Grand Egyptian Museum Tickets and Guide (2026)
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is now the must-see stop on any Cairo trip, and booking it the right way saves you time, money and a wasted morning at the gate. Since November 2025, tickets are sold online only and every visitor needs a timed entry slot.
This Grand Egyptian Museum tickets and guide article covers everything you need before you go: current prices, ticket types, opening hours, how timed booking works, what to see inside, and the real tips that make a visit smoother. It also explains how to combine the museum with the Giza Pyramids, just 2 km away.
Grand Egyptian Museum Ticket Prices
A standard adult ticket for foreign visitors costs EGP 1,450, and one ticket covers all 12 main galleries, including the complete Tutankhamun collection. There is no separate Tutankhamun ticket. Prices below are the official rates published at the public opening (Khaleej Times).
| Ticket Type | Foreign Visitors (EGP) | Egyptians (EGP) |
|---|---|---|
| Galleries admission, adult | 1,450 | 200 |
| Galleries admission, child / student | 730 | 100 |
| Galleries + guided tour, adult | 1,950 | 350 |
| Galleries + guided tour, child / student | 980 | 175 |
| Children’s Museum, general admission (ages 6–12) | 750 | 150 |
| Children’s Museum, guided tour | 1,000 | 200 |
Free Entry: Children under 6, visitors with disabilities, Egyptian tour guides accompanying a group, and ICOM members.
Discounts: Foreign residents of Egypt with a valid residency permit have been offered half the foreign rate, and foreign spouses of Egyptians (and their children) can buy the Egyptian ticket with proof of relationship.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Prices change from time to time, so always confirm the final price on the official booking site, visit-gem.com, before you pay.
Grand Egyptian Museum Opening Hours
The galleries open daily at 9:00 AM and close at 6:00 PM, with late hours until 9:00 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays (Khaleej Times).
| Day | Museum Complex | Galleries | Last Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri | 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Wed and Sat | 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
The Children’s Museum keeps shorter hours: 1:00–5:00 PM Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, with last entry at 4:00 PM. During Ramadan, hours are usually shortened, so check the official site if your trip falls in that month.
Timed Booking: How to Reserve Your Slot
Every ticket is now tied to a timed entry slot, and you can only buy it online. The museum introduced timed booking on 16 November 2025 after crowds of about 19,000 visitors a day, and stopped on-site ticket sales from 1 December 2025 (Egyptian Streets, SCMP).
- Visit the official booking site: Go to visit-gem.com and choose your experience: galleries only, galleries with a guided tour, or the Children’s Museum.
- Choose your date and time: Pick your preferred date, then select an entry time from the available slots. Slots are spread through the day, roughly every two hours.
- Select your ticket category: Choose the appropriate category (adult, child, student, Egyptian, or resident) and the number of visitors.
- Complete your payment: Pay by card and save the e-ticket on your phone. Bring the passport or ID used for the booking.
- Arrive early: Reach the gate 15–20 minutes before your slot. Entry outside your booked time can be refused.
Popular morning and weekend slots sell out first in the winter high season (October to April), so book at least a few days ahead. Third-party sites resell tickets with a markup; booking direct is the cheapest option.
What to See: Tutankhamun and the Top Highlights
The real star of the museum is the complete Tutankhamun collection: more than 5,000 objects shown together for the first time since Howard Carter opened the tomb in 1922. Plan at least 60–90 minutes for it alone.
- Tutankhamun Galleries: The gold funerary mask, the gilded shrines, chariots, jewellery, thrones and ritual furniture.
- Colossal Statue of Ramses II: The 11-metre, 83-tonne king who greets you in the atrium.
- Grand Staircase: Six floors of royal statues climbing to a window framing the Giza Pyramids.
- Khufu’s Solar Boat: The 42-metre cedar boat found beside the Great Pyramid, now in its own hall.
- Hanging Obelisk: The world’s first suspended obelisk, about 20 metres high, outside the entrance.
- 12 Main Galleries: Egyptian history from prehistory to the Greco-Roman era, told through society, kingship and beliefs.
One thing the GEM does not have: the royal mummies. Those are at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Old Cairo, which needs a separate ticket.
Visit Length, the Giza Pyramids and Getting There
Allow 3–4 hours for a full visit; 2.5 hours is the realistic minimum if you focus on Tutankhamun, the Grand Staircase and the Solar Boat.
Combine It with the Giza Pyramids
The museum stands about 2 km from the pyramids, so one day covers both. The best plan: visit the Pyramids and Sphinx early in the morning before the heat, have lunch, then book an afternoon museum slot. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, an evening slot gives you the chance to explore quieter galleries after a pyramids day. The Giza Pyramids need their own ticket, bought separately.
Getting There
- Uber or Careem: About 30–40 minutes from downtown Cairo, roughly EGP 150–200 depending on traffic.
- Metro + Taxi: Take the metro to Giza station, then a 10–15 minute taxi ride.
- Car: Paid parking is available on site.
- Organised Tour: Many hotels and agencies sell half-day or full-day GEM and pyramids tours with transfers.
Real Tips for Visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum
- Book the first slot of the day: The galleries are quietest in the first two hours, especially the Tutankhamun halls.
- Start with Tutankhamun: Head there first, then work back through the Grand Staircase and main galleries.
- Take a guided tour if it’s your first visit: The museum’s own 90-minute tours run in English and Arabic; other languages need a private booking.
- Photos are allowed, flash is not: No tripods, selfie sticks, drones or live streaming.
- No outside food or drinks: The complex has several cafés and restaurants for a lunch break.
- Dress for walking: Wear comfortable shoes and carry water; the site covers about 500,000 m².
- Keep your ID handy: Student, resident and Egyptian rates need proof at the gate.
- Check the date twice: Tickets can’t be refunded or moved to another person.
Grand Egyptian Museum FAQ
How much is a Grand Egyptian Museum ticket?
A foreign adult pays EGP 1,450 for gallery admission, or EGP 1,950 with a guided tour. Students and children pay about half.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
No. Since 1 December 2025, tickets are sold online only through the official booking site, visit-gem.com.
Do I need a separate ticket for Tutankhamun?
No. The complete Tutankhamun collection is included in the standard gallery ticket.
What are the opening hours?
The galleries are open 9:00 AM–6:00 PM daily, and until 9:00 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
How far is the museum from the Giza Pyramids?
About 2 km, a 5–10 minute drive, so both fit easily into one day.
What happens if I miss my timed slot?
Entry is tied to the slot on your ticket and tickets are non-refundable, so arrive early.
