The Grand Egyptian Museum
Archaeological museum · Giza ·
World's largest archaeological museum, showcasing 50,000+ artifacts.
World's largest archaeological museum, showcasing 50,000+ artifacts.
"After more than a century since Tutankhamun's tomb was found and decades of planning and construction, I witnessed the Grand Egyptian Museum finally open as a $1 billion, 5-million-square-foot complex — billed as the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization and housing over 100,000 artifacts. The inauguration was a dazzling, state-level affair with royals, presidents and prime ministers, a laser-and-fireworks show beside the museum’s 110-ton hanging obelisk and an ambition to make the GEM a “fourth pyramid” just over a mile from the Pyramids of Giza. Inside the building, designed by Heneghan Peng Architects with a limestone, glass and metal façade that mirrors the three pyramids and aligns with their positioning, visitors will find a 36-foot-high, 83-ton Ramses II statue, a grand staircase lined with colossal statues, 12 main galleries spanning prehistoric times to the Graeco‑Roman period, a Children’s Museum, the Tutankhamun Gallery, a Solar Boats Museum, the Middle East’s largest restoration centre, exhibition halls and conference spaces. The Khufu solar boats and the Tutankhamun collection — including the golden mask, chariot and throne — were transferred from older institutions and were scheduled to be revealed to the public from Tuesday, November 4; Aly Abdelhalim confirmed the recent moves. The project, whose plans were announced in 1992 and whose construction began in 2005, faced repeated delays due to the 2011 revolution, the Covid-19 pandemic and regional conflicts, and was largely financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency with about $800 million in loans. Experts such as Salima Ikram have praised the museum’s variety, quality and number of objects. The inauguration also showcased international musical and dance performances (with a score by Hisham Nazih conducted by Nayer Nagui and featuring artists like Fatma Said), after which dignitaries received private tours; tickets can be booked online and the museum is expected to draw several million visitors annually." - Nada El Sawy
"I note the Grand Egyptian Museum is set to open in November 2025 with Tutankhamun’s treasures and new immersive galleries, making it a major cultural draw for families visiting Cairo." - Jenn Sinrich
"After twenty years of planning and construction and a billion-dollar budget, I find the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which houses nearly 50,000 artifacts spanning more than 5,000 years, staggering — yet those numbers still don't capture the scope of what might be the country's most ambitious undertaking." - Chris Schalkx Chris Schalkx Chris Schalkx is a Dutch writer and photographer based in Bangkok and Taiwan. He writes about travel, sustainability, and design — preferably all three combined. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A major new museum scheduled to fully open by the end of 2025 (with several galleries already open since mid-2024) that will feature more than 100,000 artifacts, including over 5,000 objects retrieved from Tutankhamun's tomb, and is highlighted as a key reason to plan a visit to the country." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A newly opened, massive archaeological museum described as 'the world’s largest archaeological museum,' housing more than 100,000 artifacts spanning over 7,000 years of history." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines