The Grand Egyptian Museum opens November 1st: what you need to know before visiting.

I would call it one of the most beautiful museums in the world, not only for its exhibits (100,000 pieces of rare beauty and historical importance), but also for its spectacular architecture, its location, the constant symbolism that harks back to Ancient Egypt, and because it was truly designed for everyone, including children and people with mobility difficulties.

I was lucky enough to visit it before the official inauguration which, according to the latest news, should take place on 1 November 2025 , in the presence of international political and institutional figures, and here are my impressions and my advice for what is not just a visit to a museum, but a life experience.

The Grand Egyptian Museum , better known as the GEM, is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization: Egypt. It houses artifacts that tell the story of Egypt's rich history, from prehistoric times to the Roman era. The main objects and mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo have been transferred to the GEM (many will remember the famous mummies parade that took place during the pandemic, broadcast on news programs around the world). This includes Tutankhamun's treasure , which will be moved only for the grand opening and, for the time being, remains in the old museum. It will not close but will continue to house Ancient Egyptian artifacts, many of which have been gathering dust in storage due to lack of space.

How to visit the GEM – Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum is enormous, but don't worry about getting tired because, besides surprising you with every step (the "wow" effect is guaranteed), it's also very easy to navigate. There are rooms to visit on the ground floor and on the three floors of the museum, for a total of 12 galleries. Currently, 11 galleries are open to the public, the twelfth being dedicated to the treasure of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, which comprises approximately 5,400 pieces, including the famous golden mask , a symbol of Egypt's archaeological heritage, and one of the three sarcophagi containing the mummy (which is located where it was discovered on November 4, 1922, by British archaeologist Howard Carter in the tomb in the Valley of the Kings). The mummy will be moved shortly before the official inauguration, which will take place this fall.

The GEM houses permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, and immersive multimedia content. On the ground floor, after the grand entrance with the ticket office and security checkpoint, you enter the Grand Hall, home to the imposing 11-meter-tall statue of Ramses II. It was brought here from the Giza plateau, where it was placed about twenty years ago, having been moved from Ramses Square, where it had stood for decades since its discovery in 1820. This statue is 3,200 years old and weighs 83 tons. And it alone is worth a visit to the GEM.

The museum is structured according to a chronological order. Therefore, the ground floor displays artifacts from the prehistoric, predynastic (3900–3060 BC), Old Kingdom (2700–2200 BC), and First Intermediate Period (2192–2040 BC) periods. Galleries 1, 2, and 3, dedicated to Society, Kingdoms, and Beliefs, respectively, are located here.

A monumental staircase, designed to represent ancient Egyptian temple processions, leads to the upper floors. The Grand Staircase Gallery is a true gallery, not just a staircase, flanked by statues of kings and pharaohs, sphinxes, and approximately 60 artifacts. Moving walkways and elevators also serve the upper floors.

The monumental staircase of the GEM, next to which there is a convenient moving walkway for going up and down

On the first floor are galleries 4, 5 and 6 with finds from the Middle Kingdom (2055 – 1790 BC) and the Second Intermediate Period (1794 -1550 BC). On the second floor are rooms 7, 8 and 9 dedicated to the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC), the period in which the most famous pharaohs reigned, such as Ramesses II, one of the most famous and powerful, during whose reign Egypt reached a period of great prosperity, military power and artistic splendour (it was he who built Abu Simbel, with the Great Temple and the Small Temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari ). Finally, on the third floor, rooms 10, 11 and 12 recount the Third Intermediate Period (1070 – 656 BC), Egypt's Late Period (672 – 332 BC) and the Greco-Roman period (332 BC – 641 AD). The museum is surrounded by thematic gardens representing the flora of ancient Egypt. Open-air exhibits and shaded paths allow visitors to interact with the desert environment and the nearby pyramids of Giza .

The museum also includes a dedicated children's museum, the Children's Museum , with interactive features and exhibitions specifically designed for children. It also houses one of the largest Conservation Centers in the world, with 17 laboratories reserved for scholars. The GEM also houses conference rooms and theaters, and of course, a beautiful shop, café, and outdoor spaces.

What not to miss at GEM

While awaiting the arrival of Tutankhamun's treasure, which will be the museum's highlight, the GEM still houses, among its hundreds of thousands of artifacts, several priceless objects that are well worth a visit. In addition to the colossal statue of Ramesses II in the main hall, the treasures of Queen Hetepheres I are not to be missed. These include the alabaster sarcophagus, exquisite furniture and jewelry, and intimate artifacts that reveal the royal lifestyle and craftsmanship; the cedar-wood solar boat of Khufu ; and the Waziri Papyrus, discovered in 2023 in the Saqqara necropolis, an important 16-meter-long manuscript containing texts from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

The architecture of the GEM

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is not only a cultural landmark but also a modern architectural marvel that blends ancient symbolism and cutting-edge design. Designed by the Irish firm Heneghan Peng Architects, its construction began in 2005, twenty years ago, directly on the Giza plateau, opposite the pyramids. The building occupies an area of 480,000 square meters. Conceived as a gateway to Ancient Egypt , but already dubbed the "Temple of the 21st Century," it is a truly imposing and beautiful building.

Constant references to the pyramids are the common thread throughout this spectacular building, with its soaring ceilings and semi-open spaces, ventilated by triangular motifs that allow light and air to pass through, in keeping with Middle Eastern architectural style, making the structure also sustainable. The 800-meter-long façade, engraved with golden hieroglyphics on a black alabaster background, also features a triangular motif, as do the building's walls, which taper toward the top, just like a pyramid. Furthermore, the building is aligned along a visual axis that connects it to the Great Pyramid of Cheops , tying it spiritually and geographically to ancient Giza. One side of the museum, in fact, is completely glass, allowing for constant views of the spectacle of the Pyramids of Giza, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.

When is the Grand Egyptian Museum open?

The GEM is open daily from 8:30 am to 9 am, and closes at 10 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The galleries open at 9 am and close at 6 pm, and at 9 pm on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Access is permitted until one hour before closing.

How much does admission to the Grand Egyptian Museum cost?

Tickets to visit the GEM can be purchased exclusively on the Grand Egyptian Museum website or directly at the museum ticket office. A full-price ticket costs approximately €22.50, while children aged 6 to 12 and students aged 13 to 25 pay approximately €10.80. Ninety-minute guided tours are also available at a higher price (€30 for adults, half price for children). Reservations must be made online, although most groups visiting Egypt already have their own guide to accompany them throughout the tour. However, for those who decide to come to Cairo on their own—a city that's definitely worth a long weekend any time of year—this option is also available. There's also free parking outside the museum.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is, of course, the appetizer for the Giza plateau, which you can visit before or after the pyramids of Cheops, Khafre, and Menkaure, and the Sphinx. I'm not sure which of the two experiences is more exciting.