Is the Grand Egyptian Museum worth visiting before it fully opens? What you can see – and what’s missing

Nearly a century ago, American archaeologists working near the Pyramids of Giza makes an incredible discovery: a secret burial chamber littered with golden treasures. They had just discovered the tomb of Queen Hetepherus I, the mother of King Khufu, as well as a set of royal bedroom furniture. The objects inside were over 4,600 years old.

Through painstaking restoration work, the Queen’s bed, throne and possessions have been carefully restored to their former glory. The Hetepheres collection is now among thousands of incredible objects at the newly opened museum Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) In Cairo.

The exhibit, which included a canopy frame that once draped luxurious fabrics, transported me to a royal life thousands of years ago and made history surprisingly tangible. For me, this was without a doubt one of the highlights of my visit to GEM.

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Considered the largest archaeological museum in the world, the GEM was in the making for almost two decades. While it’s doing gradual opening since 2022the main attractions – which could represent up to 100,000 archaeological objects – were kept secret until recently.

To the delight of history buffs, 12 of the museum’s galleries were finally opened to the public in October 2024. After being based in Dahab for several years, I have been one of the many veterans Egypt fans who eagerly counted down the days until the grand opening. Even though it was still a soft opening (as some areas hadn’t been revealed yet), I was still excited to see what treasures were in store.

But is visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum before its full opening worth it?

The size of the museum, framed by the Great Pyramids of Giza, creates an impressive backdrop. Designed by a IrelandAccording to the London-based architectural firm, the building’s vast geometry and triangular patterns appear to blend cleverly with the 4,000-year-old architecture of the pyramids beyond. The work put into organizing the GEM Experience makes this clear, and it’s no surprise that the building has already been named among the most beautiful. museums in the world.

I passed through security, bought a ticket (1,200 Egyptian pounds or £19 GBP) and continued towards the galleries, wary of the fact that the last entry was at 4pm.

A world away from the chaos of the ancient Egyptian museum, I was greeted by peaceful bodies of water, an ancient hanging obelisk and very few tourists in sight. Upon entering, I was confronted by the famous 83-ton statue of Ramses II, which guards the vast gray interiors of the GEM atrium. Everything from the information center and gift shop to the chic cafes bears the marks of a highly prized and carefully maintained project.

Next comes the museum’s grand staircase, which guides visitors to the galleries. The Ascent invites you on a journey through ancient Egyptian belief systems, featuring an impressive display of ancient statues and facades based on the themes of ‘Kings and Gods’ and ‘Journey to Eternity’. At the top, visitors are greeted with a panoramic view of a pharaoh’s final resting place: the pyramids, which I thought was a fitting and well-staged end to my climb.

The beautiful gallery entrance, lined with electric blue lights, was particularly striking; you really felt the scale of the room and the history it contained. The 12 open galleries cover ancient Egyptian life from prehistory and the early dynasties to the late period. Each huge piece is carefully divided, loosely based on the themes of beliefs, royalty and society throughout each period.

Visitors can spend hours wandering through the carefully curated exhibits, spotting hieroglyphics hand-painted by the Egyptians thousands of years ago and never-before-seen artifacts that were stored away until now.

A collection of papyri in one corner of the museum details the daily stories of people communicating with family members. Another exhibit featured an ancient chess-like board game called Sénetwhere player pieces traverse the underworld and into the afterlife. Intricate jewelry, beautifully decorated pots, and a multitude of household objects paint a vibrant picture of ancient Egyptian life.

The media screens scattered among the vast limestone artifacts are also quite impressive. Virtual reconstructions and immersive exhibits documenting the region’s evolving political landscape helped bring history to the present. As in the ancient museum, most people gathered around the mummies in Gallery 10. Although most of the Egyptian royal mummies are housed in the Museum of Civilization, GEM’s collection has many highlights: the remains gold-plated covers of a young girl, beautifully decorated shrouds and even a mummified crocodile.

Despite the grandeur of the objects and exhibits, there are signs that the museum is still under construction. After all, the most important attraction of GEM – Tutankhamuntreasures of the city – is always closed to the public. As I tried to scan my ticket through turnstiles that were not yet operational, I remembered that the museum had not yet reached its peak.

And while the galleries were impressive, some might say the experience felt disjointed. The flow between each area is slightly disorienting, as there wasn’t a single path through all the screens. An Egyptologist I spoke to also observed the museum’s current collection: “Statues, statues, statues.”

Storytelling is just as important as the objects in a museum. But in some cases, the descriptions that accompanied them (written in Arabic and English) seemed too mundane and required a deeper narrative that connects visitors to the stories behind the ancient objects. I asked myself: who was this person? Where was this artifact discovered? What does it teach us about life at that time? It’s difficult to connect with the humanity behind the story without these answers. For this reason, I suggest joining one of GEM’s tour guides to better understand the context.

But is GEM still worth a visit? I believe it. On the contrary, immersing yourself in an afternoon at GEM is the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of Cairo’s other tourist spots.

As the galleries closed and I bid farewell to Ramses II one last time, I reflected on the incredible artifacts I had just come face to face with – and the few I didn’t have. No wonder the GEM doesn’t seem complete.

The Rosetta Stonefor example, which is always found in the British Museumshould be here. On the contrary, the incredible facilities and cutting-edge technology of the Grand Egyptian Museum prove that Egypt is more than equipped to finally reclaim its historical treasures. Seeing historical artifacts stolen centuries ago displayed in their rightful home would solidify GEM as a true celebration of Egypt’s incredible history.

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