Hotels near Mosque of Muhammad Ali

Commissioned in 1830 by Muhammad Ali Pasha and completed in 1848, this Ottoman-style mosque inside the Citadel borrows directly from Istanbul's Sultan Ahmed silhouette: two slender pencil minarets flanking a central dome 21 metres in diameter. The interior cladding gives the building its nickname - Egyptian alabaster covers the lower walls, while gilded medallions and 365 lamps suspended from the ceiling represent the days of the year. Muhammad Ali's tomb sits in a marble enclosure to the right of the entrance. Free entry is included with the Citadel ticket. Cover shoulders and knees, women receive a loaner shawl at the door, and shoes go in the wooden racks before stepping onto the carpet.

Pro Tip: Sit cross-legged in the centre of the carpet for five minutes - the acoustic dome bounces whispered prayers across the entire space, an effect lost when standing.