Published 3rd Nov. 2025
Written by Emma Begley
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As Tom Holland (the esteemed historian, not Spiderman) so succinctly put it in the first edition of our magazine, Original Traveller, ‘Egypt is where tourism began’. And the next chapter in the history of tourism in Egypt is about to begin. We’re always looking for a reason to shout about this captivating country, and this November, we have the perfect excuse: the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Despite being postponed several times, the museum partially opened its doors in October 2024 and is scheduled to fully open to the public on the 4th November 2025, following an official ceremony on the 1st November. Intrigued? Read on to find out all about the Grand Egyptian Museum opening…
History buffs, listen up. Built opposite the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum is the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilisation. The museum is estimated to house a whopping 100,000 historic artefacts across its 12 galleries, which are designed for visitors to explore the different periods of Egyptian history chronologically, from the Old Kingdom to the Greco-Roman era.
You’ll be welcomed into the immense building by a 36ft-tall granite statue of Ramesses II, crafted 3,200 years ago but discovered in 1820. The GEM also boasts floor-to-ceiling windows along its vast staircase, which offer a perfectly framed view of the iconic pyramids. For lovers of art and history, there really is no better time to visit Egypt; the 2025 Grand Egyptian Museum opening neatly coincides with the 2026 anniversary of Agatha Christie’s death, so why not complement your Cairo trip with a cruise down the Nile on the Steam Ship Sudan (the elegant steamer that inspired Death on the Nile)?
Image by bycmdcrey / Pexels.
It’s been a long journey to reach the November 2025 opening date. The GEM was initially proposed in 1992, when it was decided that the original historic museum in Tahrir Square was too small and run-down to do the wonders of Ancient Egypt justice. The Egyptian government launched an international call for esteemed designers to create a museum worthy of displaying the country’s rich heritage, and voila: the Grand Egyptian Museum construction began in 2006.
Cue the 2008 economic crisis, which delayed the construction of the immense building, closely followed by the Egyptian Revolution and political instabilities in 2011. The project finally got back on track in 2014, but just as construction was nearly complete, the COVID-19 pandemic began and once again ground things to a halt. Despite all of these setbacks, work was finally completed in 2023 after twenty years – longer than it took to build the Pyramid of Khufu.
Image by Gehad Hamdy/dpa via ZUMA Press.
Okay, okay, you might be thinking: if the museum is already partially open, why is this such a big deal? While the soft launch in October 2024 did allow visitors to access many of the museum’s main galleries, the 2025 opening brings with it the most eagerly awaited exhibit: the Tutankhamun collection, which will display the famous pharaoh’s golden treasures. This will be the first time that all 5,000 sparkling artefacts will be displayed in the same place since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, which remains one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time.
On top of Tutankhamun’s treasures, the Grand Egyptian Museum opening marks a turning point in the exhibition of Egyptian history and culture. Alongside its galleries, the museum boasts 17 laboratories, each equipped with cutting-edge technology. By studying, restoring and preserving artefacts and collaborating with other institutions across the world, the GEM aims to become an international centre for research and conservation, bringing Egyptology firmly into the 21st century.
- Combine a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum with a luxurious cruise on the Steam Ship Sudan
- Blend history and nature with a cruise along the Nile on the Flaneuse du Nil
- Venture off the beaten track in Cairo, Alexandria and the Siwa Oasis
Image by Karim Amr.
Header image by Gehad Hamdy/dpa via ZUMA Press.
When it comes to Egypt’s Nile, we’ve secured full bragging rights with exclusive access to the Steam Ship Sudan, the last of the authentic paddle steamers which also served as inspiration for Agatha Christie. If it’s the lesser-known sites you’re after, we can instead bag you a cabin onboard the Flâneuse du Nil, a traditional dahabieh sailing boat that plies the Nile. We’ve also got the best guides under our belt for exclusive access to the Pyramids, temples and tombs of Egypt, and our handy app is home to an ever-growing list of tried and tested shops, restaurants and more.
ENQUIRE NOWPractical advice and inspiration for your next trip
This article originally featured in the first edition of our magazine, Original Traveller. The world’s first tourist destination; Egypt has attracted the great and the good for more than four millennia. Tom Holland charts the ebb and flow of the country’s time travel. Egypt is where tourism began. Perhaps this is hardly surprising. By the 5th century BC, when the first tourist guide to Egypt was written, pharaonic civilisation was already more than two and a half millennia old.
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On a research trip to Egypt, our Content Manager, Ella, soaked up the storied sights lining the banks of the Nile onboard the Flaneuse du Nil. Elegant and intimate, this traditional dahabieh sailing boat journeyed from Aswan to Esna, leading her to archaeological hotspots and ancient temples. She explored the sandstone quarries of Gebel el-Silsila, admired ancient carvings in Kom Ombo and dined like a Pharaoh on the sailing boat’s sundeck.
7th May 2025 - Egypt Travel Tips
As Tom Holland (the esteemed historian, not Spiderman) so succinctly put it in the first edition of our magazine, Original Traveller, ‘Egypt is where tourism began’. And the next chapter in the history of tourism in Egypt is about to begin. We’re always looking for a reason to shout about this captivating country, and this November, we have the perfect excuse: the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
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