Introduction
The Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM Egypt, is located on the edge of the Giza Plateau in Egypt, overlooking the iconic Pyramids. It opened to the public in November 2025, after twenty years in development, and currently holds the largest number of archaeological artifacts of any museum in the world. In many ways, GEM Egypt has been carefully designed to impress – even before visitors arrive, they are greeted by the triangular glass façade of the museum, reminiscent of the pyramids on the horizon.
Visiting GEM Egypt requires careful planning due to the vast number of artifacts on display. Discover the Grand Egyptian Museum, explore its highlights and treasures, and learn everything you need to know before visiting GEM Egypt in Giza. The museum's collection includes more than 100,000 items, with approximately 50% on permanent display in twelve main galleries. These exhibit ancient Egyptian history in chronological order, beginning with the pre-dynastic era and proceeding through to Roman Egypt. To make the most of your visit without the stress of planning, explore our Egypt travel packages, which include guided visits to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Table of content:
What Will You See Inside the Museum?
The Tutankhamun Galleries
The most popular galleries in the museum are dedicated to the young boy king Tutankhamun. More than 5000 artifacts from his tomb are on display, including his iconic golden mask, throne, four funerary beds, and six ceremonial chariots. It is worth noting that Egyptologist Zahi Hawass has called these galleries the museum’s “main attraction.” The reason for this is simple – these galleries contain artifacts that have not been on public display for most of their existence since their discovery in 1922. Part of the collection was even on a long international tour before being returned to Egypt for the opening of GEM Egypt.
The Grand Hall and Grand Staircase
The Grand Hall, located at the heart of GEM Egypt, leads to the Grand Staircase. Here, visitors can see a 7-meter-high statue of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II. As the museum’s architects designed, the Grand Staircase leads upward through the center of the museum. Along the way, visitors can see various sculpture collections from different eras in ancient Egyptian history. This is an example of excellent spatial planning, made possible by the sheer scale of GEM Egypt – the staircase leads directly to the main galleries, which are framed by the view of the Pyramids.
Khufu’s Solar Boats
One of the most interesting exhibits in the museum is the solar boats of Khufu. These ancient vessels were used by the Pharaoh for his journey to the afterlife and were buried with him in his pyramid. Previously, these artifacts were on display in different museums in Egypt. For the opening of GEM Egypt, two climate-controlled halls were specially built for the solar boats to be displayed together for the first time since their discovery.
How Do You Get to the Grand Egyptian Museum from the Pyramids?
The location of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza allows tourists and researchers to visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. In addition, the two are connected by a pedestrian bridge and a transport shuttle. Thus, it is possible to visit both the GEM and the Pyramids of Giza in the same day.
This is a popular tourist destination for day trips from central Cairo, where many people stay overnight. It is worth noting that a visit to both the museum and the Pyramids can be combined into a single trip to Giza from central Cairo. However, if time is limited, a single day trip to Giza from central Egypt would work well in both cases, with a comfortable return to the city. A private Luxor day tour with OFT Travel combines well with a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum for those looking to extend their time in Cairo and along the Nile.
How Much Time Should You Plan for a Visit?
Grand Egyptian Museum Review: A Must-See but Time-Consuming
Due to the size of the collection, a hasty visit will not be able to appreciate the museum properly. It is recommended to set aside more than one day if one wishes to visit both the Tutankhamun galleries and the Grand Hall with the solar boats, along with a decent amount of the first galleries. Alternatively, one may see the Tut exhibit and the Grand Hall first, and then return another time to see the rest.
It is best to travel at a relaxed pace, especially in the popular exhibition halls, such as the Tutankhamun galleries. Therefore, arriving early in the morning or in the late afternoon can help one avoid crowds. A private day tour to Luxor with OFT Travel can complement a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum perfectly, as it offers a great insight into Egypt’s history. Moreover, for those wishing to prolong their visit to Cairo and the Nile Valley, a private day tour to Luxor can be an excellent addition to a Giza Plateau and Sphinx visit.
The Story Behind the Grand Egyptian Museum
The entire construction of GEM Egypt lasted about twenty years – from 2005 to 2025. The museum was officially opened on 1 November 2025, with the attendance of global political and royal figures, including Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
The President noted that the Grand Egyptian Museum is a symbol of ancient Egypt’s wisdom and modern Egypt’s achievements. It is noteworthy that regular tourists were invited to visit the museum a few days after its official opening. Moreover, the opening of GEM Egypt has had a beneficial effect on the local infrastructure in Giza – a new metro station has been built, and the road leading to the pyramids has been improved. This is especially important for flights arriving at Sphinx International Airport to see the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. GEM Egypt has fuelled the increase in tourism in the country, which has seen a record number of tourists in Egypt in 2024 – a total of 15.7 million people.
FAQs
What makes the Grand Egyptian Museum different from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo?
The GEM has a much larger collection of artifacts. In addition, two of the museum’s galleries are dedicated to the treasures of Tutankhamun, which are displayed together for the first time since 1922. Moreover, GEM’s modern architecture makes it possible to display collections of artifacts that were previously.
How many artifacts does GEM Egypt have?
GEM Egypt has more than 100,000 artifacts. Of these, about 50% are on display in the museum’s twelve galleries. It is noteworthy that the galleries dedicated to the treasures of Tutankhamun contain more than 5,000 artifacts from his tomb.
Can I visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on the same day?
These two great attractions are located near each other, and it is possible to visit both in one day. There is even a pedestrian bridge and a transport shuttle between the two. However, to see the main exhibits of both the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids of Giza, it is better to allocate a whole day to this trip.
How long should I plan for a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum?
To see the main exhibits of GEM Egypt, the visitor will need at least half a day. Ideally, you should go to the museum on the day of your arrival in Giza to have enough time. If you are visiting Giza on a day trip from central Cairo, you will be able to see the most interesting galleries. It is worth noting that the galleries with the treasures of Tutankhamun are the most visited, so it is best to arrive early in the morning or in the late afternoon to avoid crowds of people.
Do I need a guide to see the Grand Egyptian Museum?
While a guide is not necessary, given the sheer size of the museum and the vast amount of information pertaining to King Tutankhamun's collection, it would be beneficial to have one on hand, especially if it's your first time. Furthermore, if you're visiting Giza and only have a limited window of time to view the exhibits, a guide would be able to assist you in viewing the most important galleries.
