Founded in 1824, when the Savoy king bought a vast collection of antiquities, the Museo Egizio is Turin’s most famous sight and one of the great Egyptian collections anywhere. It fills a seventeenth-century palace on Via Accademia delle Scienze, a few minutes from Piazza Castello, and is laid out over several floors that follow the history of Egypt from prehistory to the Roman era. Highlights include the Gallery of the Kings, a darkened hall of colossal statues of pharaohs and gods that was redesigned for the museum’s bicentenary in 2024, the Book of the Dead papyri, the rock-cut Temple of Ellesiya rebuilt inside the museum, and the complete burial of Kha and his wife Merit, found unopened in 1906 with their food, clothes, furniture and tools. The museum is in the middle of a long renewal project, so expect some rooms and routes to change during your visit.
How it works: the museum opens every day, with shorter hours on Mondays when it closes in the early afternoon and a full day from Tuesday to Sunday. Last entry is about an hour before closing. It is the busiest sight in Turin, and queues build at weekends and on holidays, so a timed ticket or a skip-the-line tour saves time. The Tiqets product linked here is a two-hour guided visit with skip-the-line entry, led in English or Italian for a group of at most twelve; you meet the guide outside the entrance on Via Accademia delle Scienze.
What you see: the route starts on the upper floors with the early dynasties and the daily life of ancient Egyptians, then moves through the New Kingdom tomb of Kha and Merit, the coffins and mummies, the papyrus gallery and the temple of Ellesiya, before ending in the Gallery of the Kings on the ground floor. A guide is useful here, because the collection is huge and the stories behind the objects are what make it come alive.
Making the most of it: allow at least two and a half hours, more if you are a serious enthusiast, and go early in the day. On Mondays the short opening makes a morning visit essential. The museum is a perfect rainy-day plan, and Piazza Carignano and Piazza Castello are both a short walk away for coffee afterwards.
What to expect
The experience
A two-hour skip-the-line guided tour in English or Italian through the museum’s floors, from daily life and tombs to the Gallery of the Kings.
Best time
Early on a weekday morning, and always in the morning on Mondays, when the museum closes in the early afternoon.
How long
About two hours with the guide, plus extra time on your own if you want to linger in favourite rooms.
Tips
Book ahead for weekends, arrive at the meeting point a little early and wear comfortable shoes for several floors of galleries.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every first-time visitor to Turin, history lovers and anyone fascinated by ancient Egypt and its tombs.
- Families
- Children love the mummies, the animal coffins and the giant statues, and a guide keeps older kids engaged.
- Couples
- The darkened Gallery of the Kings, with its spotlit statues, is a memorable shared moment on a grey day.
- Pair with
- A coffee in Piazza Carignano and a visit to Palazzo Madama or the Royal Palace on Piazza Castello.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Why is the Egyptian Museum in Turin so famous?+
It was founded in 1824 and is the oldest museum in the world devoted entirely to ancient Egypt. Its collection is considered one of the most important outside Cairo.
What are the opening hours of the Museo Egizio?+
It opens daily, with a short morning session on Mondays and a full day from Tuesday to Sunday. Last entry is about an hour before closing, so check the current timetable before you go.
How long do you need at the Egyptian Museum?+
Most visitors need two to three hours. Enthusiasts can easily spend half a day inside.
Is a guided tour worth it at the Egyptian Museum?+
Yes, for a first visit, because the collection is vast and the guide picks out the key stories. The linked tour also skips the ticket queue and keeps the group small.
What is the tomb of Kha?+
It is the burial of the royal architect Kha and his wife Merit, found intact in 1906. Their food, clothes, furniture and tools are displayed together in the museum.