Have you ever heard of al-Azhar – either the university or the religious institution? Whether you are planning your first trip to Egypt or have lived here for years, you are likely to have heard the name. What you may not know is that directly east of the university, atop al-Darassa Hill, is a lovely “public” space called al-Azhar Park.
I say “public” because there is, of course, an admission, but the price – 25LE per person on weekdays and 35LE per person on weekends – gains you access to 72 acres of manicured greenery you’ll instantly adore.
We love visiting al-Azhar Park in the winter when the weather permits long hours of outdoor play. If you do visit in the summer, bring a blanket and arrive early to stake out your spot under a tree. You might also try playing in the fountain; my younger kids have played in it a number of times but once they were shooed out by the park security.
As I mentioned, I generally recommend arriving early in the day, but one exception to this is during Ramadan. We have a long-standing tradition of gathering friends and having a picnic iftar at al-Azhar Park on the first night of Ramadan. Bring a blanket, a delicious meal (takeout is fine!), and a few Ramadan drinks like sobia to share. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the sunset call to prayer. Enter in the main gate and take either the right- or left-hand path to go up the hill in the center of the park. You want to hold your picnic at the top of the hill so you can look out over the city below and both see and hear that moment when the first day of fasting ends. Unforgettable.
Let’s just be honest folks; one major perk to visiting al-Azhar Park at sunset are the photo bragging rights. But don’t leave as soon as the light starts to fade! The park is safe. Stay until the Isha prayer and let the kids play hide-and-a-go seek. They’ll love you for it.
If picnics aren’t your thing, dine at one of the three lovely restaurants and cafes that call the park home. The Hill-Top Restaurant is my personal favorite to visit, even if only to take pictures from the veranda. A heads-up to the photographers in our midst: if you bring in an obviously professional camera they will charge you extra at the front gate.
As if acres of clean space to run around in isn’t enough, al-Azhar Park also features a decent playground your kids will honestly enjoy. It gets very hot mid-day in the summer and crowded on the weekends, however, so plan your trip accordingly. If you are coming with children, you will definitely be pleased to hear that the park has good bathrooms and kiosks for buying water and snacks.
Getting to/from al-Azhar is simple by private car or Uber. If the main draw is the playground, consider parking in the northeast end of the park. Otherwise, you can pull up to the main entrance and park right next to the gate. For my public transportation friends, I suggest getting off at the Mir Girgas metro station and taking a tuk-tuk from this point to the al-Azhar front gate.
As I always say, just get on out there and try it out! I promise it will be your new favorite place for letting the kids burn off some energy and for meeting up with friends for sunset picnics. See you there!
