Egypt monuments: opening hours and ticket prices for 2026

Entrance tickets add up faster than most visitors expect. For a foreign adult, the Giza Plateau is EGP 700, the Grand Egyptian Museum EGP 1,830 (from 1 November 2026), the Valley of the Kings EGP 750 and Abu Simbel EGP 822 – and going inside the Great Pyramid is a separate ticket on top of the Giza one.

Below are the foreign-visitor prices and opening hours for Egypt’s main monuments and museums, taken from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ booking site, egymonuments.com, on 26 October 2026. Prices are in Egyptian pounds. Students under 25 with a valid student card pay about half.

Prices checked 26 October 2026. Sources: the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ ticket site egymonuments.com and monument pages on egymonuments.gov.eg; Grand Egyptian Museum prices from the official announcement for 1 November 2026. Prices change – check before you travel.

A classic week of Cairo and Luxor – Giza, the GEM, the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel, Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple – comes to EGP 5,920 per adult in entrance fees at November 2026 prices, before any extra tickets such as the Great Pyramid interior or Tutankhamun’s tomb.

If you book a guided tour, check the “price includes” list: entrance fees are often included, which takes this cost out of your daily budget.

Grand Egyptian Museum: tickets are sold only on the museum’s official site, visit-gem.com – not at the door. Foreign adult tickets went up from EGP 1,570 to EGP 1,830 and student and child tickets from EGP 790 to EGP 920 on 1 November 2026. Watch for lookalike booking sites.

Extra tickets: the standard Valley of the Kings ticket covers three of the tombs open that day. Tutankhamun’s tomb, the tomb of Seti I and, when it’s open, Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens are sold separately at the site. Their prices have changed several times and published figures disagree, so we don’t list them here – ask at the ticket office.

• Abu Simbel on festival days: on the Sun Festival mornings, 22 February and 22 October, the ticket is EGP 1,272 for adults and EGP 670.5 for students.
• Philae is on an island: the temple ticket doesn’t include the motorboat from the Shellal marina, which you pay separately.
• Kom Ombo stays open late: last entry is 8 PM, which is why many Nile cruises stop there in the evening.

• Bring a card. Ticket offices at the big sites, including the Giza Plateau and Karnak, now take bank cards rather than cash (2026). Carry a Visa or Mastercard, and some small notes for toilets and tips.
• Buy online if you like. egymonuments.com sells dated tickets for many sites; the Grand Egyptian Museum is online-only through visit-gem.com.
• Student discount: about 50% off with a valid student card, and you must be under 25.
• Keep your ticket until you leave – staff check them inside some sites, especially at the Valley of the Kings tombs.
• Prices are for foreign visitors. Egyptians pay much lower rates, which is why you’ll see two price lists at the window.

• The times above are last entry, not closing time. Arrive at least an hour before the last entry to see a site properly.
• Go early from April to October. Most temples open at 6:00 or 7:00 AM; by noon the West Bank and Abu Simbel are very hot.
• Ramadan hours are shorter at some sites – for example, the Giza Plateau opens at 8:00 AM with last entry at 3:30 PM, and the Egyptian Museum’s last entry is 3:00 PM.
• Fridays are busier with local families at museums and the Citadel.

For the weather side of planning, see our guide to the best time to visit Egypt.

How much is the ticket to the Giza Pyramids in 2026?
EGP 700 for a foreign adult and EGP 350 for a student for the Giza Plateau. Going inside the Great Pyramid is an extra EGP 1,000 (Ministry price).

Can I buy Grand Egyptian Museum tickets at the door?
No. GEM tickets are sold online only at visit-gem.com.

Can I pay in cash?
At the major sites, plan to pay by card. Smaller sites may still take cash, but don’t count on it.

Is Tutankhamun’s tomb included in the Valley of the Kings ticket?
No, it needs a separate ticket bought at the site.

Are entrance fees included in your tours?
On most of our day tours, yes – each tour page lists exactly what’s included.

Budget roughly EGP 6,000 per adult for the entrance fees of a first Cairo and Luxor trip, more if you add Abu Simbel or the inside of the Great Pyramid. Carry a card, book the Grand Egyptian Museum online in advance, and plan the West Bank and Abu Simbel for early morning.