The Citadel of Saladin

Kevin Costello★★★★★★★★★★5.03 months ago

This place was an unexpected delight. So much to see. And if course the views once the sky had cleared all the way to the pyramids. The fortifications, the mosque and court...it's all spectacular. And the view to the sandstone hills beyond are great. Then of course there's the police museum and and military museum included...leave half a day or more to truely do this complex justice!!!

Priyadharshini V★★★★★★★★★★5.04 weeks ago

You can buy tickets there in person but with only credit card. No cash accepted. This looks like Hagia Sophia in Turkey. You have to remove shoes to enter the citadel. The mosque inside is brilliant with the lights and the architecture. There are apparently 365 lights for 365 days. We didn't count it though. The view from the citadel overlooking Cairo is amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Clean place. Well kept. Must visit.

Asnida Amri★★★★★★★★★★4.02 weeks ago

This is one of the tourist attractions. The view from this Citadel was so amazing. Can see most of the Cairo city. Here you can go inside to the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha. The view of chandelier was so magnificent.

Zubair★★★★★★★★★★5.05 months ago

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.

Mark Sulkin★★★★★★★★★★3.03 months ago

Great views of the city. If you've been on a tour, it's "been that done that" The Cairo Citadel was built on the orders of Saladin between 1176 and 1183 to protect the city from European attacks. Today, it's one of Cairo's main tourist attractions and offers privileged views of the city.