18/07/2019
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East and holds one of the world’s largest collections of Ancient Egyptian art, ranging from colossal statues and sarcophagi to jewelry, papyri, and everyday household items. For anyone visiting Egypt, this museum is one of the key stops for understanding the country’s rich historical legacy.
Location
The museum is located in the very heart of Cairo, on the northern side of Tahrir Square. The closest metro station is Sadat Station, from which the museum is easily accessible by following the signs. Its exact address is: Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt.
From coastal resorts such as Hurghada, tourists often visit the museum as part of one-day tours to Cairo. These excursions usually include:
- A stop at the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx.
- A visit to the Egyptian Museum or, increasingly, to the new Grand Egyptian Museum.
- A lunch cruise on the Nile River.
Opening Hours
The museum is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 (the ticket office closes at about 16:15), including weekends and public holidays. During Ramadan, opening hours are shortened.
Tickets
- Entry ticket for foreign adults: about 550 Egyptian pounds (2026).
- Students: about 50% discount with a valid student card.
- Photography with a mobile phone (without flash) is free; using a camera requires an extra ticket.
History and Building
The museum’s history goes back to 1858, when the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette founded the Egyptian Antiquities Service and a first museum in Bulaq, at a time when countless artifacts were being exported abroad by foreign archaeologists. Despite this, Egypt managed to preserve a vast number of treasures, many of which are now housed here. The current building on Tahrir Square opened in 1902 and, although partly renovated in recent years, still shows its age.
Due to the overcrowding and limited exhibition space, the Egyptian authorities built a new, modern museum near the Giza Pyramids. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) officially opened in November 2025, and many items from the Cairo museum, including the complete treasure of Tutankhamun, were transferred there.
Exhibits
The exhibits are organized chronologically and grouped by type. Visitors first enter a vast hall filled with monumental sculptures, such as:
- The statue of Pharaoh Khafre, one of the builders of the Giza Pyramids.
- Colossal statues of Akhenaten and representations of Queen Nefertiti (though the famous Berlin bust of Nefertiti is not here).
Other highlights include:
- The treasures of Tanis, with the gold and silver funerary masks and coffins of pharaohs of the 21st and 22nd Dynasties.
- The only known complete statue of Pharaoh Cheops (Khufu), builder of the Great Pyramid – a tiny ivory figurine just 7.5 cm tall.
- The life-like sculptures of Prince Rahotep and his wife Nofret, dating back to around 2600 BC, which still astonish visitors with their realism.
Some famous exhibits are no longer here: the royal mummies, including Ramses II, were moved to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in 2021, and Tutankhamun’s golden death mask is now displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Visitor Experience
The museum is usually crowded, especially in peak tourist seasons. Visitors often encounter:
- Queues at the entrance.
- Large guided groups, sometimes competing for space and speaking in many different languages.
For this reason, it is recommended to prepare in advance by reading about the exhibits or hiring a knowledgeable guide. This way, visitors can fully appreciate the unique stories behind each artifact.
Today, despite the bustle, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo remains one of the most important cultural institutions in the world, offering an unparalleled journey into the history and achievements of Ancient Egypt.
Weather in location: Cairo Egyptian Museum
- Today 19°…29°
- Wind 11 km/h SW
- No precipitation now
Average by month
Monthly averages and dry days (no measurable rain) from ERA5, last 10 years.
