Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum sits about two kilometres from the Giza pyramids and is the largest museum in the world devoted to a single civilisation. The project was announced in 1992, construction began in 2005, and after a long trial period the museum was officially inaugurated on 1 November 2025. Its collection of more than 100,000 objects runs from the Predynastic era to Roman Egypt, and the scale of the building, set across some 50 hectares, is part of the experience.

The first thing most visitors see is the Grand Hall, where an 11-metre statue of Ramesses II weighing 83 tonnes greets you. From there the Grand Stairs climb past rows of royal statues towards the main galleries, with framed views of the pyramids at the top. The centrepiece is the Tutankhamun Galleries, where more than 5,000 objects from the boy king's tomb are displayed together for the first time, including the gold mask, chariots, shrines and jewellery. A separate hall holds the two solar boats of Khufu, around 4,600 years old.

The museum suits almost everyone, from first-time visitors to serious Egyptology enthusiasts, and the wide, level spaces work well for families. Allow at least half a day; a full day is not too much if you want to see the main galleries properly. Personal photography is allowed in most areas, but not in designated parts of the Tutankhamun Galleries, and tripods, selfie sticks and flash are banned. Large bags must be left in the cloakroom, outside food is not allowed and there is no re-entry once you leave.

Tickets are sold through the official ticketing website, with options for standard admission or a group guided tour, plus extras such as an evening immersive show. The galleries open at 09:00 every day and close at 18:00, except on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when they stay open until 21:00. Last entry is one hour before closing. The late evenings are a good way to avoid the midday heat and the largest tour groups.

The museum is on the Cairo to Alexandria desert road at the edge of Giza, so most people arrive by taxi, ride-hailing app or organised tour. It pairs naturally with the pyramids, and many visitors spend a morning on the plateau and the afternoon here. The complex also has shops, cafés and landscaped gardens, which make a useful break between galleries.