Al-Azhar Park Park

Address: Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem St, Al-Darb Al-Ahmar, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

Website: https://www.alazharpark.org

Hours: Daily 9:00am-11:00pm

Admission: EGP 3-10 (local levels change; major ticketed events may cost more)

Al-Azhar Park is a 30-hectare public park in historic Cairo opened in 2005 as a major urban renewal project. It was created as a landscaped public space in the area of medieval Cairo and now functions as a large municipal park.

The park contains formal gardens, broad lawns, fountains and paved promenades across its 30 hectares, plus restaurants and event spaces. Several elevated terraces give panoramic views across the city to the Citadel and the skyline of Islamic Cairo.

The site was redeveloped by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, transforming a long-neglected mound and debris field into a planted urban park and public amenity. The project included landscaping, new access routes and provision for cultural programming.

Al-Azhar Park sits on a hill in central Cairo within the area of historic Islamic Cairo, on the eastern side of the Nile and near the Citadel and surrounding medieval districts. It is a short drive southeast of Tahrir Square in central Cairo.

• Creation and size: Opened in 2005 after a large urban renewal project, the park covers roughly 30 hectares and was developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
• Best viewing time: Provides one of the clearest public viewpoints of the Cairo Citadel and the Muhammad Ali Mosque, making sunset hours particularly popular for photographers.

What to See#

• Viewing terraces: Located on terraced slopes, the upper viewpoints provide uninterrupted panoramas across historic Cairo to the Citadel and the skyline of midtown Cairo. These terraces include paved promenades and stepped lawns used for photography and sunset viewing.
• Formal gardens and lawns: A sequence of formal gardens and broad lawns organized around axial walkways and fountains, planted with shade trees and ornamental beds. The layout covers the park’s central 30 hectares and is designed for promenading and public events.
• Cafes, restaurants and event spaces: A visitors’ area with cafes and restaurants catering to tourists and locals, plus event spaces used for concerts and cultural programming. Dining terraces face the skyline and the Citadel, making them popular for evening visits.

Take the metro to Salah Salem or Al-Sayeda Zeinab stations and then a taxi or microbus toward Al-Azhar Park. The park’s main entrance is off Salah Salem Street near the Aqsunqur (Blue) Mosque area; many tour operators include it on routes with the nearby Citadel and Khan el-Khalili.

• Visit at sunset for sweeping views of the Citadel (Saladin) and the city skyline.
• Enter via the main gate off Salah Salem Street to reach the best gardens and cafés quickly.
• Bring small change: vendors in the park sell roasted corn, pomegranate juice, and tea.
• The park is large; follow the map at the visitor center to avoid long detours.