Grand Egyptian Museum

Overview

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near the Giza Pyramids is the largest archaeological museum in the world, purpose-built to house Egypt's entire collection of pharaonic treasures in a state-of-the-art facility spanning 490,000 square metres.

Highlights

• Statue of Ramesses II: The 11-metre, 82-tonne red granite colossus greets visitors in the soaring glass atrium.
• Tutankhamun Complete Collection: For the first time, all 5,398 artifacts from the tomb are displayed together, including items never previously exhibited.
• The Grand Staircase: A monumental stairway lined with 87 colossal statues and artifacts arranged chronologically from the Old Kingdom to the Ptolemaic era.

History

Construction began in 2002 and the museum was built at a cost of over $1 billion, funded by Japanese soft loans. Its triangular design by Heneghan Peng Architects echoes the geometry of the nearby pyramids.

Visitor Tips

• Transport: Located 2 km from the Giza Pyramids; combine visits on the same day.
• Time: The collection is massive — allocate at least half a day to see the highlights.
• Duration: 3–4 hours.