The most anticipated event in travel history is finally here: the Grand Egyptian Museum opening. For years, the world has watched, waited, and wondered. Located in the shadow of the great Giza Pyramids, this colossal $1 billion museum is not just the largest archaeological museum in the world; it is a monumental statement, ready to reveal secrets that have been hidden for a century.
As a premier travel company, we’re not just offering you a ticket; we’re offering you a front-row seat to history. This event rewrites the rules of what a museum can be, and we are here to guide you through every magnificent corner.
A Palace for the Pharaohs: What Makes the GEM So Special?
To understand the excitement, you must first understand the problem. The beloved old museum in Tahrir Square, built in 1901, was a treasure chest, but it was overflowing. It was designed to hold 40,000 artifacts but ended up housing over 120,000. The result? Thousands of priceless artifacts—including 70% of King Tutankhamun’s treasures—were kept in dark, cramped storage rooms, unseen by the public.
The Grand Egyptian Museum solves this. Its vast, state-of-the-art halls, covering over 500,000 square meters, are designed to showcase Egypt’s heritage on a scale never imagined. The technology behind the Grand Egyptian Museum opening is as impressive as the artifacts themselves, with advanced, climate-controlled display cases to protect even the most fragile items. (You can see the full scale of the project on the official GEM website.)
Treasures of the Grand Egyptian Museum Opening
This is what you came for. The main attraction of the Grand Egyptian Museum opening isn’t just the spectacular building; it’s the artifacts. While the museum will house over 100,000 artifacts in its main galleries, the true stars are the ones making their world debut. Let’s explore the highlights that make this a once-in-a-generation event.
1. The Complete Tutankhamun Collection (All 5,000+ Pieces)
This is the crown jewel, the undeniable center-point of the entire museum. For the first time in history—nearly 100 years after their discovery—King Tutankhamun’s entire treasure collection (all 5,000+ pieces) will be displayed together in one place.
The GEM dedicates two massive halls, covering over 7,000 square meters, to the Golden King. This is a journey that follows the exact layout of his tomb, allowing you to experience the discovery just as Howard Carter did. But what will you see that’s new?
- The Never-Before-Seen Items: Prepare to be amazed by the personal items that were too fragile to display before. We are talking about his royal wardrobe, including over 80 tunics and 30 pairs of delicate papyrus and leather sandals. You’ll see his childhood boomerangs, his writing palettes, and even the dried food offerings meant to sustain him in the afterlife.
- The Royal Chariots: In the Tahrir museum, only two chariots were on display, cramped in a corner. The GEM will display all six of his gilded chariots together, showcasing the full power and wealth of the boy-king.
This complete collection is, by itself, worth the price of admission. The Grand Egyptian Museum opening provides the only space large enough to do this collection justice.
2. The Khufu Solar Boat: A Journey Through Time
Prepare to be awestruck. The Khufu Solar Boat, the oldest intact wooden vessel in the world (over 4,600 years old), has been moved to its permanent home at the GEM. This 42-meter-long boat was discovered in 1954 in a pit at the foot of the Great Pyramid, and its previous museum was inadequate.
Its relocation to the GEM was an engineering marvel in itself, a “project of the century” that involved lifting the one-piece vessel in a specialized metal cage. The successful move of the boat was a critical pre-cursor to the Grand Egyptian Museum opening.
Now, it rests in a dedicated, climate-controlled building that allows for a 360-degree viewing experience. You can walk above and around the boat, seeing the intricate cedarwood joinery and appreciating the craftsmanship that was meant to carry the pharaoh on his final journey. The scale of it is simply breathtaking.
3. The World’s First “Hanging Obelisk”
As you enter the museum’s grand atrium, you’ll be greeted by a unique architectural masterpiece: the world’s first “hanging obelisk.” This massive obelisk of King Ramses II, brought from Tanis in the Nile Delta, is suspended on four pillars.
Why is this so special? This innovative “hanging” design is an engineering feat that allows visitors, for the first time ever, to walk beneath the obelisk and see its base. This part of an obelisk is usually buried deep underground. The base itself is carved with the king’s cartouche and titles—a detail hidden from the world for 3,000 years, until the Grand Egyptian Museum opening.
4. The Grand Staircase: A Walk Among Kings
As you move from the atrium, you’ll ascend the “Grand Staircase.” This isn’t just a way to get to the upper floors; it’s an exhibition in itself, and a highlight of the Grand Egyptian Museum opening experience.
Lined with 87 massive royal statues of kings, queens, and deities, this staircase is a chronological journey through Egypt’s history. You are literally walking up through time. Look for the massive statues of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, the powerful Amenhotep III, and the sphinx of Hatshepsut. Many of these colossal figures were brought from scattered, hard-to-access locations or storage, and seeing them assembled here is a powerful statement. The staircase alone is larger than many entire museums.
5. A Glimpse into the Future: The GEM Conservation Center
This is the hidden heart of the GEM and a central part of its story. The Grand Egyptian Museum opening also unveils the largest and most advanced conservation center in the world. This isn’t just a backstage workshop; it’s a 3,000-square-meter facility with 19 state-of-the-art laboratories. For the past decade, this center has been the “hospital” for Egypt’s treasures.
This is where the “never-before-seen” items were made ready. Every single item in Tutankhamun’s collection, from the chariots to the textiles, underwent meticulous restoration here. Many were suffering from decay and damage after a century in storage. The GEM’s mission wasn’t just to move items, but to save them. A key feature for visitors will be the glass-walled “public-facing” labs, where you can actually watch expert conservators at work, restoring artifacts in real-time. This commitment to science is a core part of the new museum’s identity.
6. Thousands of “New” Statues and Sarcophagi
Beyond the headliners, the main galleries are where the true depth of the museum is revealed. Thousands upon thousands of artifacts are being brought out of storage for the first time. The sheer volume is staggering. The Grand Egyptian Museum opening isn’t just about Tutankhamun; it’s about the thousands of other stories from the artisans, priests, and everyday people of ancient Egypt.
You will be among the first people in modern history to lay eyes on:
- Colossal Statues: Massive statues of pharaohs from the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms that were simply too large to display previously.
- Intricate Sarcophagi: Entire rooms dedicated to the evolution of the sarcophagus, displaying dozens of intricately decorated coffins that show the development of funerary art.
- Daily Life: Complete collections of tools, jewelry, pottery, and furniture that tell the full story of daily life along the Nile. This is a key part of the Grand Egyptian Museum opening.
The Grand Egyptian Museum opening is a testament to the idea that there is always more to discover.
A New Visitor Experience for the Modern Traveler
Beyond the artifacts, the museum’s location and design are a game-changer for tourists. It’s strategically located *right next to the Giza Pyramids*. This is a masterstroke of planning. You can now book a tour that combines the wonder of the pyramids with the context of the treasures found within them, all in one day, in one location.
The museum is a full-day destination. The vast complex includes restaurants with pyramid views, cafes, shops, and peaceful gardens. The Grand Egyptian Museum opening is designed for accessibility, with wide, open halls and a modern, comfortable visitor experience. This isn’t a dusty old hall; it’s a 21st-century palace. The Grand Egyptian Museum opening will redefine tourism in Cairo.
Your Journey to History Starts Now
The Grand Egyptian Museum opening is more than just a museum visit; it’s an experience that happens once in a generation. It’s the chance to see the complete, dazzling story of a civilization that shaped the world. For our guests, the Grand Egyptian Museum opening represents the ultimate travel experience, a moment to connect with 5,000 years of human history.
We are proud to offer curated tours for the Grand Egyptian Museum opening, guided by expert Egyptologists who can bring these ancient stories to life. This historic moment is a one to be part of, and we are here to make that journey seamless.
While you’re here, why not check our other Egypt tours to complete your journey?
Don’t just read about it. Be there.