Explore’s Egypt’s dynamic history and vibrant cultural heritage curated in one-of-a-kind museums throughout the country
Egypt’s rich and complex history spans thousands of years from ancient Egyptian civilization to its diverse present. There’s no better way to delve into the richness of Egypt’s illustrious past than to visit the museums built to honor the country’s multilayered history and preserve its legacy for the generations to come. Whether you choose to visit the capital’s grand museum complexes or plan a trip to some of the quainter museums in different parts of the country, you will be transported in time and immersed in the culture, customs, and social and political norms of magnificent bygone eras.
Cairo & Giza:
The Egyptian Museum
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is the oldest archaeological museum in the MENA region and a must-see during any visit to Cairo.
The Museum of Islamic Art
The Museum of Islamic Art is the largest museum of its kind in the world.
The Coptic Museum
Is home to around 16,000 artworks—the world’s largest collection of Coptic artifacts—including manuscripts, icons, carved woodwork, and religious-themed frescoes from ancient churches and monasteries.
The Museum of Prince Muhammad Ali’s Palace
The Museum of Prince Muhammad Ali’s Palace in Al-Manial, Cairo, is known for its whimsical fusion of different art styles: Mamluk, Persian, Syrian, Andalusian, Moorish, and Ottoman.
The Palace of Muhammad Ali Pasha (Opening soon)
The Palace of Muhammed Ali Pasha brings together European design influences with Islamic architecture, which makes it a magnificent representation of Egypt’s multicultural nature.
The Cairo International Airport Museums
The Cairo International Airport Museums, located in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, are a gateway to Egypt’s amazing history, highlighting a collection of unique ancient Egyptian, Roman, Coptic, Islamic, and modern period artifacts.
The Abdeen Palace Museum
Located in Downtown Cairo, Abdeen Palace—one of the official residences for the former royal family of Egypt, is easily one of the most beautiful and visited attractions in the capital.
The Royal Carriages Museum
The Royal Carriages Museum in Boulaq, Cairo, was built to preserve and display the royal chariots of the Muhammad Ali dynasty and highlight the practice of horse breeding at the time.
The Rokn Farouk Museum
The boat-shaped Rokn Farouk Museum overlooks the Nile River in Helwan district. Spanning an area of around 11,600 sqm, the museum operated as a rest house for King Farouk in 1941.
The Gayer-Anderson Museum
This well-preserved 16th century house, located near the Ibn Tulun Mosque, was once the home of Gayer Anderson, a British officer in the Egyptian civil service in the 1930s.
The New Administrative Capital Museum (opening soon)
Fittingly located in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, this new museum promises to showcase the captivating history of Egypt’s former capitals, such as Memphis, Thebes, and Alexandria.
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is the first museum of its kind to showcase Egyptian civilization from prehistoric to modern times.
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) (opening soon)
The highly anticipated opening of GEM will unveil an archaeological and architectural masterpiece overlooking the Giza Plateau, including the Pyramids.
Alexandria :
The Alexandria National Museum
The Alexandria National Museum exhibits more than 1,800 artifacts from early Dynastic Egypt to the Graeco-Roman periods, as well as the Coptic and Islamic eras, including rare salvaged underwater artifacts.
The Royal Jewelry Museum
Displaying the collectibles of the former Egyptian Royal Family, the Royal Jewelry Museum houses precious jewelry, paintings, mosaics, and valuable items from the Muhammad Ali dynasty that ruled Egypt from 1805 until 1952.
The Graeco-Roman Museum (Opening soon)
The Graeco-Roman Museum was originally opened in 1892 during the reign of Khedive Abbas Helmi II to preserve artifacts found in Alexandria.
Red Sea:
The Sharm al-Sheikh Museum
The Sharm al-Sheikh Museum is South Sinai’s first antiquities museum, containing around 5,200 artifacts documenting the rise of Egyptian civilization.
The Hurghada Museum
The Hurghada Museum is the first antiquities museum in the Red Sea Governorate and the first museum to be built in cooperation with the private sector.
Middle & Upper Egypt:
The Aswan Museum
The Aswan Museum was originally the villa of Sir William Willcocks, architect of the old Aswan Dam.
The Nubian Museum
Awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001, the Nubian Museum in Aswan was built as part of the UNESCO International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia, and it pays tribute to the culture and history of Nubia that date back to prehistory.
The Luxor Museum
The Luxor Museum, which overlooks the East Bank of the Nile River, showcases Luxor’s rare artifacts, including statues of pharaohs and deities and artifacts from various historical eras.
The Mummification Museum
The Mummification Museum in Luxor is considered to be one of Egypt’s most unique museums.
The New Valley Museum
Located in Al-Kharga, the New Valley’s capital, this museum houses a notable collection of artifacts discovered in the New Valley region, which tell the fascinating history of ancient Egyptian civilization from the predynastic to modern times.
The Suhag National Museum
The Suhag National Museum houses a collection of around 7,000 artifacts. It showcases the history of the pharaohs that came from Suhag and the religious traditions and rituals that took place at the time.
The Mallawi Museum
Intended to preserve the ancient history of Hermopolis and Tuna al-Gabal, the Mallawi Museum is home to an awe-inspiring collection of antiquities dating back to ancient Egypt, particularly the Amarna, as well as some Graeco-Roman periods.
Al-Atony Museum (opening soon)
Set to be the third-largest museum in Egypt, Al-Atony Museum’s vast pyramid-like structure will house 16 exhibitions that delve into the history of Al-Minya governorate.
The Beni Suef Museum
The Beni Suef Museum houses fascinating artifacts from the Prehistoric, ancient Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras.
Other:
The Rashid National Museum
Built in true Islamic art fashion that represents the captivating history of Rashid during the Ottoman era, the Rashid National Museum was originally one of the city’s most important and famous houses.
The Archaeological Museum of Matruh
The Archaeological Museum of Matruh highlights the city’s rich history and prime location through a vast collection of artifacts displayed in its two-story building.
The Rommel Cave Museum in Marsa Matruh
Located on a peninsula in Marsa Matruh, the Rommel Cave Museum was originally used by the German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel for operations during WWII. The cave was turned into a museum and was opened to the public in 1988.
The Ismailia Museum
The Ismailia Museum is one of the oldest museums in Egypt, and its design is inspired by the architecture of ancient Egyptian temples.
The Suez National Museum
The award-winning Suez National Museum is home to 2,500 artifacts that showcase Egypt’s history from prehistoric to modern times, with a focus on maritime navigation.
The Kom Aushim Museum
The Kom Aushim Museum offers a window into Fayoum’s rich history and traditions.
The Tanta Museum
The Tanta Museum is one of the oldest museums in the country and the only museum in Al-Gharbiyya governorate.
The Kafr al-Sheikh Museum
Boasting a sprawling modern design, the newly inaugurated Kafr al-Sheikh Museum takes visitors on a fascinating journey through Kafr al-Sheikh’s history, including the historical role of Egypt’s ancient capitals.