Since 1 December 2025 you cannot buy a ticket at the door. That one administrative change has left a lot of people standing outside the largest archaeological museum on earth, so it belongs at the top of any guide rather than buried in the practicalities. The Grand Egyptian Museum sits on the Giza plateau within sight of the pyramids, and it is the first place in history to display the complete contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb together in one building.
What Is the Grand Egyptian Museum?
Set on the Giza Plateau within sight of the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum is the largest archaeological museum in the world, with roughly 81,000 square metres of exhibition space across 12 major galleries. According to UNESCO, it holds more than 100,000 ancient Egyptian artefacts and was conceived as the new home for treasures long crowded into Cairo’s historic museum.
Its centrepiece is the complete Tutankhamun collection: over 5,000 items from the tomb discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, including the iconic golden funerary mask, gilded shrines, chariots, jewellery and thrones, shown all together for the very first time. Other highlights include the towering statue of Ramses II in the grand atrium and the colossal group statue of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye.
To see Tutankhamun’s golden mask and then look out through the museum’s windows to the pyramids themselves is a pairing no other place on Earth can offer.
Best Grand Egyptian Museum Tours
Grand Egyptian Museum Guided Tour with Transfers — Best Overall
A guided tour of the GEM’s highlights with an Egyptologist, so the Tutankhamun galleries and colossal statues come with the stories behind them, hotel transfers included.
Grand Egyptian Museum & the Great Pyramid of Giza — Best Combo
Do both icons in one day: the pyramids and Sphinx on the plateau, then the new museum next door, the most efficient way to experience Giza.
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Tips for Visiting the GEM
- Allow at least half a day. The museum is vast; the Tutankhamun galleries alone deserve unhurried time.
- Book ahead. As a brand-new headline attraction, timed tickets and popular slots go quickly.
- Combine with the pyramids, which are only minutes away on the same plateau.
- Wear comfortable shoes. There is a lot of ground to cover, including the grand staircase lined with monumental statues.
Where to Stay
Giza hotels near the plateau put both the pyramids and the GEM on your doorstep; central Cairo suits those wanting the wider city too.
You Must Book Online Before You Go
This is the single most important thing to know, and most older guides get it wrong: since 1 December 2025, on-site ticket sales have ended for foreign visitors. You reserve a timed slot in advance through the museum’s official booking site, and you choose a two-hour entry window; typically 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm or 7pm. Turning up at the door without a reservation is not a plan.
Tickets, Hours and What’s Included (2026)
- One all-inclusive ticket, about EGP 1,450–1,590 (roughly US$28–30) for foreign adults. Crucially, this covers everything: the complete Tutankhamun collection and Khufu’s Solar Boat included. There is no separate Tutankhamun ticket.
- Students and children aged 6–25 with ID pay around EGP 730; under-6s go free.
- Open daily 9am–6pm, with late opening until 9pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the evening slots are the quietest and the best-lit for the atrium. Last entry is about an hour before closing.
- Hours shorten to roughly 9am–3pm during Ramadan (about 18 February – 19 March in 2026).
- Two hours is the minimum; the Tutankhamun galleries alone reward more. The grand staircase, lined with monumental statuary and ending on a view toward the pyramids, is the signature moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Grand Egyptian Museum open?
Yes. The GEM held its grand opening in November 2025 and is now fully open to the public on the Giza Plateau.
Is Tutankhamun’s mask at the Grand Egyptian Museum?
Yes. The complete Tutankhamun collection, including the famous golden mask, is displayed together at the GEM for the first time in history.
How far is the GEM from the pyramids?
Just a few minutes’ drive: the museum stands on the Giza Plateau within sight of the pyramids, so the two are easily combined.
