National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Cairo offers a comprehensive journey through Egypt’s history, showcasing artifacts from prehistoric times to the present. Highlights include the Royal Mummies Hall, featuring 22 royal mummies, and thematic galleries covering various eras and aspects of Egyptian civilization. The museum is located in Old Cairo, near the Coptic Quarter, and provides a modern and engaging experience for visitors of all ages.

Planning your visit

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Old Cairo is where the royal mummies now live. Twenty-two kings and queens — Ramesses II and Hatshepsut among them — were moved here in the 2021 Pharaohs' Golden Parade and are displayed in a purpose-built, dimly lit hall designed for preservation and for atmosphere. The rest of NMEC takes a different approach from Egypt's other museums: rather than antiquities alone, it runs thematically from prehistory through Coptic and Islamic Egypt to the modern day.

That makes it a natural complement to the older Egyptian Museum in Tahrir rather than a substitute, and many bookable options pair the two in a single day with lunch. Others build it into a wider Cairo itinerary — the Giza pyramids, the Citadel, Coptic Cairo next door, or the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Straightforward entry tickets and half-day guided tours are available for a focused visit. Given the mummy hall is the draw, a guide helps place the individual rulers. See current dates below.