The Royal Mummies Hall

To step into the Royal Mummies Hall requires a bit of forethought. Located inside the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, the hall attracts crowds, especially during holiday weekends and school breaks. Lines can be long right after opening and in the late afternoon. Travelers who plan around Egypt’s dry, cooler winter months enjoy more comfortable walks through the museum’s modern, accessible galleries. Getting here is simple—the museum sits in the Fustat district, close to modern Cairo’s southern neighborhoods and connected by metro, taxi, and even Nile River boat rides.

• Best time to visit: Early morning on weekdays, October to April for milder weather
• How to get there: Taxi or Uber from most central hotels, or Metro Line 1 to El-Malak El-Saleh station (a ten-minute walk); museum parking is available
• Accessibility: Wheelchair ramps and elevators serve the museum; wide corridors suit strollers and families
• Average visit duration: One to two hours for the Mummies Hall itself; up to half a day for the entire museum

The Royal Mummies Hall holds a rare atmosphere—neither gloomy nor showy. Displays feel respectful. Subtle lighting falls on the glass cases, inviting visitors to focus on fine details: wisps of ancient linen, tiny gold amulets, vivid sketches of rank and ceremony. More than twenty mummies, including those of Ramses II and Hatshepsut, lie artfully arranged with their life stories told on nearby plaques in Arabic, English, and French. Soundproofing keeps noise low; the space seems to slow everyone’s steps, turning the visit into something nearly meditative.

• Key sights or features: Mummies of Ramses II, Hatshepsut, Seti I, and more; restored coffins and sarcophagi; interactive digital screens explaining mummification
• Unique experiences: Witnessing the famous “Pharaohs’ Golden Parade” video recap; studying ancient burial jewelry up close
• Photo-worthy locations: Entrance hallway with monumental, hieroglyph-carved walls; peaceful reflections in overhead lighting (but note: no photography inside the Hall itself)
• Cultural/historical facts: Many of the royal mummies were discovered in hidden tombs in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings and moved to this museum in an event broadcast to millions; mummification techniques varied by reign and wealth, offering clues to daily life and royal beliefs