Egyptian Museum Turin Review
If, why and how to visit the Piedmont attraction

Located in the Palazzo dell’ Accademia delle Scienze, in the heart of Turin, the Egyptian Museum is an important cultural and historical landmark, not only for the city and Piedmont region but for the country of Italy.

As one of the most important collections of Egyptian antiquities outside of Egypt, the museum offers a unique glimpse into the ancient world and attracts visitors from all over the world.

During my recent visit to the Egyptian Museum in Turin, I chose to explore the collections at my own pace, without the guided tour. Not my best idea when visiting such an extensive collection for the first time.

Keep reading to find out what to expect, if the museum is worth it, and how to best visit all those ancient treasures.

Why Visit the Egyptian Museum in Turin?

The Egyptian Museum in Turin (it. Museo delle antichità egizie di Torino) is a standout attraction, offering a deep dive into Ancient Egypt’s fascinating history. More than 2 km of exhibition space on four floors!

Historical Significance

This museum is a pioneer, being the first and biggest one outside Egypt dedicated entirely to Egyptian history.

Nearly 200 years old, the Museo Egizio is the oldest museum of its kind and is regarded as one of the most significant collections of ancient Egyptian art and culture outside Cairo.

Impressive Collections

The museum offers an extensive array of 40000 artifacts, with 3300 displayed for us to see, covering a span of history from 4000 BC to 700 AD.

From towering statues to intricate jewelry, everyday objects and well-preserved mummies. I was honestly completely overwhelmed by the amount of exhibits.

The exhibition is totally diverse and presented in fascinating formats, whether with text, video, or multimedia. It’s really not every day you get to see such 4000-year-old treasures up close, making it a truly memorable experience.

Is it worth visiting?

If you only have one day in Piedmont’s capitol, I would not recommend visiting it, as you should focus on all the historic Turin sights like the Royal Palace, Mole Antonelliana and the beautiful old town of Turin.

But if you have at least 2 days planned, the Egyptian Museum should absolutely be on your Turin sightseeing tour as it is worth a visit not only on rainy days.

A majestic ancient Egyptian statue towering over the museum space in the Gallery of Kings, featured at the Egyptian Museum in Turin. The statue stands on a square pedestal, intricately carved with hieroglyphs, depicting a figure with a headdress of Hathor and the sun disk. — Gallery of Kings

Jan examining various fragmented stone sculptures displayed in glass shelves at the Egyptian Museum in Turin, with labels indicating 'SCULTURA IN PIETRA - STONE SCULPTURE.' The exhibit showcases an array of historical pieces, inviting close observation and study. — Various stone sculptures

My Tips for visiting the Egyptian Museum Turin

Do a Guided Tour: I visited the Museum by myself, without a guided tour, as I normally do not like walking around in groups. Right after the entry, I already knew that this was a mistake.

The museum is huge with so much to see that I felt totally overwhelmed, and I am sure that I may have missed some fantastic insights!

In order not to feel as lost as I did, I highly recommend this guided tour for your first visit. It is a small group tour with a max. of 6 people in English language, which takes 2 hours.

#1 TOP GUIDED TOUR

Egyptian Museum Priority Access Guided Tour
✅2hrs Small Group Tour in English
✅Skip the Line with your local Guide

Book it here

Buy your ticket in advance: Should you decide to visit the Museum without a guide, buy your Ticket online in advance. The museum is very famous, always packed and only if you have a ticket, your entry is guaranteed.

Audio Guide: Right next to the ticket counter, you will get free audio-/video guide offering different tours through the exhibition. Do not forget to download the audio tour using the QR code at the museum for free.

My Tip: If you are not sure if the museum is for you or if you have limited time, you can enter the museum at a discounted price of only €5.00 Tuesday – Sunday from 5pm to closure at 6:30pm (⇨ it is called: Egizio Last Minute Ticket)

Avoid the crowds: The best time to visit and avoid the crowds is late afternoon on a weekday. Weekends tend to attract Italians and locals, adding to the crowds.

In addition, weekday mornings are popular with school groups as well as regular tour groups, making late afternoons a quieter time to explore.

An aerial view of the bustling 4th floor of the Egyptian Museum Turin, showcasing visitors observing various exhibits. The image features a mix of glass cases filled with artifacts, museum-goers in casual attire, and a prominent circular display with ancient pottery at the center. — Part of the museums 4th floor

Jan closely examines a pair of tall, polished black basalt statues of Egyptian gods displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Turin. The intricately carved figures are adorned with hieroglyphics and hold symbols of power, representing the artistry and religion of ancient Egypt. — Basalt statues of Egyptian gods

How to visit the Egyptian Museum Turin

The ticket office, bookshop, and entry of the museum is located below ground. The visit starts with a history of the museum, explaining how these artifacts came to Italy, before the start of the exhibits.

Via elevator or escalator, you will be going up to the 4th floor, where the exhibition starts. There are signs pointing in the direction of the visit, but those are not always easy visible. The descriptions (in Italian and English) are clear and informative.

As you meander through the exhibition floors, descending level by level, you’ll traverse the timeline of Ancient Egypt, each floor offering a new chapter in this storied civilization, culminating back at level -1.

From time to time there were little detour rooms. In one for example, you will find the reconstruction of the rock temple from Ellesiya, in another one the process of building a coffin is explained.

Opening times and rates

Regular opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00am – 6:30pm. On Mondays, the Egyptian Museum Turin is normally open from 9:00am to 2:00pm. As they have lots of special events, I recommend checking re-checking their website.

Tickets are not cheap. Prices do start from €18.00 per person and may vary depending on special exhibitions. You will have free entrance with the Torino Piemonte Card.

A partial stone sphinx statue at Turin's Egyptian Museum, viewed from the front, showing a finely carved human head with a royal headdress, connected to the large, clawed paws of a lion. Visitors can be seen in the background, exploring the vast collection of artifacts. — Sphinx Statue in the Gallery of Kings

2 visitors walk through a gallery of the Egyptian Museum Turin, flanked by well-lit display cases with ornate mummy cases. The exhibit, set within a corridor with a vaulted ceiling and historical photographs, gives a sense of a journey through time. — Mummy Cases

FAQ’s about the Egyptian Museum Turin

Is the Egyptian Museum Turin worth visiting?

If you have more than one day in Turin, you should absolutely visit the Egyptian Museum, as it houses one of the most important collections of Egyptian antiquities outside of Egypt.

How long does it take to see the Egyptian Museum in Turin?

You should plan at least 2hrs for your visit to the museum. If you are, however, very interested in Egyptian history and archaeology, you will need much more time.

What are the highlights of the Turin Egyptian Museum?

Personally, I found the “Gallery of the Kings” (it. Galleria dei Re), located on the ground floor, to be the most impressive part. Large statues of gods stand along the walls to the right and left in dim light, which gives the hall a majestic atmosphere.

Conclusion

Visiting Turin’s Egyptian Museum is absolutely worth your time, if you have more than 1 day in the Piedmont capitol.

Plan at least 2 hours for your visit and do this guide tour to fully understand the extent and wealth of the exhibition.

It is the oldest museum in the world dedicated to Ancient Egyptian culture. With, 40000 ancient plaques, mummies, papyrus, objects, stuffed animals, statues, and sphinxes to admire, this Egyptian museum belongs without a doubt to the best things to do and see in Piedmont.