The building
Clad in local sandstone and pink granite, its design follows traditional Nubian architecture.
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Aswan · Aswan city, East Bank of the Nile
The Nubian Museum
Aswan's museum of Nubian history and culture, founded after the UNESCO campaign to save the monuments of Nubia and opened in 1997.
About Nubian Museum
The Nubian Museum in Aswan shows the archaeology, history and traditions of Nubia, the Nile valley south of Aswan. Its three floors exhibit thousands of artefacts on the development of Egyptian and Nubian civilization, and its garden is laid out as an open-air museum.
It was founded in response to the international campaign to save the monuments of Nubia, which UNESCO began at the Egyptian government's request in 1960. The building, designed by the architect Mahmoud Al-Hakim and clad in local sandstone and pink granite in the manner of Nubian architecture, received the Aga Khan Award in 2001.
A short history
- 1960UNESCO began the international campaign to save the ancient monuments of Nubia, at the Egyptian government's request.
- Early 1980sA committee of specialists from the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egyptian universities and UNESCO began work on the museum.
- 1997The museum opened, its interior designed by the Mexican engineer Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.
- 2001The building received the Aga Khan Award.
What you'll see
The galleries
Three floors of artefacts trace the development of Egyptian and Nubian civilization; the main exhibition hall and a diorama show Nubian traditions and handicrafts.
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 4:00 pm |
The Ministry's museum page gives 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, plus evening hours on Thursday and Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm (ticket window closes at 8:00 pm).
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticketing portal, checked August 2026
Tickets, foreign visitors
| Adult | Student | |
| Nubian Museum | EGP 400 | EGP 200 |
- 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 Aswan hotels | 2.6 km · about 3 min |
|---|
Without traffic, from our tours' map routing
Our Nubian Museum visit is a short private trip: pickup at your Aswan hotel, a guided visit with an English-speaking Egyptologist, and the drive back. Entry to the museum is included.
Before you go
What to wear and bring
- Modest clothing
- Comfortable shoes
Photos
- Private photography is permitted after paying the ticket fees
- No flashlights or laser pointers inside
- Do not photograph other visitors or staff
Average daily high in Aswan (°C)
The coolest months are December to February.
World Meteorological Organization climate normals (monthly averages, not forecasts)
Questions about Nubian Museum
When did the Nubian Museum open?
In 1997. It was founded in response to the UNESCO campaign, begun in 1960, to save the monuments of Nubia.
What are the opening hours of the Nubian Museum?
From 9:00 am with last entry at 4:00 pm in every season, per the Ministry's ticketing portal. The Ministry's museum page gives 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, plus evening hours on Thursday and Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
How much is the ticket?
EGP 400 for foreign adults and EGP 200 for foreign students, as of August 2026. Children under 6 enter free.
What is in the museum garden?
An open-air museum with part of a Fatimid cemetery, a cave with prehistoric rock inscriptions, a waterway that stands for the Nile and a reconstructed Nubian house.
Can you take photos inside the Nubian Museum?
Yes, private photography is permitted after paying the ticket fees. Flashlights and laser pointers are not allowed.
Can I bring a large bag?
Bags, backpacks and parcels larger than 40x40 cm are not allowed into the museum; you leave them in the cloakroom.
Sources: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; World Meteorological Organization.
Day tours
Tours that stop at Nubian Museum
Guides
Read before you go
Egypt day tours by city: what you can do from each baseWhat you can do from each of our 8 bases, from the Giza pyramids to the Red Sea reefs.
Philae Temple from Aswan: the boat, the hours and the ticketsThe boat to the island, our Philae tours by day and by night, two sets of official hours, and the tickets.
Day tours from a Nile cruise boat in Luxor and AswanWhich Luxor and Aswan day tours pick you up from a Nile cruise boat, and how to fit one in.
Abu Simbel from Aswan: what the day looks likeA long road day from Aswan: the drive, the two temples, and the site's hours and tickets.