What to See at the Grand Egyptian Museum: A Visitor’s Guide

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), beside the Giza pyramids, is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation. After two decades of construction it opened fully in November 2025, bringing together tens of thousands of objects, including – for the first time – the complete treasures of Tutankhamun. It is a huge building, and it rewards a little planning. This guide covers the highlights not to miss and how to organise your visit.

The Grand Hall and the colossus of Ramesses II

To begin with, your visit starts in the vast, light-filled Grand Hall, dominated by the colossal granite statue of Ramesses II. Over 3,000 years old and about 11 m tall, it once stood at Memphis and then, from 1955, in front of Cairo’s main railway station in Ramses Square, before being moved to the GEM to protect it from pollution. Outside the entrance, look for the suspended obelisk of Ramesses II, raised on supports so that visitors can walk underneath and see the king’s cartouche carved on its base.

The Grand Staircase

From the Grand Hall a monumental staircase rises six storeys. Along its steps stand dozens of statues of kings, queens and gods, sarcophagi and architectural elements, arranged by theme. It is effectively a gallery in itself, and many visitors spend longer here than they expect. At the top, a huge window frames the pyramids of Giza – one of the most memorable views in Egypt, linking the objects inside with the monuments they came from.

The main galleries

Beyond the staircase, the main galleries tell the story of ancient Egypt from prehistory to the Greco-Roman period, organised around themes such as society, kingship and religious beliefs. Look out for Old Kingdom statues and reliefs from the cemeteries of Giza and Saqqara, Middle Kingdom royal sculpture, and the richly painted coffins of the later periods. The displays are modern, spacious and well lit, with clear English and Arabic labels.

The Tutankhamun galleries

The heart of the museum for most visitors is the pair of galleries devoted to Tutankhamun. For the first time, the whole collection from his tomb – around 5,000 objects – is shown together in one place. For example, expect the famous gold mask, the gilded shrines, coffins, chariots, thrones, jewellery, weapons, clothing and everyday objects such as games and sandals. Many pieces were kept in storage for a century and had never been seen by the public. Plan at least an hour here, and if possible visit early or late in the day, when it is less crowded.

Khufu’s boats

In 1954 archaeologists found two sealed pits beside the Great Pyramid, each containing a dismantled cedarwood boat buried for King Khufu around 2560 BC. The first boat, about 42 m long, was reassembled decades ago and moved to the GEM in 2021, where it is displayed in its own building. Since December 2025, conservators have been reassembling the second boat, made of about 1,650 wooden pieces, in front of visitors – a project expected to take several years. Watching it is a rare chance to see archaeological conservation in progress.

Practical tips for visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum

• Book ahead. Tickets are sold on the museum’s official ticketing website, tickets.gem.eg. Check the current prices and opening hours there, as they change from time to time.
• Combine with the pyramids. The museum and the pyramids are very close. Many visitors see the pyramids in the cool morning and the museum in the afternoon.
• Go with a guide. The collection is enormous. A licensed Egyptologist can take you straight to the key pieces and explain what you are looking at.
• Wear comfortable shoes. Distances inside are long, especially if you walk the Grand Staircase.
• Leave time for a break. There are cafés, restaurants and shops in the complex and outdoor gardens.

Related reading: Tutankhamun: What His Tomb Actually Revealed · How to Combine the Pyramids and the GEM

Frequently asked questions

How much time do I need at the Grand Egyptian Museum?

Allow at least three to four hours for the highlights, including about an hour in the Tutankhamun galleries. Enthusiasts can easily spend a full day.

Is Tutankhamun’s mask in the Grand Egyptian Museum?

Yes. The gold mask and the rest of Tutankhamun’s treasures are displayed together in the Tutankhamun galleries of the GEM.

Is the Grand Egyptian Museum the same as the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir?

No. The GEM is a new museum near the Giza pyramids. The historic Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, opened in 1902, remains open with its own collection.

Where do I buy tickets for the GEM?

From the official ticketing website, tickets.gem.eg. The museum says it is not responsible for tickets bought through other platforms. On our guided tours, we arrange the tickets for you.

Sources & further reading

• Grand Egyptian Museum – Official Ticketing Website
• NBC News – Decades in the making, Egypt’s Grand Museum opens with a huge spectacle
• AP via Denver7 – Ancient Egyptian pharaoh’s boat is being reassembled in public at the Grand Egyptian Museum
• Griffith Institute, University of Oxford – Tutankhamun Spatial Archive – explore the tomb through Howard Carter’s original excavation records

Written by the Deluxe Travel Egypt team and checked against the published sources above. Last updated October 2026.