Egyptian National Military Museum

The National Military Museum is inside the Cairo Citadel, in the north-western part of the Harem Palaces, and overlooks the Mokattam plateau. Its objects and replicas cover Egypt’s military history since ancient times.

The museum commemorates the battles of Majeddo, Qadesh and Ein Gallout, and the Battle of the Sixth of October 1973, which led to the liberation of Sinai from Israeli occupation. An open-air section displays sculptures of Egyptian historical figures and heavy weapons used in the battles of 1956, 1967 and 1973.

Highlights

The museum is in the Harem Palace, built for Mohamed Ali in the first half of the 19th century, so the building itself is part of the visit.

Inside, the displays run roughly in date order, so you can follow Egypt’s armies from the pharaohs to the 20th century in one walk. Look out for:

• Models and paintings of famous battles, from ancient campaigns to the October War of 1973
• Weapons, armour and uniforms from the Islamic and Ottoman periods
• Halls on the modern army, with uniforms, medals and equipment
• The open-air display of tanks, guns and aircraft in the garden

Visiting tips

Allow about an hour for the museum itself. Since it sits inside the Citadel and the entry ticket covers it, it makes sense to see it as part of a half-day visit to the whole complex.

Nearby within the Citadel walls are the Mosque of Mohamed Ali, with its tall pencil minarets, the older Mosque of Al-Nasir Mohamed and the Police Museum. The terraces give one of the best views over Cairo, and on a clear day you can see the Giza pyramids on the horizon.

Below the Citadel, the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifai mosques stand side by side and are an easy add-on before or after your visit. Wear comfortable shoes, as there is a fair amount of walking on stone paving.