The Mosques of Islamic Cairo
Sultan Hassan Mosque, completed in 1363, is one of the largest mosques in the world by some historical measures, with a soaring central courtyard and walls thick enough to have survived sieges. Nearby, the Al-Azhar Mosque, founded in 970, remains an active centre of Islamic learning more than a thousand years after it opened, and its courtyard is open to respectful visitors between prayer times.
Shopping (and Haggling) at Khan el-Khalili
Bargaining is expected rather than rude — vendors typically quote well above their actual asking price, and a friendly back-and-forth is part of the transaction. Gold and silver jewellery, hand-blown glass, inlaid wooden boxes, and spices are the market's classic buys, and the alleyway cafés, including the centuries-old El Fishawy, are worth a stop regardless of whether you buy anything at all.
Visiting Tips
The district is best explored on foot and gets noticeably busier in the evening, when the market and surrounding cafés fill with both locals and visitors. Modest dress is appreciated when entering any of the mosques, and comfortable shoes matter more than anything else — cobblestones and crowds make it a slow, walking-heavy day.
