Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Introduction

It was inaugurated in 1902 and, since then, it has not stopped growing. From the initial 12,000 pieces with which it was inaugurated, the collection currently has 150,000 objects that do not fit in the current building, so for years they have been working on the construction of a new headquarters that is expected to open in late 2022 or early 2023 and aims to be the most important archaeological museum in the world.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is undoubtedly the most important museum in the country and a visit to it is not to be missed. You will see there exquisite paintings, reliefs, statues and funerary elements from different dynasties, but the great jewel is Tutankhamun and all the rooms dedicated to his figure, from the beautiful sarcophagus to the treasures found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. And, of course, the popular mummy room, where the mummified remains of prominent pharaohs rest.

What to see at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

• Funerary mask of Tutankhamun. Perhaps one of the most beautiful pieces in the entire museum. A mask made of solid gold, glass and semiprecious stones. Part of the treasure found in the tomb of the adolescent pharaoh.
• Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus. Another of the treasures found in his tomb. It is a coffin in a perfect state of preservation, also made of solid gold and weighing about 110 kilograms.

• Statues of Rahotep and his wife Nofret. They are two round sculptures that belong to a married couple of the upper class. Its importance lies in the fact that it reveals the clothing and physiognomy of the aristocracy of Ancient Egypt.
• Seated statue of Pharaoh Chephren. It is a life-size sculpture intended to capture the greatness of the pharaoh Khafre, who is seated on his throne in hieratic position to reaffirm his power. On the back of his neck he wears the symbol of the god Horus.
• Triad of Mycerinos. It is one of the most valuable sculptures of the entire Egyptian civilization. It is seen in its center, in hieratic posture and higher than the others, the pharaoh Mycerinos. To her right is Hathor, goddess of love and the arts, and to the left, the divinity of the nomo of Cinopolis.
• Statues of Amenhotep III and Tiyi. Two imposing sculptures, more than 36 meters high, stand in the center of the first room of the museum and welcome visitors.
• Narmer’s palette. A small plaque recounting the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by King Narmer, marking the beginning of the first dynasty of the Egyptian Empire. It has a large number of symbols that are still being studied.
• Funerary mask of the pharaoh Sheshonq II. It is a gold funerary mask depicting the features of the pharaoh Sheshonq II, who reigned 887-885 BC.

What will the new Egyptian Museum in Cairo look like?

Coinciding with the 200th anniversary of French archaeologist Jean-François Champollion’s decipherment of the Rosetta Stone inscription and the centenary of Tutankhamun’s tomb, The new Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which will be the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization, is expected to open to the public in 2023.

It aims to bring together more than 45,000 pieces from different museums, of which more than 20,000 have never been shown to the public, so there is enormous expectation in the community of archaeologists, Egyptologists and historians for its inauguration.

The entire project has cost more than US$1 billion and occupies a site of more than 50 hectares, with a surface area of more than 480,000 square meters. It will have a translucent facade more than 600 meters high and 45 meters long.

In addition to having the largest Egyptian collection in the world, the new Egyptian Museum in Cairo aims to be a modern site with restaurants, stores, a conference center with capacity for 1,000 attendees, three parks, a library and a conservation center well equipped to care for the heritage and make it ready to be exhibited in its halls.

The construction of this new museum is not a new project. The work was started many years ago, but had to be interrupted many times for various reasons: lack of budget, political instability, etc. But it seems that a definitive opening date is coming soon.

How to get to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

It is located in the center of Cairo. If you are on your own, the best way to get there is to take metro line 2 and get off at Sadat station. Another option is to order a cab, asking the driver to take the route in the direction of Tahrir Square. If you have previously booked a tour that includes a guided visit to the museum, many agencies may include pick-up service from your hotel in a van or private car.

You can also visit it in a one-day itinerary including the Museum with the Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx of Giza, Saqqara and choose one more between Memphis or Dahshur, so that it is not too many visits in one day.

Schedules

Monday to Wednesday from 9:00 to 19:00, Thursday and Sunday from 9:00 to 21:00, and Friday and Saturday from 9:00 to 16:00.

Visit prices

Prices for the morning shift:

• General admission: adults 160 EGP, accredited students 80 EGP.
• Room of the Mummies: adults 180 EGP, accredited students 90 EGP.
• Photo ticket: 50 EGP.

Prices for the afternoon shift:

• General admission: adults 200 EGP, accredited students 110 EGP.
• Room of the Mummies: adults 225 EGP, accredited students 115 EGP.
• Photo ticket: 50 EGP.
• Egyptian Museum website. Information and programming of exhibitions, collection, activities.