Alternative Egypt Travel Guide
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Visiting The Egyptian Museum

Visiting the Egyptian Museum

Egypt’s most extensive museum of ancient antiquities is housed in a striking red building in downtown Cairo, between the Nile Hilton Hotel and Tahrir square.

The museum was moved to this dome roofed structure in 1902, after it was purpose built by French architect Marcel Dourgan in 1900 during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II

The museum’s contents span a period of some five thousand years of Egyptian history. The 120,000 plus items on display are presented in 107 halls in chronological order. The collections can be a little daunting, so unless you are visiting the Egyptian Museum with a guide, it’s a good idea to have a plan beforehand.

The two most famous collections on display are those of Tutankhamun and the Royal Mummies room.

Tutankhamun Collection

Tutankhamun was by no means the most important pharaoh, his reign was short and his achievements were minimal. It was the discovery of his tomb fully intact (1922) in all its royal glory (all the others were robbed by tomb raiders) that shot this Egyptian to global celebrity.

Although the discovery was made near Luxor in the valley of the kings where his body still resides, much of the treasures found along side him are on display in the Egyptian museum. These include his funeral mask, coffin and throne.

The Royal Mummy Room

By contrast, one of the most influential and longest reigning pharaohs of ancient Egypt can be seen in the museum’s Royal Mummy room. Ramses II’s shrivelled corpse rests along side ten other royal mummies in glass cases with detailed descriptions of their respective causes of death. The mummies are frighteningly well preserved with hair and toes nails. There is an extra charge (see below) for visiting this part of the museum.

The Animal Mummy Room

The Egyptians didn’t just mummify people. The Animal Mummies room (free to enter) includes the dried out remains of mummified horses, cows, crocodiles, a monkey, and a large Nile perch.

How much does the Egyptian Museum Cost?

Entrance to the museum is 60LE. You will pay an additional fee of 100LE if you intend to visit the Royal Mummy Room. Students pay 30LE or 60LE for entrance to the museum and to the mummies room respectively. Student cards are generally not scrutinised.

Photography

Photography is forbidden at the museum. Anyone carrying a camera must leave it in a purpose built house to the left of the entrance. You will be given a small wooden chip as receipt which you then hand in to retrieve your camera on departure.

How to get to the Egyptian museum?

The museum is located just a ten minute cab ride from Ramses station. If coming by Metro exit at Sedat.

Other Information

Within the grounds of the museum is a café, several stalls selling refreshments, and a post office. Numerous guides with a variety of language skills also loiter around the forecourt should you require one.

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