The Egyptian Museum — Attraction in Cairo

I've been here before and it is always a joy. A person could spend a full day, until the point of exhaustion, and not see everything in enough detail.

The ONLY downside is that some items are being migrated to the new museum in near to the pyramids. Currently, it is only about 20% of the inventory so still worth seeing.

Although the museum's layout can feel overwhelming due to its sheer size and the density of exhibits, each hall and corridor tells a story of a civilization that has fascinated the world for millennia.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo (EMC) is the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East.

It has the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities in the world.

Among its masterpieces are Pharaoh Tutankhamun's treasure, including its iconic gold burial mask, widely considered one of the best-known works of art in the world and a prominent symbol of ancient Egypt.

It is located on the northern side of Tahrir Square, Downtown, Cairo. It was built in 1901.

If you are coming by car there is underground parking and use elevator No. 2

Tickets for Egyptians 30 LE and Foreigners 450 LE!! and covers everything inside. And Headsets are available don’t forget to ask for during buying tickets. Keep your ticket and re enter at the main entrance. A guided tour is a must to "put things to life".

You may take photos except for the King Tutankhamen exhibition on the first floor but I was lucky 😏

Plenty of toilets are available and there is an elevator and from the entrance till exit it’s Disability-Friendly.

There are two main floors in the museum, the ground floor and the first floor. On the ground floor is an extensive collection of large-scale works in stone including statues, reliefs and architectural elements. These are arranged chronologically in clockwise fashion, from the pre-dynastic to the Greco-Roman period. The first floor is dedicated to smaller works, including papyri, coins, textiles, and an enormous collection of wooden sarcophagi. The exhibits are labelled in Arabic and English and a few in French.

There is nowhere that is not worth seeing. Mummies, mummy portraits, statuary, jewellery, textiles, musical instruments, canopic jars, unwrapped mummies, SOLID GOLD everywhere including King Tutankhamens 110 kgs gold coffin and two stunning thrones.

The numerous pieces of papyrus are generally small fragments, owing to their decay over the past two millennia. Several languages are found on these pieces, including Greek, Latin, Arabic, and ancient Egyptian. The coins found on this floor are made of many different metals, including gold, silver, and bronze. The coins are not only Egyptian, but also Greek, Roman, and Islamic. This has helped historians research the history of Ancient Egyptian trade.

Also on the ground floor are artifacts from the New Kingdom, the time period between 1550 and 1069 BC. These artifacts are generally larger than items created in earlier centuries. Those items include statues, tables, and coffins (sarcophagi). It contains 42 rooms; with many items on view from sarcophagi and boats to enormous statues.

On the first floor are artifacts from the final two dynasties of Egypt, including items from the tombs of the Pharaohs Thutmosis III, Thutmosis IV, Amenophis II, Hatshepsut, and the courtier Maiherpri, as well as many artifacts from the Valley of the Kings, in particular the material from the intact tombs of Tutankhamun and Psusennes I.

On existing there is shop with very nice souvenirs. They...

The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in Cairo, opened in 1902 in Tahrir Square, long served as Egypt’s premier repository of ancient treasures before the creation of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. Designed by French architect Marcel Dourgnon in a Neoclassical style, it housed the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic artifacts, spanning from the Predynastic era to the Greco-Roman period.

Among its most celebrated exhibits were the treasures of Tutankhamun, including the gold funerary mask, as well as royal mummies, colossal statues, papyri, jewelry, and everyday objects.

The museum attracted millions of visitors annually, serving as both a major tourist destination and an important center for archaeological research and preservation.

With over 120,000 objects, its galleries and storerooms became overcrowded. Many artifacts were displayed in tightly packed wooden cases, often without modern conservation systems. While this created a sense of discovery and intimacy, it also made comprehensive organization and preservation difficult.

Despite these limitations, the Cairo Museum held a unique charm. Its dimly lit halls, scent of aged wood, and dense displays offered a tangible connection to Egypt’s past. Even after the GEM’s opening, it remains a significant cultural site, with select treasures still on view and restoration work preserving its...

My visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo was an incredible experience, and I could have easily spent the entire day there if I had the chance. The museum is absolutely huge, with countless treasures and artifacts that tell the story of ancient Egypt in the most fascinating way.

One of the absolute highlights for me was seeing the mask of Tutankhamun in person—it’s such an awe-inspiring sight that I was truly left speechless. The craftsmanship, the detail, and the history it holds are beyond words. The two royal mummies on display were equally fascinating, offering an up-close look at ancient Egyptian preservation techniques that have survived for thousands of years.

I was amazed by the wide variety of exhibits, from everyday tools used thousands of years ago to the intricate mummification jars designed to hold organs for the afterlife. Every corner of the museum holds something unique and incredible, and the sheer scale of the collection is overwhelming in the best possible way.

If you’re visiting Cairo, this is an absolute must-see. Go with plenty of time, because you’ll find yourself wanting to explore every room and examine every artifact. I left with a deep sense of wonder and appreciation for one of the greatest civilizations in...