So you’ve just arrived in Egypt and want to check out some ancient Egyptian artefacts? What better place to start than at a museum.
But wait, there’s more than one.
First you’ve got the Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo, which has been the country’s main archeological museum for the past century.
Then you’ve got the brand, spankin’ new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Egypt’s ambitious plan to create the largest archeological museum in the world, the museum of museums.
You might be wondering: are they both the same? Is it worth visiting both? Or perhaps you’ve only got the time (or the budget, or the interest) to visit one?
Having visited both in 2025, I’m here to help you decide and give you everything you need to know before visiting Egypt’s 2 best museums.
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The Egyptian Museum
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities (often called the Egyptian Museum or Cairo Museum) has been Egypt’s premier museum for the past century, and, as the largest museum in Africa, it houses the most extensive collection of Egyptian artefacts in the world.
From its construction in 1902 until the opening of the GEM in 2024, this museum was THE place in Egypt to see ancient artefacts. Its collection of artefacts spans the full range of ancient Egyptian history, from the first dynastic period to the Greek and Roman eras.
Despite the opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum, this older museum will remain open and continue to exhibit its impressive collection of artefacts.
Where is the Egyptian Museum?
The Egyptian Museum is located in Tahrir Square, in downtown Cairo, making it easy to reach.
If you’re staying in Cairo city centre, you likely won’t be far from the museum. If you’re staying in Giza, it’s about a 20-30min taxi ride away.
Entrance Fee & Opening Hours
The Egyptian Museum is open from 9am to 4pm, 7 days a week. If you’d like to arrive early and try to beat the crowds, the ticket office opens at 8:30am.
The entrance fee for the Egyptian Museum is EGP550 (275 if you’re a student) for foreigners, and EGP30 (20 for students) if you’re an Egyptian or Arab national.
What to expect
If you follow the intended path around this rustic 2-story building, you’ll be taken on a journey through time, beginning with Egypt’s first dynastic period and ending in its Greco-Roman era, covering over 4500 years of history.
Along the way you’ll see some of the best ancient artefacts that Egypt has to offer including countless statues, sarcophagi, and mummies.
Among the museum’s most popular exhibits is that of the famous Tutenkhamen, which houses a collection of artefacts discovered in the late pharaoh’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings (where his body still remains).
The building may be old compared to the new GEM building, but if you ask me this simply adds to its charm, taking you back to the golden era of ancient Egyptian discoveries in the early 20th century.
The Grand Egyptian Museum
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is Egypt’s new pride and joy, and a project that’s been in the works for over 20 years. It’s also the result of some grandiose plans that are yet to come to fruition – although it’s getting close.
The GEM was first announced in 2002, an ambitious project to create the largest archeological museum in the world. But since the project began it’s been marred by a mix of financial, political and environmental issues that have pushed its opening date further and further.
However, as of October 2024, the museum is now open – albeit in a limited capacity.
You’ll probably hear that the museum’s opening date is still upcoming. Don’t be misled by this, the museum is currently open, albeit in a limited capacity to ‘test site readiness and visitor experience’. It’s still awaiting its official grand opening in which the full, completed site will be revealed.
While areas of the museum grounds are still a construction site, and some exhibits are yet to open, there’s still plenty to see at the GEM.
The grand opening is expected to take place in July 2025, but don’t be surprised if it’s delayed, as it has been multiple times before.
Where is the Grand Egyptian Museum?
The Grand Egyptian Museum is located in Giza, about 2km north of the pyramids complex.
This may not seem far, but given the chaotic Cairo streets it’s probably further than you’d care to walk.
You can easily fit in both the Giza Pyramids and the GEM on the same day, but I suggest catching a taxi if travelling between the two.
Entry Fee & Opening Hours
The Grand Egyptian Museum is open from 9am to 6pm, with the exception of Wednesdays and Saturdays when it stays open until 9pm.
The entrance fee to the Grand Egyptian Museum is EGP1270 for foreign nationals – which is quite expensive by Egyptian standards. As usual, discounts apply for students, children and seniors.
While I endeavour to keep this website up to date, you can check for any updates to these details on the GEM website.
What to expect
So what do you get for the pricey entrance ticket?
Well, while the museum isn’t fully open, there’s still an impressive collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts to check out. Currently your ticket gets you entry to the exterior gardens, the Grand Hall and Staircase, and the upstairs Main Galleries.
The Grand Hall and Staircase is the first part of the museum you’ll pass through on your way up to the Galleries, and where you’ll find the GEM’s largest artefacts, including several pillars, statues and sarcophagi found in various tombs around Egypt.
The Main Galleries will take you on a journey through time beginning with the oldest Egyptian artefacts from the Old Kingdom all the way through to the Greco-Roman era. You’ll see a broad range of artefacts along the way, from tiny pieces of ancient jewelry, to large sarcophagi.
Once fully complete, the GEM will also host a Tutankhamun gallery, which will house all the Tutankhamun artefacts under one roof, and will also be the new home for Khufu’s ship, which previously was kept in it’s own little museum next to the Great Pyramid.
If you have children, there’s also the Children’s Museum where, for an additional ticket price of 750EGP, they can learn about ancient Egypt through kid-friendly, interactive exhibits.
Verdict: which is better?
So, you’ve only got the time (or interest) to visit one of the two museums, so which offers the better value?
The Egyptian Museum may be older and smaller, but it still holds most of the goods, while the GEM offers a massive, modern complex and promises big, but until it’s fully complete it’s yet to live up to those promises.
Given that the GEM entrance fee costs more than double compared to its older counterpart, and has less in it, the verdict is pretty clear: the Egyptian Museum is still the better option.
In time, once the GEM’s big ambitions are fully realised, this is likely to change, but until the day when it finally sees its grand opening, the original Egyptian Museum is the better value for money.
If you’ve only got time for one, visit the Egyptian Museum.
