The Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum is the largest museum in the world devoted to a single civilisation, a vast modern complex beside the pyramids of Giza built to house Egypt's unrivalled treasures. Its centrepiece is the complete golden hoard of the boy-king Tutankhamun, shown together for the first time, alongside colossal statues, a grand staircase of masterpieces and galleries tracing the whole sweep of ancient Egyptian history.

History

The idea of a new museum arose in the early 1990s with Farouk Hosni, minister of culture from 1987 to 2011, who found the old Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square out of date; the government launched the project in 1992, the foundation stone was laid in 2002, and construction began in 2005. The opening was postponed several times, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a trial period for visitors began in October 2024, and the museum was fully inaugurated on 1 November 2025, about 2 kilometres from the pyramids of Giza. The largest museum in the world devoted to a single civilisation, it holds over 100,000 objects, among them the complete collection of Tutankhamun, 5,398 pieces shown together in a 7,500 m² section, the second solar ship of Khufu, and the collections of Queen Hetepheres and of Yuya and Thuya (Wikipedia, Grand Egyptian Museum).

Highlights

• The Tutankhamun galleries - the boy-king's full golden treasure together.
• The Grand Staircase - the ascent lined with colossal statues.
• The colossus of Ramesses II - the giant statue in the atrium.
• The panoramic pyramid views - the museum's windows toward Giza.

When to go

October to April for cooler weather, though the museum is fully indoor and air-conditioned. Allow at least half a day, as it is enormous, and go early or book ahead to beat the crowds at this hugely popular new attraction.

Practical notes

It is enormous, so pace yourself and focus on the highlights rather than every gallery. As a major new attraction it is very busy, so book ahead and go early. It replaces the old Cairo museum as the home of the star treasures, so check where a specific piece is displayed.

Nearby

The Pyramids of Giza are alongside; central Cairo and its Islamic old town are a drive away.

Key facts