Best 10 Egyptian Museums in Egypt

Many reasons make you want to visit Egypt, and we can’t get enough of mentioning them. You can visit Egypt to try out the restaurants, maybe visit the Pyramids of Giza, or witness the beauty of Alexandria, for example. However, another important reason is enough to convince you to visit Egypt. This would be the opportunity to visit the Egyptian museums in Egypt. One thing that makes any Egyptian museum unique is that each one offers you something different to witness.

You may think Egypt has few museums, but this is completely wrong. Egypt has over 100 museums. Therefore, we will tell you everything you need to know about the best 10 Egyptian museums in Egypt. If you love learning about other cultures, you will love witnessing Egypt’s museums. It is an advantage that Egypt has one of the best and richest cultures in the entire world. Our list of Egyptian museums includes more than the ones in Cairo; you will find suggestions for ones in Alexandria too. Since Egyptian museums exist throughout the country, you will find at least one museum in whatever city you stay in. So get ready to know the best Egyptian museums in Egypt!

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The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

Our first Egyptian museum is the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), one for the records. NMEC is the first museum in the Arab world to focus only on civilization. So, of course, it focuses on the Egyptian civilization. It even has over 50,000 artifacts which prove that Egypt has a prosperous civilization. The NMEC includes six galleries inside of it, and they are the Dawn of Civilization, State and Society, the Nile, Material Culture, Writing, Beliefs and Thinking, and the Gallery of Royal Mummies, which includes around 20 mummies; two of them are Tutankhamun and Ramses II.

The many artifacts we mentioned include ones from different historical ages. These periods include Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic, Islamic, modern times, and many more. Another thing that makes us love the NMEC is that each artifact inside has a sign that tells you all the information you need to know. This makes things much easier for you, especially if you don’t have a guide. You definitely won’t feel bored there!

• Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm. Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and then from 6 pm to 9 pm.
• Location: El-Fustat Road, Ein Elsira, Cairo, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website. Official Instagram. Official Facebook.
• Ticket prices: $3.88 for foreign students. $7.77 for adult foreigners.

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Gayer-Anderson Museum

The second Egyptian museum on our list is Gayer-Anderson Museum. This one differs from other museums because it has two historic houses rather than a huge building. Both houses have existed in Egypt since the 17th century, so, understandably, they would form an entire museum where people can witness what Egypt looked like during this era. The two houses also have their own names. One of them is Beit el-Kiridiliya, or House of the Cretan Woman. While the other house is Beit Amna Bent Salim.

Here is a fun fact that will excite you to visit Gayer-Anderson Museum even more. This Egyptian museum appeared in one of James Bond’s films, The Spy Who Loved Me, in 1977. There is a person we should thank for helping us witness the beauty of the museum. I’m talking about Gayer Anderson, a British officer, physician, and Egyptophile. We are thankful for him because he was the one who restored the houses in the 1930s and 40s. We will find artwork in this Egyptian museum expressing this historical period. It also includes carpets, furniture, and unique textiles; most were owned by Anderson, who left them in the houses when he returned to England.

When we say that Anderson restored the museum, that is because the Gayer-Anderson Museum was originally built in 1631. This is why you will find the influence of Islamic architecture on it. Before Anderson lived there, other wealthy families stayed in it. He stayed there from 1935 till 1942, and this was enough to leave his influence there. The two houses also face each other, and a tunnel connects them, making it have a unique style. What makes it even more exciting is that they hold their workshops and lectures. You will even have the chance to buy souvenirs from the existing gift shop.

In addition to all these advantages, there is one more: the many rooms you will witness there. Gayer-Anderson Museum also includes the Damascus Room, the Persian Room, the Byzantine Room, and more. So don’t miss the chance to witness Gayer-Anderson Museum’s unique architecture and the collections Anderson gathered!

• Opening hours: Every day from 9 am till 5 pm.
• Location: 4 Maydan Ibn Tulun, Old Cairo, Cairo 11511, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website.
• Ticket prices: $0.97 for foreign students. $2.20 for adult foreigners.

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Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo

Our next Egyptian museum is the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, founded in 1881. This museum is another one that broke several records. It is one of the largest museums in the entire world that includes Islamic art. This doesn’t come as a surprise, especially since it includes over 100,000 artifacts. When you visit the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, you will find weapons, jewelry, carpets, textiles, and many more. Of course, everything I just mentioned will show you the beauty of Islamic art.

It is also worth mentioning that you will get the chance to witness art from different countries while you are still in Egypt. This is because some items inside the Museum of Islamic Art come from North Africa, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, etc. To convince you even more, you will find that the artifacts there include ones that existed from the 7th century to the 19th century. So you will get to enjoy a cultural experience like no other.

• Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm. Friday from 9 am to 11:30 am and then from 1:30 pm to 5 pm.
• Location: Port Said, Ghayt Al Adah, El-Darb El-Ahmar, Cairo Governorate 11638, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website. Official Instagram.
• Ticket prices: $2.91 for foreign students. $5.82 for adult foreigners.

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Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (Manial Palace Museum)

We now have Prince Mohamed Ali Palace, also known as Manial Palace Museum, our next Egyptian museum; the latter name is the more famous one. The museum is named after Prince Mohammed Ali Tawfik, who was the one to order the palace building. It has been around since the Ottoman dynasty but has many more styles than the Ottoman ones. Some of the museum’s styles include European, Syrian, and Persian. You will also witness the prince’s vast art, clothing, and furniture collection.

One thing guaranteed is that you will see how Egyptian royalty lived; the place is jaw-dropping. Beautiful gardens also surround it. All of this and more are why we recommend visiting the museum to take some unique pictures while you are there.

• Opening hours: Every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Location: 1 Al Saraya, Old Cairo, Cairo Governorate 4240291, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website.
• Ticket prices: Entry tickets are $1.94 for foreign students and $3.88 for adult foreigners. The camera permit is $1.62, while the video permit is $9.71. To arrange a photo session, you will have to pay $25.89

Grand Egyptian Museum

Our next museum is the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilization. I’m talking about the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), one of Egypt’s best museums. Its popularity surprises many, especially since it will open in late 2023. However, you can still visit some areas inside the GEM and go on official tours. You can be assured that they cared about the details since the GEM has been planned for 20 years; they are taking their time for the opening.

When the Grand Egyptian Museum is fully open, you will get the chance to see more than 100,000 artifacts and the entire Tutankhamun collection. Some of these artifacts the public never saw increase the anticipation of its opening. Since it only has 2 kilometers between it and the Pyramids of Giza, book one of the limited tours; you can visit the Pyramids and then go on your tour right after it. There’s also a children’s museum inside of it, along with an education center.

You will also get to visit many other spots. The museum also includes restaurants, office space, shops, an auditorium, a library, and many more. While the outdoor area has a terrace garden, a palm garden, and a sculpture garden; talk about garden lovers being lucky. It’s a gem!

• Opening hours: Every day from 9 am to 6 pm.
• Location: Grand Egyptian Museum, Alexandria Desert Rd, Kafr Nassar, Al Haram, Giza Governorate, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website. Official Instagram. Official Facebook.
• Ticket prices: Tour prices for foreign students and youth are $16.21, while the price for adult foreigners is $32.42

Nubian Museum

This next Egyptian museum is a hidden gem since not many people know it. However, those who know it are very lucky; now, you will be one of them. I’m talking about the Nubian Museum, which you will fall in love with once you see it. Unlike the previous museums, the Nubian Museum is fairly new since it was built in 1997. The museum was part of UNESCO’s International campaign in Egypt. Regarding the artifacts inside the museum, we have UNESCO to thank. This is because they saved all of the pieces there from the construction of the High Dam.

The main goal of building the museum was to keep showing the culture and history of Nubia. Today, the museum has more than 3,000 pieces. Even though it is a museum, you won’t get bored there since they host concerts and many cultural events; they also have a theater there. You will need a lot of time to explore the Nubian Museum because it is built over 50,000 square meters. If you love walking in the garden, you will love the 50,000 square meters. It has a garden that includes over 80 statues. So no matter your preferences, you will find something to do in the Nubian Museum.

• Opening hours: Every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Location: Assuan, Sheyakhah Oula, Aswan 1, Aswan Governorate 1240853, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website.
• Ticket prices: $3.24 for foreign students and $6.48 for adult foreigners.

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Abdeen Palace Museum

The next museum on our list is Abdeen Palace Museum. As you can notice from its name, the museum was a palace at first and then became a museum. There are many fun facts about Abdeen Palace Museum; one is that it is named after Egyptian politician Abidin Bey. Another fun fact is that it was the last place Egyptian monarchs stayed before the monarchy ended in Egypt, from 1872 to 1952.

Another thing you need to know is that you will love the place if you love paintings. Almost every single room has some painting inside of it. If you aren’t excited to visit Abdeen Palace Museum, wait until you hear this next fact. The museum has more museums inside it. So you won’t be witnessing only one museum but several. And don’t worry. You will only need one ticket to enter all of these museums. But what exactly are they? They include the Royal Family Museum, the Silver Museum, the Arms Museum, the Historical Documents Museum, and more!

• Opening hours: Every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Location: Moustafa Abdel Raziq Street off Abdeen Square, Cairo 11511, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website.
• Ticket prices: $1.62 for foreign students and $3.24 for adult foreigners.

The Coptic Museum

Our next Egyptian museum is a favorite of many, especially since it has been around since 1908. This will be the Coptic Museum, and inside it, you will find Coptic art that existed since the beginning of the appearance of Christianity in Egypt. Some items there are sculptures, monastery frescoes, ancient manuscripts, and textiles; in case you didn’t know, frescoes are paintings on limestone. The Coptic Museum is also awe-inspiring because it hosts the largest collection of Egyptian Coptic artifacts in the whole world.

Another reason to love the museum is that it offers a mix of Arab and Byzantine art, which is a very unique mix. We should thank the Coptic community for all the items inside the museum since most of them are donations. So you will find inside it over 16,000 artworks and over 6,000 papyrus manuscripts that include the Psalms of David. The Coptic Museum is certainly a place you would love to visit!

• Opening hours: Every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Location: 3 Mari Gerges, Kom Ghorab, Old Cairo, Cairo Governorate 4244001, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website. Official information page.
• Ticket prices: $2.43 for foreign students and $4.86 for adult foreigners.

Royal Jewelry Museum

This next Egyptian museum is only perfect for those who love shiny things or, in other words, jewelry. The Royal Jewelry Museum is one of the most popular museums in Egypt due to what it has inside. The museum shows a wide collection of jewelry once owned by Egyptian rulers. Another element that adds to its beauty is the garden surrounding it which is a must-see if you want fresh air.

The collection I was talking about has over 10,000 pieces, including jewelry, crowns, medals, necklaces, and many more. One thing I loved about the museum when I visited it was all the artwork on the walls; many parts are made of beautiful and colorful glass. You can also ask for a guided tour to make life easier. I %100 recommend visiting the Royal Jewelry Museum at least once.

• Opening hours: Every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Location: 27 Ahmed Yehia, San Stefano, El Raml 2, Alexandria Governorate 5451010, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website.
• Ticket prices: $1.95 for foreign students and $3.89 for adult foreigners.

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The Egyptian Museum (Egyptian Museum of Antiquities)

Our last suggestion has two names which are The Egyptian Museum, and the other name is the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Both names are equally famous, so you can use whatever one you like more. One of the things that will impress you immediately is that the museum has more than 100 exhibitions and galleries; you can only imagine the many things you can see there!

There are some things in the Egyptian Museum that you must see, like the bust of Akhenaten. There are many more since the museum has over 120,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts. So it is safe to say that the Egyptian Museum has the largest collection of pharaonic artifacts. This number is very reasonable since the museum was built in 1835, and since then, it gathered all these artifacts. It will be the perfect place to visit if you are a history lover. Along with the historical items you will witness, you will also get to know everything about the different periods in ancient Egypt.

Other than the important items I mentioned, you will also see jewelry, sculptures, statues, tools, and many more; this explains why it is an archaeological museum. What if you don’t love history, but you love books? You will also like the Egyptian Museum since it has over 30,000 books, which is huge. So no matter what you love, the Egyptian Museum won’t disappoint you.

• Opening hours: Every day from 9 am to 7 pm.
• Location: -Tahrir Square, Ismailia, Qasr El Nil, Cairo Governorate 4272083, Egypt.
• Social media: Official website.
• Ticket prices: $4.86 for foreign students and $9.73 for adult foreigners. $1.62 for a photography permit and $9.73 for a video permit.

Out of all the Egyptian museums, we picked for you the best ten there. All of the ones we mentioned are diverse and have different artifacts. However, they share one thing, which is that you will enjoy visiting each of them!