A masterpiece of early Mamluk architecture, the Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrassa was built at huge expense by its namesake sultan, who was assassinated before its completion. After passing through a richly decorated portal, visitors enter a courtyard with an ablutions foundation and four lantern-hung liwans—each adjoining a madrassa. A bronze door from the courtyard leads to the sultan’s tomb.
The Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrassa can be visited independently or on tours of Cairo’s Islamic quarter. These typically private tours, which include a guide to detail the mosque’s history and design, also visit nearby sites such as the Citadel of Saladin and Al-Rifai Mosque. Other options include multi-day tours that span all Cairo’s highlights, including Islamic Cairo, the pyramids, and the Egyptian Museum—an ideal choice for first-time visitors.