Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
THE 10 BEST Cairo Architectural Buildings
Architectural Buildings in Cairo
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- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
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Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
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Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
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Architectural Buildings
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
Architectural Buildings
What travelers are saying
- cdandoyGilbert, AZ923 contributionsEnjoyed seeing this church and learning how it got its name. It has a beautiful entrance/walkway. Some nice details on the inside.Written March 18, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- cdandoyGilbert, AZ923 contributionsSo excited to see the Citadel after driving by it so many times. Nice! You can get a great view of the entire city from here.Written March 18, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- FaysordinarylifeEmirate of Ajman, United Arab Emirates69 contributionsA well preserved place. The architecture is so beautiful. Once you enter the place you feel you are in a different world. The entrance is so crowded. You can find all kind of stuff for shopping outside the madrassa.Written December 23, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Aisha YCairo, Egypt51 contributionsThe palace is a historical attraction that is known for its wonderful architecture and rich cultural heritage. The Palace offers a unique opportunity to explore the opulent lifestyle of the Egyptian aristocracy. The palace's well-preserved interiors, beautiful gardens, and artistic exhibits. It is a perfect setting for a memorable outing with friends, combining education, aesthetics, and leisure.Written July 15, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Osama TarekCairo, Egypt67 contributionsThe hole of Abdulrahman Kathkhuda is the best Sabil in the islamic world, it has a brilliant architecture that you will love to see and shot with your lens
P.s visit it in the morning to enter it from insideWritten September 18, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - StevenAmsterdam, The Netherlands4 contributionsThe main hall of the station is gorgeous. We had some food upstairs right after getting off the escalator. The food was reasonably priced and the service was good. The bathroom is quite under maintained. We were approached by a cleaner to bring us to the platform, turned him down as he just wanted tip. On the platform, there were tourist police. They were quite friendly and helpful.Written December 28, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Galina LHurghada, Egypt8 contributionsAmazing place! In the middle of Islamic Cairo. The guide inside Sabil speaks Arabic only, but he is in love with his job and gives a lot of information about Sabil-kuttab and history of Egypt in general.
There are a lot of stands with explanations inside the Sabil-kuttab in English and Arabic.
Ticket is very cheap, 20LE for foreign adults, students and Egyptians tickets are cheaper.Written December 13, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - TJim602,947 contributionsThe palace was built in 1897 in the French rococo style for Gabriel Habib Sakakini Pasha modeled on a palace he had seen in Europe.
It stands on a midan (circle) at the intersection of 8 roads in Cairo. Now Midan Sakakini. According to some reports, previously Midan Ibn Khaldun.
Elaborately decorated (more on that below) both outside and inside.
Sadly, the palace is currently closed to visitors, though it seems to be in use for some purpose. We saw people entering and so tried to talk our way in.
The guard at the door wasn’t “able” to “hear” our pleading.
So you will have to content yourself with a view of the outside which is impressive. Or be more eloquent in pleading than we were.
Every so often there are press reports that the Egyptian Government is planning to renovate the palace and open it as a museum.
From the pictures I posted you will notice that the exterior of the Palace needs serious repairs in places. So it may be a while before it's renovated and ready to open.
If it does, rush down to see it.
In the meantime, you'll have to make do with the impressive exterior view.
Four-story rococo style building—belvederes, cupolas, spires, statues – including the four seasons.
It’s like a piece of baroque music.
I’ve posted some pictures.
You can see more including some interior shots at Lara Iskander’s article “Sakakini Palace”. Google her name and the article name.
Another source is the AUC Press “Dust: Egypt’s Forgotten Architecture” which contains Dr. Xenia Nikolskaya’s excellent photographs of this palace as well as others. Just revised this September.
There are conflicting stories about Sakakini Pasha’s name and even religion.
Samir Rafaat an Egyptian architect and historian has an excellent article on the palace and the backstory of Sakakini Pasha. Google “Samir Rafaat” plus “Sakakini Palace: How About the Palace that Turns a Hundred Years Old this Year”.
You’ll see extracts of documents in his article that back up his version of the Pasha’s life.
Samir also has many other articles on Egyptian architecture and history which are linked to at his article on Sakakini.
Here’s a quick summary.
Gabriel Habib Pasha (1841-1923) was originally of Syrian origin and a Greek Melchite (aka Melkite) Christian – Eastern Rite but in “communion” with the Roman Catholic Church.
Started out as a day laborer on the Suez Canal.
Supposedly got his big break when he solved a “rat problem” on a section of the Suez Canal by bringing in bags of extremely hungry cats. According to the story, the Khedive took note.
The Khedive then charged him with getting the Cairo Opera House finished in time for the Suez Canal opening ceremonies. Habib came up with the novel idea of using three eight hour shifts a day. Job completed in time. For this he was awarded the title of “Bey”.
Donated some land in Old Cairo (Coptic Christian area) for a Roman Catholic cemetery and financed the building of Mar Elias Melkite Church. Later the Pope awarded him the title of “count” for these and other efforts.
The Pasha is buried in that churh.
Contrary to some reports, Henry was not the builder of the Palace nor the hero of the story. But rather an adopted son.Written January 1, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Fatima soliman Archeologist GuideCairo Governorate, Egypt80 contributionsit's very easy to reach because it's located in the city between the museum and old Cairo, but needs half day to visit because it was built to be the royal house.
the palace has huge gardens and include some museums and representing the Arab culture and Islamic arts.Written February 25, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - BobPrazToronto, Canada231 contributionsThis is actually two charming early 14th-century buildings facing each other (sort of like the al-Ghuri mosque-mausoleum complex near al-Azhar) on the street leading from the Sultan Hassan mosque to the Ibn Tulun Mosque. As a result, it's a nice location to admire on a walk between those two more impressive mosques. The mosque is on the north side of the street while the khanqah (a religious space and lodge for sufis/Muslim mystics) is on the south side.
If you're interested in Cairo's medieval (Mamluk) architecture, then they're worth a closer look. Although the two buildings look identical at first sight, they're actually different in many ways. The two minarets seem to be identical, however, and the visual effect of having them frame the street on both sides (almost like goal posts!) is clearly deliberate, and demonstrates how medieval builders were trying to dominate the skyline along certain important avenues in Cairo.
One interesting detail to notice on the outside of the khanqah is the pharaonic block above the doorway. The inside of that building, to my knowledge, is not open for visitors (or at least I've never seen it open). I don't think it's being used for anything currently.
The mosque, however, opens for prayer times only; you can usually have a look inside just after prayers finish, before the imam closes it up again. There are some lovely painted ceilings and other interesting details, including some excavations of a cistern (apparently) at the back. If you're only visiting the highlights of Islamic Cairo, though, it may not be worth going out of your way.Written August 28, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cairo
- These places are best for architectural buildings in Cairo:
- Cairo Citadel
- Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary)
- Mosque-Madrassa of al Ghouri
- Aisha Fahmi Palace
- Qa'a of Muhhib Al-Din (Uthman Kathkhuda)