Al-Azhar Park

Al-Azhar Park is a 30-hectare hilltop garden in Islamic Cairo, opened in 2005 on what had been a rubbish mound. Entry is a small ticket, and the best time to come is late afternoon for sunset over the Citadel.

Al-Azhar Park is the best public green space in Cairo. For roughly 500 years this patch of land on the edge of Islamic Cairo was a heap of rubble and refuse. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture cleared it and laid out a 30-hectare park, which opened in 2005.

The design draws on Islamic garden traditions, with straight walkways, fountains, water channels and a small lake. Because the park sits on high ground, it gives one of the finest views in the city, over the domes and minarets of Islamic Cairo to the Citadel.

Digging for the park revealed a long section of the 12th-century Ayyubid city wall, which has since been restored along the western boundary.

What to see

• Sunset over the Citadel and Islamic Cairo
• Formal gardens, fountains and the lake
• The restored Ayyubid wall
• Restaurants and cafés on the hilltop

Visiting

• Opening hours: daily, from morning until late evening
• Tickets: small entry ticket; more expensive at weekends and on holidays
• Best time: late afternoon through sunset; Fridays fill up with families
• Getting there: taxi or Uber to the Salah Salem gate
• Nearby: Khan el-Khalili, Cairo Citadel, Al-Muizz Street