Egyptian Museum hotels in Downtown Cairo, Egypt

The World’s First Purpose-Built Museum

When it comes to museums, there are few in the world that can compete with the riches found inside Cairo’s Egyptian Museum. Home to the most extensive collection of artefacts, relics and antiquities dating to the time of the pharaohs, it is a must-see on any trip to Egypt. Inside the pinkish neoclassical building, which dates from 1902 and was one of the world’s first purpose-built museums, you will find everything from mummies to statues to the treasures unearthed from the Valley of the Kings.

What to See in the Egyptian Museum

There are over 160,000 objects and 107 halls, covering 5,000 years of Egypt’s illustrious past, so managing to see them all can be tricky. Wander through the halls on an adventure through the ages, from the ancient Egyptians to the Romans. Seek out the grisly yet majestic New Kingdom mummies of great pharaohs and queens and marvel at the life-size statues of the Ramesses III, Menkaure and Khafre – the latter two kings were responsible for building two of the Pyramids at Giza. The highlight for many visitors is the display devoted to the child king, Tutankhamun, the most famous of the pharaohs. The discovery of his tomb and the treasures within it fuelled a worldwide fascination with ancient Egypt and seeing them in the flesh is one of the most incredible experiences of a trip to Cairo.

Hotels in Downtown Cairo

The Egyptian Museum is in vibrant downtown Cairo. As the commercial and urban centre of the busy city, this neighbourhood buzzes with activity day and night. Here you will find impressive four-and five-star international hotels, most built in European architectural styles. At the other end of the budget scale are funky little guesthouses and budget hostels with tons of charisma. Wherever you decide to stay in downtown Cairo, you will be in the thick of the action. This district is packed with street vendors selling authentic Egyptian fare, pumping bars and busy restaurants, and art galleries and museums.