The building
Marcel Dourgnon's building, inaugurated in 1902; ancient statues stand in the front garden.
Home / Attractions / Egyptian Museum
Cairo & Giza · Tahrir Square, Downtown Cairo
The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir
The oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East, opened in 1902 in downtown Cairo, with Pharaonic antiquities from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman era.
About Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, in downtown Cairo, is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East and holds the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world, from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman era, according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Two of its best-known collections have moved: the royal mummies went to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in 2021, and the Tutankhamun Galleries are now at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. The Ministry lists among the museum's collection the burials of Yuya and Thuya, the treasures of Tanis, the Narmer Palette and statues of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, the builders of the Giza pyramids.
A short history
- 1895An international competition, the first of its kind, chose the design of the French architect Marcel Dourgnon.
- 1902Khedive Abbas Helmy II inaugurated the museum, now a landmark of downtown Cairo.
- 2021On April 3, 2021, the Pharaohs' Golden Parade carried 22 royal mummies from the museum to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
- TodayTutankhamun's galleries are at the Grand Egyptian Museum. The Tahrir museum keeps its Pharaonic collection of statues, papyri, sarcophagi and jewelry.
What you'll see
The galleries
Statues, sarcophagi, papyri and jewelry fill the galleries; the collection runs from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman era.
Opening hours and tickets
Opening hours
| Summer | 9:00 am – last entry 4:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Winter | 9:00 am – last entry 4:00 pm |
| Ramadan | 9:00 am – last entry 3:00 pm |
The Ministry's monuments website gives 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, with the ticket window closing at 4:00 pm.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticketing portal, checked August 2026
Tickets, foreign visitors
| Adult | Student | |
| General admission | EGP 550 | EGP 275 |
- Audio tour: EGP 75 for foreign visitors
- Children under 6 enter free
- Students: valid ID, age 24 or under
Prices in Egyptian pounds, as of August 2026
Getting there and how the visit runs
Drive to the site
| From Downtown / Zamalek | 1.3 km · about 2 min |
|---|---|
| From Giza hotels | 15.5 km · about 17 min |
| From New Cairo | 38.1 km · about 32 min |
Without traffic, from our tours' map routing
Our Egyptian Museum, Citadel and Coptic Cairo tour starts here with a guided visit to the Pharaonic collections. Our Giza pyramids and Egyptian Museum tour comes here after the pyramids, 20.4 km from the Sphinx, about 20 minutes. Entrance fees are included on both.
Before you go
What to wear and bring
- Modest clothing
- Comfortable shoes
Photos
- Photos with a mobile phone are free of charge
- Ask before photographing people
Average daily high in Cairo (°C)
The coolest months are December to February.
World Meteorological Organization climate normals (monthly averages, not forecasts)
Questions about Egyptian Museum
Is King Tut still in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo?
No. The Tutankhamun Galleries are now at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, where standard admission includes them.
Are the royal mummies still in the Egyptian Museum?
No. On April 3, 2021, the Pharaohs' Golden Parade moved 22 royal mummies to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, whose Royal Mummies Gallery shows 17 kings and 3 queens.
What are the Egyptian Museum's opening hours?
From 9:00 am with last entry at 4:00 pm in summer and winter, and last entry at 3:00 pm in Ramadan, per the Ministry's ticketing portal.
How much is the Egyptian Museum ticket?
EGP 550 for foreign adults and EGP 275 for foreign students, as of August 2026. Children under 6 enter free.
Egyptian Museum or Grand Egyptian Museum: which should I visit?
For Tutankhamun, the Grand Egyptian Museum. The Tahrir museum keeps a large Pharaonic collection in its original building, including statues of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure.
Who designed the Egyptian Museum?
The French architect Marcel Dourgnon, who won an international competition in 1895; the museum opened in 1902.
Sources: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; National Museum of Egyptian Civilization; Grand Egyptian Museum; UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Day tours
Tours that stop at Egyptian Museum
From Cairo & Giza hotels
Giza pyramids and the Egyptian Museum
PriceOn request
From Cairo & Giza hotels
Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and Coptic Cairo
- Full day
PriceOn request
From Cairo & Giza hotels
The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir
Approx., per person$44
From Cairo & Giza hotels
Pyramids and both museums in a day
Approx., per person$50
From Cairo & Giza hotels
The two museums: GEM and Tahrir
Approx., per person$57
Guides
Read before you go
Egyptian Museum or Grand Egyptian Museum?Tutankhamun is at the GEM and the royal mummies at NMEC: what each Cairo museum holds and how to choose.
What can you see in Cairo in 6 hours?A half-day tour, one cluster of nearby sites, or a two-hour felucca sail or quad ride; check last entry.
Best Cairo day tours for first-time visitorsOur Cairo tours compared by what they cover and how long they run, and how to pair them without repeats.
How hotel pickup works for Cairo day toursDrive times without traffic from three Cairo hotel areas, who meets you, and what the transfer includes.