Can you imagine walking with all your clothes on in a swimming pool without getting wet, walking through a tunnel where the ground swings under your feet, or standing on your head in an upside-down room? Wondering how? Well, these are all illusions offered by the Museum of Illusions in Cairo, which gives visitors a great time exploring these and other tricks of the eye and mind.

The people behind the museum are members of the Walk of Cairo (WOC) group, a one-of-a-kind outdoor pedestrian high-street experience with a vibrant and dynamic tenant mix. The museum is located in Sheikh Zayed in 6 October City and is an international attraction that offers fun and education mixed together. It caters to all ages, from grandchildren to grandparents.

“The Museum of Illusions is a Croatian concept that was started by two friends who wanted to create a place combining entertainment with education. Their goal was to provide a space for education through the acquisition of knowledge of general culture or mathematics. At Walk of Cairo, we wanted to be the first to introduce this concept of edutainment and the whole idea of a modern museum in Egypt,” said Mahmoud Abul-Abbas, 26, the museum’s manager.

Entertaining tricks for eye and mind

The museum is a suitable place to take a friend or family, or you can go to it alone to immerse your senses in a kind of solitary voyage of discovery. It consists of two floors. As you enter, you are guided to the first three exhibitions on the first floor that include the kaleidoscope, where you can see a hundred copies of yourself. As you go up the stairs, you are introduced to the Swiss scientist Albert Einstein, whose eyes follow you through the clever use of illusion.

On the upper floor, you will enjoy other exhibits like the Beuchet chair, the rotating room and the infinity room. All of these are designed to stimulate the senses and minds of visitors.

There may be some teething troubles, however. “Although we spent a special time at the museum, we think there should be fewer visitors. It was crowded despite the use of numbered reservations,” said Passant Amin, a 32-year-old visitor. “But we had fun trying to discover the logic behind every trick, and the kids enjoyed the exhibits too, especially the turntables and the head-on-a-platter,” she added.

Such problems do not detract from the intriguing nature of the exhibits, however, among them the vortex tunnel, a rotating cylinder that tricks the brain into thinking the ground under your feet is shifting. There is also a room where you shrink or grow depending on your position in the exhibit. 

“The official opening of the museum was on 4 December, and our team is made up of 14 people who do their utmost to offer our guests an exceptional experience. Our first and main branch is at Walk of Cairo in 6 October, but we are definitely looking to expand throughout Egypt,” Abul-Abbas said. 

Tours last around 30 to 45 minutes, and there are some 16 different exhibits. Flash photography is not just allowed – it’s encouraged. The exhibits are created by some of the world’s best designers, and you can purchase tickets at the museum as there’s no need to reserve spots in advance.

Entertaining tricks for eye and mind

“It’s a unique experience in Egypt. The only inconvenience is the wait for a turn at the weekends. I recommend going on a weekday. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and they helped us understand every part and to take the right pictures. It was a good experience for all ages,” said Eva Nassif, a 30-year-old marketer in Cairo, describing her experience. 

 “The turnout has been great to date, and we’ve been getting thousands of visitors every week. The hype is amazing, and people are very happy with the experience,” Abul-Abbas said. “I would like to invite everyone to come and experience our unique museum. You will learn new things and have lots of fun in the process.”  

Entertaining tricks for eye and mind

For Perihan Amin, another visitor, “the tickets are a bit overpriced compared to the number of exhibits. I’ve been to the Museum of Illusions in Singapore, and it had more than what we have here.” But Mariam Al-Touni, another 30-year-old visitor, said the museum was “such a fun place and great experience. The staff are very helpful and friendly. I’m definitely coming back.”

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 March, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly