The earlier soft launch allowed visitors to see only parts of the museum, the Grand Hall, the monumental staircase, and select thematic galleries.
This week marks Egypt’s full unveiling of the Grand Egyptian Museum, featuring more than 100,000 artefacts spanning the nation’s ancient civilization.
The display includes the complete Tutankhamun collection and King Khufu’s Solar Boat, relocated from beside the Great Pyramid to a purpose-built conservation hall.
How to visit: hours, access, pricing
Unlike the historic Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square or other national collections, the GEM operates as a fully digital, timed-entry facility.
Opening hours are structured but extensive: the complex, including gardens, cafés, plazas, and shops, runs from 8:30am to 7pm daily, extending to 10pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Galleries and exhibition halls are open from 9am to 6pm, and until 9pm on those two late-night days.
Last entry is one hour before closing: 5pm on regular days and 8pm on extended evenings.
Tickets can be purchased only online through the museum’s official website (visit-gem.com).
Admission for Egyptians is set at EGP 200 for adults and EGP 100 for children, students, and seniors.
Expatriates living in Egypt pay EGP 730 for adults and EGP 370 for children and students, while Arab and other foreign visitors are charged EGP 1,450 for adults and EGP 730 for children and students.
Guided tours in English and Arabic can be booked online, while private tours in other languages are available on request via [email protected].
Corporate, travel-agency, and school bookings are handled through the same address or [email protected].
Who gets in for free
The museum introduces one of the region’s most inclusive admission systems, aimed at promoting educational and professional access.
Free entry is granted all week to children under six, visitors with disabilities, Egyptian tour guides accompanying groups, and members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
A second tier of free passes, available on weekdays and excluding public holidays, applies to military veterans, families of national martyrs, employees of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and accredited journalists (with prior coordination).
Students and academics at public universities studying history, civilization, heritage, tourism, architecture, fine arts, applied arts, or arts education also qualify, as do pupils at public primary and preparatory schools or orphans, provided their institutions apply one month in advance.
Foreign spouses of Egyptians and their children may purchase tickets at the Egyptian rate, subject to proof of relationship, a policy designed to accommodate mixed families living in Egypt.
Inside the world’s newest mega-museum
The initial visitor route includes the Grand Hall, outdoor plazas, retail and restaurant areas, and several galleries.
The museum’s conservation laboratories, visible behind glass, allow visitors to watch restoration work in progress, linking Egypt’s heritage to modern science.
Landscaped gardens lead to terraces with panoramic views of the Pyramids, a design meant to blend archaeological wonder with accessibility and leisure.
Parking is available on site for a fee, and electric bus links are planned to connect the museum with nearby attractions.
Food and drinks are sold inside the complex, though outside refreshments are not allowed.
Capturing memories — without the flash
Photography rules at the GEM aim to balance visitor freedom with preservation needs.
Guests may take photos and videos for personal use on phones or cameras, but must avoid flash, tripods, selfie sticks, drones, and live streaming.
All photography is limited to non-commercial purposes; commercial shoots require prior written approval.
“All tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable,” the museum’s terms read, part of efforts to ensure careful crowd management during the first months of full operation.
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