Best 12 Things in the Museum of Islamic Art Cairo

The first thing that comes to mind when we speak about tourism in Cairo is the Museum of Islamic Art Cairo, which first opened its doors in 1903 and contains numerous wonderful exhibitions that illustrate the ancient Islamic heritage in excellent fashion, making it one of the top museums in Cairo for anyone who’s interested in the Islamic culture.

Travelers come to this museum because they consider visiting it one of the best things to do in Cairo because it allows them to discover a rich collection of wonderful relics that belong to the Islamic tradition. In addition, you’ll also have an excellent chance to enjoy watching various historical monuments from different time periods that make this place one of the best museums in Cairo.

Commence your journey at the Museum of Islamic Art Cairo by taking a stroll around its numerous corners that are filled with remarkable Islamic exhibitions and galleries.

Don’t forget to bring your camera with you because this museum is such a perfect destination for photo shooting where you can get some souvenir photographs during your wonderful tour to memorialize your day among the excellent Islamic exhibits available, seeing as this museum allows photography in all places.

And now, it’s time to introduce you to the numerous corners of the museum, as it is composed of a variety of main sections where you’ll be able to find exhibits that are specific to each one, such as the Manuscript Section, Textile Section, Numismatics Section, and Weapons Section.

And now, it’s the right time to start exploring the numerous corners of the Museum of Islamic Art Cairo and enjoy seeing the many exhibits and galleries that are presented in chronological order that will show you a clear idea about the evolution of the Islamic heritage throughout the ages, where you’ll have the possibility to find a number of pieces that belong to the modern times that span from the 16th century to the 20th and the Middle Ages.

Let us now shift your attention to the next section of the museum, which presents plenty of amazing handicraft works that add a special appeal to the place and grant you the possibility to enjoy watching a collection of skillfully handmade carpets, clay pots, bronze utensils, and impressive textiles and fabrics.

Don’t hesitate to continue on this interesting journey to the special area of the museum that’s dedicated to showcasing the lifestyle of previous citizens through a variety of interesting exhibits such as old coins, jewelry, and alluring traditional wear.

Naturally, art is an essential element of the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, and you’ll be glad to know that you’ll have a great chance to spend an enjoyable and educational time watching a variety of wonderful Islamic art like mosque models, inscriptions decorations, decorative tiles, ceramic pieces, Arabic fonts, and architectural arts.

Furthermore, the Islamic art pieces available are not exclusive to one nation but rather encompass plenty of different Islamic countries from all around the globe, such as India, Egypt, and China.

Moreover, you simply can’t find an Islamic museum without unique exhibitions of the greatest book in the religion, which is why we strongly advise you to see the available collection of valuable copies of the Quran. In addition to that, you’ll also be able to find plenty of Quran interpretation books as well.

And we’ve saved the best for last as we urge you to head to this section of the museum, where you’ll have the opportunity to understand the big impact of Muslim scholars’ accomplishments on the course of human history through watching plenty of amazing exhibitions and galleries that showcase the prominence of the Islamic legacy.

And it seems as if this museum possesses infinite sets of exhibits that it provides for its visitors because you’ll also have the possibility to find a collection of additional unique exhibits that you’ll be able to see, such as a rare cloth cut and framed from the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed, two astrolabes of copper from the 14th and 18th centuries and the key of the Holy Kaaba from the Mamluk period.

And in case you thought that you’d discovered everything the museum has to offer, then you’ll have to think twice because there’s also another part that’s dedicated to displaying other exhibits such as vintage weapons, rare manuscripts, compasses, and astrolabes, which were used for a variety of functions like telling time and working out multiple problems in astronomy.

Services and Restaurants

And it goes without saying that the museum is equipped with all the necessary services and facilities that visitors need, such as public toilets, a cafe, parking, a gift shop, and a library.

For adults 50 EGP
Children under 5 years are free

Opening Hours

Saturday: open 9:00 – 17:00
Sunday: open 9:00 – 17:00
Monday: open 9:00 – 17:00
Tuesday: open 9:00 – 17:00
Wednesday: open 9:00 – 17:00
Thursday: open 9:00 – 17:00
Friday: open 9:00 – 11:30

Places to Visit Near Museum of Islamic Art

After you finish your journey at the museum, we highly recommend you pass through some appealing nearby attractions in Cairo like Khan el-Khalili Bazaar Cairo that’s 2.05 km away and Al-Azhar Park Cairo that’s 3.99 km away.

Happy City Hotel Cairo is one of the best hotels in Cairo that’s situated at a distance of 1.03 km from the museum and is known for its ideal location as well as providing outstanding service and getting high reviews from tourists, making it one of the major 3-star hotels in Cairo.

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