EGYPT · TRAVEL
Key Facts
- —The country Egypt, in North Africa, is led by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi; its top draw is the Giza Pyramids near Cairo.
- —What happened The Grand Egyptian Museum, beside the Pyramids, welcomed nearly 4 million visitors from its opening to the end of August 2026.
- —The price Since Sunday 1 November 2026 a foreign adult ticket costs US$35, up from US$30.
- —The hours Galleries open 9 am to 6 pm on most days and 9 am to 9 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- —How to book Tickets are sold only on the official site, tickets.gem.eg, for a chosen date and time.
The Grand Egyptian Museum drew nearly 4 million visitors in its first 10 months, Egypt’s government says. The museum, beside the Giza Pyramids near Cairo, opened to the public on 1 November 2025 and has just marked its first anniversary.
For US travellers it is now the main reason to add Egypt to a trip, and the rules for tickets and hours have changed. Our earlier report on the new ticket prices has the price list.
In Plain English, Who Is Who
The Grand Egyptian Museum, often called GEM, stands on the Giza Plateau and holds the Tutankhamun galleries. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, led by Minister Sherif Fathy, oversees it.
The GEM Authority is the state body that runs the museum, and its board met on Tuesday 29 September 2026 under Fathy. The cabinet’s media centre is the government’s information office, and it put the visitor total into an infographic.
How the Grand Egyptian Museum Reached 4 Million
The board reviewed visitor numbers and revenue from the November 2025 opening to the end of August 2026, a period of 10 months. The government put the total at nearly 4 million visitors, which is an average of roughly 13,000 a day.
The museum’s chief executive, Ahmed Ghoneim, presented the museum’s recent activities and events to the board. The announcement gave a total for the period and no breakdown by nationality.
Opening Hours and How to Book
The official booking site lists two timetables for the Grand Egyptian Museum. On Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays the grounds open 8:30 am to 7 pm and the galleries 9 am to 6 pm.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays the grounds stay open until 10 pm and the galleries until 9 pm. The last entry is one hour before the galleries close.
Tickets and Prices for Foreign Visitors
The ministry raised the foreign adult ticket from US$30 to US$35 on Sunday 1 November 2026, as announced in the spring. Egyptian adults pay EGP 220 (about US$4), up from EGP 200 (about US$3.60), at EGP 56.03 per US$1 on 2 November 2026.
Admission to the Grand Egyptian Museum covers the Tutankhamun Galleries, the Main Galleries, the Grand Hall, the Grand Stairs and the Khufu boats museum. Our ticket price report lists the cheaper rates for foreign students, children and residents.
Tickets are single-entry, cannot be transferred and cannot be refunded after purchase. Each ticket is valid only for the date and entry time that the buyer picks.
What to Know Before You Go
Bags larger than 40 by 40 centimetres (about 16 by 16 inches) must go to the cloakroom, and all bags may be inspected. Outside food and drink are not allowed, though small water bottles may be carried into the galleries.
Personal photography is allowed, but flash, tripods, selfie sticks, drones and live streaming are not. Photography is banned in marked areas of the Tutankhamun Galleries.
The Grand Egyptian Museum also hosts events, including an orchestra concert on Friday 11 December, which our concert report covers. Our Egypt events and Nile cruise guide shows what else is on this season.
What It Means for US Readers
A US couple now pays about US$70 for two foreign adult tickets, and the only safe place to buy is the official site. Resellers are not covered by the museum, so a ticket bought elsewhere may be refused at the gate.
Egypt’s tourism boom is a wider story, as our report on record tourism shows. For the background to what you will see, read our Egypt history explainer, and check US State Department travel advice and visa rules before booking.
What Is Not Known
The government has not said how many of the nearly 4 million visitors were foreigners, or how much the museum earned from tickets. The infographic gave a total only, and the period ended in August 2026.
It is not known how many people have visited in September and October, or whether the higher foreign price will slow bookings. The ministry also has not said whether a daily limit on visitors applies.
More: Egypt news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have visited the Grand Egyptian Museum?
Nearly 4 million visitors came between the opening in November 2025 and the end of August 2026, the government says. That is 10 months.
When did the Grand Egyptian Museum open?
The Grand Egyptian Museum opened to the public on 1 November 2025. It is beside the Giza Pyramids near Cairo.
How much is a foreign adult ticket?
A foreign adult ticket costs US$35 from Sunday 1 November 2026, up from US$30. Egyptian adults pay EGP 220 (about US$4).
What are the opening hours?
Galleries open 9 am to 6 pm on most days and until 9 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The last entry is one hour before the galleries close.
Where should I buy tickets?
Buy only on the official site, tickets.gem.eg. Tickets are non-refundable and valid only for the chosen date and time.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt: Grand Egyptian Museum Authority board meeting, visitor figures to end of August 2026, 29 September 2026; Grand Egyptian Museum: official ticketing site, opening hours, prices and visitor rules, 2 November 2026; Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt: announcement of the foreign ticket rise to US$35 from 1 November 2026, 6 May 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief