Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)★★★
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is the largest archaeological museum in the world and Egypt's new crown jewel. It is located just 2 km from the pyramids and houses over 100,000 artifacts from all eras of ancient Egyptian history — including the complete treasure of Tutankhamun (5,398 objects), displayed fully for the first time in a specially designed wing.
Highlights
- Tutankhamun Gallery: The golden death mask (11 kg of pure gold), the sarcophagi, the golden throne, the canopic jars — everything Howard Carter found in tomb KV62 is united here. This area alone requires at least 2 hours.
- Grand Staircase: A monumental staircase with the 12 m high statue of Ramses II. (from Memphis) and 87 other colossal statues, arranged chronologically from the Old to the New Kingdom.
- Mummy Room: The Royal Mummies Hall displays 20 royal mummies, including Ramses II. and Hatshepsut. Separate ticket required.
- Children's Areas and Multimedia: Interactive stations, 3D reconstructions, VR experiences — the GEM is also excellently designed for families with children.
The museum was planned and built over 20 years (cost: over 1 billion USD) and is an architectural statement: The building with its triangular facade echoes the pyramid shape and offers a direct view of the Pyramids of Giza from the terrace.
💡 Tipp
Be sure to buy your ticket in advance online (gem.gov.eg) — the queues on-site are long. Plan for at least 4–5 hours, better a whole day. The audio guide (100 LE) is worth it. Best to come in the morning — groups arrive in the afternoon.