing it over… very strange experience that one. Tickets can be bought online or there are plenty of ticket booths at the entrance. Golf carts take you up to the entrance to the mosque if you like. It is a 3 minute walk. Panoramic view of Cairo is breathtaking, the mosque itself is beautiful. We were there on a Friday just prior to lunchtime prayer so it was busy, but really interesting to see everyone enter. Naturally it is shoes off for heading inside. We cleared off to the military museum once the prayer was about to start and they had shut the doors. You can still walk around the outside no problem. The museum has a range of old military vehicles and artillery equipment outside and smaller items inside the building at the back. No additional ticket required for this section. Great way to spend an hour.

Awesome views from the panorama point (you can see the pyramids on a clear day) and inside the main building. The entire place is kept tidy, and you can easily spend over an hour here. Beware that they will try to scam you into buying the plastic shoe covers that should be included as part of the ticket in the first place. You don't need to pay for them to enter, just hold your shoes in one hand, that is totally fine to do even if some staff might ask you to keep them on the side for a "tip"

The Saladin Citadel is a massive complex of 2 mosques, a palace & couple of museums. You can easily spend 2-3 hours here to explore each touch points. We visited here end of December 25 and the palace is closed for renovations. 550 EGP per entry, pay by cash or card.

A nearly 850-year-old historical attraction in Cairo. Normally a must visit place for tourists. The interior deco of the mosque is stunning. Also a good view from the edge of the castle to the other side of hill.