Grand Egyptian
Museum
The world's largest archaeological museum โ 100,000+ artifacts, 5,000 years of history, the complete Tutankhamun collection for the first time, and a view of the Giza Pyramids from inside the galleries.
A Museum 30 Years in the Making
The idea for a new Egyptian museum was first proposed in 1992. Construction began in 2005 after an international design competition won by the Irish firm Heneghan Peng Architects. The design is extraordinary: a triangulated alabaster and glass facade decorated with cartouches, a glass roof that pours natural light, and the western glass wall that frames a panoramic view of the Giza Pyramids.
The museum hosted partial openings from October 2024 before the full official opening on 1 November 2025 โ the moment when the complete Tutankhamun collection finally went on display together for the first time in history.
The GEM is organized around three pillars โ Society, Kingship, and Beliefs โ divided across 12 chronological main galleries, plus dedicated halls for Tutankhamun, the Solar Boats, the Grand Staircase, and more.
Who Was Tutankhamun?
Tutankhamun (c. 1341โ1323 BC) ruled Egypt for approximately 9 years, ascending the throne at around age 9โ10. He was the son of the "heretic pharaoh" Akhenaten and reversed his father's religious revolution โ restoring the traditional gods and moving the capital back from Amarna to Thebes and Memphis. He died at approximately 19 years old, possibly from complications of malaria combined with a broken leg.
His historical significance during his lifetime was relatively minor. What made him immortal was the accident of archaeology: his small tomb (KV62) in the Valley of the Kings was hidden by debris from later tombs above it and escaped the systematic looting that emptied every other royal tomb. When Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon broke through the sealed door on 26 November 1922, they found the only substantially intact royal tomb ever discovered โ changing our understanding of ancient Egypt's wealth and craftsmanship forever.
Photography Rules Inside Tutankhamun Galleries
Only mobile phone photography is permitted inside the Tutankhamun Galleries. No cameras, no flash, no tripods. Personal photography and video for personal use only โ commercial use strictly prohibited without written GEM permission.
Discovery Timeline
The GEM is far more than Tutankhamun. Here are 10 objects from the rest of the collection that no visitor should miss.
Everything you need to know to plan a perfect visit โ tickets, hours, rules, getting there, and where to eat.
| Visitor Category | Standard Admission |
|---|---|
| Foreign Adults | $24 USD |
| Foreign Students (valid ID) | $12 USD |
| Foreign Children (under 6) | Free |
| Egyptian / Arab Adults | EGP 200 |
| Egyptian Students (public university) | Free (with ID) |
| Guided Tour (90 min) | Additional fee |
๐ Online Booking โ Mandatory
GEM no longer sells tickets on-site. All tickets must be booked in advance at tickets.gem.eg. There are 8 daily entry time slots. Book your slot before planning your Cairo trip โ popular dates sell out weeks in advance.
| Area | Hours |
|---|---|
| Museum Galleries | 9:00am โ 6:00pm daily |
| Extended Hours (Wed & Sat) | Galleries: 9pm |
| Grand Staircase | Closes 1 hour after galleries |
| Ramadan Hours | 9:00am โ 4:00pm |
Address: King Salman Road, Al Haram, Giza
From Cairo center: ~30โ40 minutes by taxi/Uber
From Giza Pyramids: 2 km โ walkable
Parking: Available on-site ยท free with ticket
The Grand Hall houses an impressive collection of restaurants, cafes, and shops โ a welcome break between the galleries.
The best videos about the Grand Egyptian Museum โ from the official opening to full 4K walking tours.
Grand Egyptian Museum โ Full 4K Tour (2025)
Complete walk-through of all galleries.
EXCLUSIVE: Private Tour โ One Day Before Opening
Rare footage inside the Tutankhamun Galleries.
Egypt's Most Ambitious Project Since the Pyramids
Documentary-style tour covering architecture and history.
Egypt's New $1 Billion Museum โ Full Tour & Review
Honest assessment of the visitor experience.
Inside Egypt's New $1 Billion Museum โ Walking Tour
Real-time walking tour with no commentary.
The Grand Opening โ November 2025
Official opening ceremony footage.
8 questions about the Grand Egyptian Museum โ from beginner to expert.