Best Museums in Cairo
It’s undeniable that you have heard about the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on November 1st. Perhaps that made you excited to visit this museum and the other best museums in Cairo and Egypt. This is why, in this article, we will help you plan your next visit.
Throughout this comprehensive guide, you will get to know all about the best museums in Cairo and other cities in Egypt as well. Also, you will be able to know their details, fees, and locations, so you can easily plan your visit.
So, set back, and get ready to plan a mesmerizing museum visit all around Egypt!
This article is going mainly to tackle the best museums in Cairo and other museums all around Egypt. But why Cairo specifically?
Cairo is one of the oldest cities in Egypt. It has stories and history-long monuments, not just museums. Also, the city has witnessed different historical eras and dynasties.
Also, Cairo hosts most of Egypt’s museums. It is especially a significant host with the latest addition to its list with the soon opening of Grand Egyptian Museum. This is why, in this article, we’ll be focusing mainly on following Cairo’s museums, then taking a glimpse at other museums in Egypt.
The list of the best museums in Cairo includes the following:
Also, it should be noted that these museums welcome visitors of all ages, and children under 6 years are free of charge.
Now, let us talk about each of them in a bit of detail.
First and foremost, the one that has been taking the hype lately, the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is expected to be one of the best museums in Cairo. It should be noted that the museum started operating and closed its doors on October 15th in preparation for the grand soft opening that took place on November 1st.
The opening ceremony was a mystical event that was streamed and watched all over the world. It was hosted by the well-known Egyptian actress, Sherihan, alongside a group of young, well-known faces. Also, the Cairo Celebration Choir performed an aorchestral piece under the supervision fo Nayer Naguie.
Also, the Grand Egyptian Museum is expected to be one of the major landmarks in the west of Cairo, on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, close to many upscale compounds, such as:
It hosts the Grand Staircase Gallery with over 60 remarkable artifacts, twelve exhibition halls, the Hanging Obelisk, and a Grand Hall.
It should be noted that many top-rated real estate developers contribute to the opening ceremony of the museum. For example:
Check out the top 10+ things to do in West Cairo
Following its opening, the well-known United Media Services (UMS) company announced the “GEM Nights” global music season. This concert series is announced as part of the “Egypt Nights” festivities, supported by the Ministries of Tourism & Antiquities, Culture, and the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority. The GEM concerts include:
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) has been one of the best museums in Cairo since its opening in November 2021. With a magical parade of pharaonic mummies, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization started operating, offering one main gallery, the royal mummies hall, and the textile gallery.
The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, Cairo, is considered the first ever national museum in the Middle East. Its concept started linguirng since the 1850s until it was officially acclaimed and opened in 1902.
This unique museum contains more than 100,000 artifacts. Currently, this museum is undergoing a renovation project to bring it back to its good old days.
The Abdeen Palace Museum stands out as one of the best museums to visit in Cairo. It has been the Egyptian royal household’s primary official residence from 1874 until the July Revolution in 1952.
The palace was originally built at the orders of Khedive Ismail. Later, it was transformed into a museum to show its magical pieces. Currently, it hosts many sub-museums and showrooms.
Manial Palace Museum, also known as the Mohamed Ali’s Palace Museum, is one of the majestic museums to visit in Egypt, also related to the Mohamed Ali Family. This unique palace is known for exhibiting various styles of Islamic architecture.
It blends the modern Islamic style with Persian and Mamluk elements, in addition to Syrian, Moroccan, and Andalusian motifs, and Ottoman style.
Another well-known museum in Egypt is the Islamic Art Museum, which was officially opened in 1903 to showcase exceptional pieces of Islamic art. The museum currently hosts more than 100000 artifacts.
Also, the museum was closed in 2014 due to an explosion targeting the opposite building (Cairo Security Directorate). It was reopened in 2017 after renovation.
The Coptic Museum is one of the best and most unique museums in Cairo. It was established by Marcus Simaika in 1908 to be a home for major Coptic Christian artifacts.
Currently, it hosts a wide collection of unique pieces that date back to the 1st Century A.D..It is also home to more than 25 galleries.
The Gayer Anderson Museum is one of the best and most popular museums in Cairo. The museum is made up of two Ottoman houses in which the English Doctor Gayer Anderson lived and requested from the Assembly of Preserving Arab Antiquities to collect special antiques from different eras.
The Egyptian Air Force Museum, also known as Almaza Airport Museum, is one of the most unique museums in Egypt. It exhibits a wide selection of wartime antiques.
The museum hosts a vast collection of aircraft that were used in different wars throughout Egyptian history. Also, it has a mesmerizing outdoor area where ancient Egyptian antiques are showcased.
The Agricultural Museum is one of the most well-known museums in Cairo. It opened its doors in 1938, and in 2024, it was temporarily closed to undergo renovations.
The museum hosts a wide selection of scientific collections, different plants, and narrates the history of ancient Egyptian agriculture. When the renovation is done, it is planned that the museum will open its doors, adding new sub-museums to its galleries.
The Mahmoud Mukhtar Museum is one of the best museums to visit in Cairo. It opened its doors back in 1934, to be home for the Egyptian sculptor and artist Mahmoud Mukhtar’s works and sculptures.
The Egyptian Authorities opened this museum to signify their appreciation for the artist’s works. Moreover, it now hosts Mukhtar’s personal belongings side by side with his main sculptures.
By now, you know almost all of Cairo’s major and best museums; it is high time we talked a little bit about other museums found all over Egypt. In fact, Egypt is filled to the brim with many museums in other governorates than Cairo, including Giza, Marsa Matrouh, and Suez.
Aside from Cairo, there are many unique museums found in different governorates all around Egypt, one of which is the Helwan Corner Museum. This one is also known as Farouk’s Corner.
This unique museum, that is created on the Nile’s bank, was built in 1942 as a rest house for Farouk’s royal family members.
It reopened in 2016 after its renovation to be a museum that exhibits statues, souvenirs, photographs, oil paintings of members of the royal family, and a collection of replicas of the furniture discovered in King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Another major, well-known museum in Egypt is the Royal Jewelry Museum in Alexandria. This unique-style museum was first built in 1919 as a residence for Princess Fatma Al Zahraa, descendant of the Mohamed Ali Royal family.
Later, it was transformed into a museum that holds royal jewelry pieces of most of the family’s ladies. It hosts more than 11,500 artifacts and jewelry pieces.
El Alamein Military Museum in Al Alamein City is one of the most spectacular museums in North Coast. It opened its doors in 1965 upon a presidential decree by the late President Gamal Abd El-Nasser. The museum was created to commemorate World War II remnants in which Egypt took part.
Also, this museum exhibits many indoor and outdoor galleries, as well as many pieces that date back to the real soldiers in the war. The museum mainly focuses on the remains of the Al Alamein Battle.
What was mentioned above does not construct the only group of museums in Cairo or Egypt in general. Rather, it was just a tini-tiny part of the numerous museums in Egypt that mount over 80, according to the latest count.
Don’t forget that there are many mesmerizing places to visit in Egypt, where you can enjoy your time. Aside from museums, the country offers many vibrant spots, such as:
Now, let’s tell you what are the next steps!
Throughout this article, we have tackled over 10 of the best museums in Cairo. Also, we have mentioned many well-known museums in other parts of Egypt.
Now, it is high time you took action. But how can you take action? First, you can start planning your visit to these museums using this guide.
Moreover, you might start planning to find your new home in Cairo or any other part of Egypt. This is where Nawy comes into the scene, with the largest property inventory in Egypt.
All you need to do is just go through our professional property listing platforms (website or mobile app), and pick whatever property you aspire to get. The remaining part is the job of our highly professional property consultants, who will seamlessly guide you through the entire process.
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The latest count listed in 2022 is 84 museums.
For adults: 30 EGP for Egyptians and 550 EGP (11.55 $) for foreigners.
Yes, but with restrictions including no flash and not using the photos for commercial use without prior permission.
November 1st 2025
Free entrance included in the museum’s entrance ticket
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