Finally, it’s open.
After almost 20 years delay, a lot more money and many a travellers await, it’s finally ready for you to visit. Last year, parts of the Grand Egyptian Museum or GEM opened to the public. But only on November 1, the most awaited parts of the museum became accessible: The golden treasures of Tutankhamun and the boat of Khufu.
Regarded as the world’s largest archaeological museum for a single civilisation, it’s located 8 km from Cairo. Close to the Giza Pyramids, the GEM is one of the largest and most modern museums in the world showing the treasures of ancient Egypt. This is for cultural travellers – and my mom and I have been postponing the pyramids for this. So was it worth waiting for?
At the end of the article is a list of things that are good to know before you visit GEM.
The museum is grand indeed. It’s an impressive 480,000 square meters for collection of over 100,000 artifacts—many of which have never been displayed before. The GEM building itself is impressive. The architecture mixes modern design with elements inspired by ancient Egyptian temples. One of the museum’s most striking places is the Great Atrium.
Upon entering the museum, you are greeted by the 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II, which weighs about 83 tonnes. It stands in a basin and apparently people fall into the water all the time. There’s also a small garden. If it’s not too hot, sitting in the garden is a nice break which you are going to need. I know, I did and I’m pro.
The Grand Staircase
Everything in GEM (and in Egypt) is grand. But the staircase is actually a great way to present objects. It’s lined with about 60 artefacts, including statues, sarcophagi and stelae inscribed with texts.
At the end of the staircase is the much photographed panorama window with views of the pyramids. Kind of like how you can see the Parthenon temple from the museum in Athens. But much like my visit to Taj Mahal last November, the view is like seeing them through a smudgy lens because of the air pollution.
After reaching the top of the grand staircase, go straight towards gallery 7 and the absolute highlight of the museum:
Tutankhamun Collection
The story of the pharaoh Tutankhamun has captures history lovers for millennials. The finding of his tombs in 1922 by Howard Carter was a world event. For me, the golden treasures was one of the main reasons I became interested in history and more specifically ancient history. I even tried to to learn to read hieroglyphs.
Despite his short reign, ending with his unexpected death at about 19 years old, Tutankhamun is the most famous pharaoh.
Highlight of the collection is the Golden Mask of Tutankhamun, which is perhaps the most famous Egyptian artefact in the world. It’s iconic and spectacular.
But like Mona Lisa, this is where everyone i, and I haven’t seen this pushy tourists since at the tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem. You cue for a quick pass by and only 1 picture.
Tip: the platform at the end of the exhibition gives a good view across the crowds.
The mummy is still in the Valley of the Kings in the tomb, but a special room is prepared at the GEM for his mummy, so I guess he’ll be moving. (For more mummies, head to NMEC)
King Tut has his own wing at the museum. The complete Tutankhamun collection includes over 5000 objects from the tomb of the young pharaoh that gives a glimpse into his short, but fascinating reign.
While everyone is crowding at the mask, my favourite piece was actually the innermost gold coffin of the pharaoh. Inside it lay the king’s mummy whose head was covered with the iconic gold mask of the boy king. It’s like the mask, but in full size!
It is made of a over 100 kg. solid gold and is inlaid with semi-precious stones and coloured glass. The shape is that of the god Osiris holding the sacred insignia. On his head is the vulture and the cobra, protect his forehead. The divine (and fake) beard is made of gold inlaid with blue glass.
The coffin was designed to protect the body of the young king and the deities of Egypt protect the coffin with their wings. Wonder how much a coffin like that would be…
You’ll find many exceptional and exquisite jewellery and everyday items in the collections as well. I mean you can’t go to the afterlife without some golden sandals. Don’t miss the king’s chariot and throne.
The exhibition is organised so you begin with the person Tutankhamun and then go through his death, mummification and burial as well as discovery. The museum suggest a route of either 20 min or 2 hours. I don’t see how the 20 min route is possible
The solar boat of Khufu
You might not know as much of Khufu’s solar boat as of the boy king. But the ship has its own museum building on the grounds and it also only opened this November. It’s one of the oldest and best-preserved vessels from antiquity. Before arriving in GEM, the ship was next to Khufu’s pyramid (also known as Cheops), where it was discovered.
Khufu’s Solar Boat is a 4500-year-old boat built in cedar, so he could travel forever and into eternity. Just like the many funeral presents for Tutankhamun (food, shoes and more), it was probably a sacred barque meant to carry the pharaoh with the sun god Ra across the sky and through the underworld and to the afterlife.
How this boat is so good condition is mind blowing. In Denmark, we only have few planks left of our Viking Ships.
Not everyone finds their way here, so you’ll have it almost to yourself – for now.
The Main Galleries
The main galleries holds the main exhibition about the ancient history of Egypt for 7 millennia. I only had about 1 small hour here, and I definitely missed some of the good stuff.
The exhibition is organised by both era (ranging from prehistory through the Greco-Roman period) and theme (including society, kingship and belief). Cleverly, the galleries are designed so that if you go horizontally, you go by theme and if you view them vertically, you view them chronologically.
What I remember best was an installation of a tomb (unfortunately, I can’t remember who and the website of GEM is not that helpful). A recreated white tomb with pillars, you enter – and the murals of the tombs are projected and animated on the walls. Boats sailing, ducks swimming and baskets being carried. It really makes history comes alive.
FAQ: GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT GEM
TRAVEL TO EGYPT
- Is it safe and easy? I felt very safe here and you’ll find police and safety checks everywhere. But it’s a notoriously difficult and noisy country to visit. Statistically only a very few travellers return for a 2. visit (which I have). But it’s worth coming here.
TICKETS
We booked tickets in advance. Make sure it’s the official site: https://visit-gem.com/en/AdmissionTkt But the museum can hold up to 20000 visitors.
WHEN TO VISIT GEM
On Fridays many of the locals will visit and it will be even more crowded. Try to arrive late or early avoiding groups and schools.
HOW TO GET TO GEM
You can take the metro here, but I had a driver pick me up at my hotel in Giza a short drive away. I don’t think you can walk here. Staying in Gia is closest.
TOURS
You can book a guided tour. I didn’t. There’s no audio guide and the brochure was sold out in English. Prepare beforehand
FOOD
There’s a food court and many shops inside the museum. Notice you may smoke at some tables. There’s not much outside.
- HOW MUCH TIME
- I spent 4,5 hours in the museum at a medium pace skipping a lot in the main galleries as well as the children museum and the multimedia universe. I could have used at least 1,5 hours more.
So is it worth travelling to Cairo for? Well, Cairo is not my favourite city, but if you are there for the pyramids or Luxor, you definitely cannot miss it. I can’t rule out I will go back to Egypt for 3. time, and this time explore the royal mummies at the National Egyptian Museum of Civilisation, Alexandria and the desert as well.
Of course, if you’re in Egypt, you must visit the pyramids, the temples in Aswan and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Find all the information you need in Must-See Egyptian Temples & Tombs In Valley of the Kings. If you love museums, be inspired by Warsaw, Poland: Top 6 Must-See Museums or Ultimate Guide to Stockholm’s Best Museums.
Thanks for reading all the way. Let me know in the comments if you will you be visiting GEM or if you already have been.
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