An Egyptian museum in Turin, Italy?
Yes, you’ve read that right. And it’s not any museum: Museo Egizio is the oldest Egyptian museum in the world, dating back to the 19th Century. It holds a collection of around 40,000 antiquities, displayed on 4 floors of its 12,000 sq meters. WOW, we know!
It’s one of the most popular museums in Turin and one of Turin’s top attractions that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The Turin Egyptian Museum, Museo Egizio Torino in Italian, is actually one of the most visited museums in Italy! A place you can visit and revisit and always be amazed, as the museum is in constant renovation and expansion.
The Temple of Ellesyia (a rock-cut temple transferred to the Turin museum to be saved from being submerged in Egypt), the tomb of Kha and Merit (one of the few intact Egyptian royal tombs ever found), the statue of Ramses II, and the statues of the gods Isis and Sekhmet are among the most impressive and unmissable pieces in Turin Egyptian Museum. Of course, these are all very prominent examples that wouldn’t go unnoticed anyway.
Turin Egypt Museum also preserves one of the most relevant and unique papyrus collections worldwide. From the historical perspective, the Turin King List (or Royal Canon) might be the most important. But you may be more drawn to the Satirical-Erotic Papyrus depicting sex and humor through… wait, no spoilers, you have to see the Turin erotic papyrus for yourself, it’s crazy fun stuff!
Museo Egizio Turin, the first Egyptian Museum, was founded in 1824 by King Charles Felix of Sardinia. That same year, Jean-François Champollion became the decipherer of Egyptian hieroglyphs using Turin’s papyri collection for his breakthrough.
The museum was then opened to the public in 1832. It took years for the collection to be widened by Ernesto Schiaparelli’s excavations in Egypt, up from the 1900s. Ernesto ended up being the museum’s first director.
Quoting the French scholar Champollion, “the road to Memphis and Thebes passes through Turin” – he’s definitely not wrong. And besides relics from Egypt, this Museum of Turin has a natural history section and some prehistoric and Roman artifacts. Furthermore, the building (that is stunning) is shared with the Academy of Sciences.
How to visit Turin Egyptian Museum?
Good news, the Turin Egyptian Museum is open every day and it’s located in the heart of the city near to the Royal Palace, another must-see in Turin. Bear in mind that the last entrance should be 1 hour before closing time.
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Egyptian Museum opening hours
Monday: 9 AM – 2 PM
Tuesday to Sunday: 9 AM – 6:30 PM
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Egyptian Museum location and how to get there
Address: Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, 10123, Torino
You can reach the museum by bus through the following lines:
– 4 and 15; BERTOLA-247 stop
– 58, 58B, 11, 55 and 57; BERTOLA-1642 stop
– 72 and 72B; BERTOLA-2179 stop
– 13, 56 and 51; BERTOLA-469 stop
– 27; BERTOLA-1632 stop (terminus)
– 13, 15, 55 and 56; CASTELLO-471 stop
– 7; CASTELLO-409 (Saturday, Sunday and public holidays) stop (terminus).
You can get to Museo Egizio by metro taking the Linea 1 – PORTA NUOVA stop.
From Porta Nuova, you may take Via Lagrange (that becomes Via Accademia delle Scienze) and reach the museum on foot in no more than 15 minutes. If you don’t wanna walk, you can hop on the buses nrs 4, 58 or 58B.
In case you come from Porta Susa station, the museum can be reached on foot in about 25 minutes. Or by public transportation through the following options:
– Buses nrs 51 (BERTOLA-469 stop), 56 (CASTELLO-471 stop), 57 (BERTOLA-1642 stop), 72 or 72B (BERTOLA-2179 stop for both);
– Tram nr 13 (CASTELLO-471 stop);
– Star 1 and 2 lines (ROMA-4058 stop).
If you arrive in a vehicle, Roma-San Carlo-Castello is the nearest car park, with entrances from Piazza Carlo Felice, Via Lagrange, and Piazza Castello (corner of Via Viotti). It is open 24/7.
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Egyptian Museum ticket prices
– Full admission: € 9
– Reduced student (university or ages 15 to 18): € 2
– Reduced junior (6 – 14 y.o): € 1
– Family of 2 adults + 2 under 18: € 18
– Senior pass 60: € 4,50
– Free admission: children up to 5, severely disabled people + accompanying person, Torino+Piemonte Card holders, Turin Museum Card.
We strongly recommend you book your Turin Egyptian Museum ticket in advance, even better if it’s a skip-the-line ticket.
The Turin Egyptian Museum promotes special offers on several occasions, such as:
– Birthdays = free admission upon ID presented at the ticket office;
– St. Valentine’s Day = 2×1 admission for all couples;
– International Women’s Day: free admission for all women;
– Father’s Day = free admission for all fathers accompanied by their children;
– Mother’s Day = free admission for all mothers accompanied by their children.
The museum normally offers thematic tours, but be advised most are in Italian. If you wish to organize an English guided tours, you may contact their Information and Reservation Office. These customized tours can focus on certain themes, like animals, food, writing, Egyptian daily life, and so on.
Turin Egyptian Museum offers guided tours in English about the permanent collection; these are scheduled every day at specific hours.
Practical info about the Egyptian Museum of Turin
Museo Egizio is kids friendly and strollers can be used, as there aren’t architectural barriers for that. On this note, it is also accessible to disabled people. The museum can even provide specific routes and workshops for special needs upon previous request (you just have to send an email to info@museitorino.it or call 011 4406903 in order to organize a special visit).
Pets are not allowed. Except for guide dogs and assistance dogs, for which you must present a medical certificate.
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Museo Egizio Turin has adopted security measures to preserve their visitors and staff. You must follow the museum rules throughout the whole visit. If you can find the latest news about the Egyptian Museum of Turin here.
Be aware that backpacks of any size are not accepted but you can use the locker area. Just notice you can’t bring bulky supports, such as tripods, without permission (must require authorization through info@museoegizio.it). Photos inside the museum must be taken without flash.
You can enjoy a break at Pausa Caffè, but during pandemic restrictions, it might be closed. Located on the 1st floor (accessible from room 7 – Tomb of Kha), this café serves snacks and drinks so you can refuel your motors to continue the Egyptian journey.
You can dive deep into Egyptian history by getting one of the museum’s video guides. Or you can choose from a range of guided and group tours that include the Turin Egyptian Museum skip-the-line ticket to the Egyptian Museum Turin. For that, we strongly recommend using GetYourGuide. Enjoy easy access and flexible booking options (cancel up to 24 hours in advance and receive a full refund).
Young visitors may like to visit Spazio ZeroSei Egizio inside the museum. A space where they can ‘discover and get in touch with the Egyptian civilization’. The Egyptian Museum of Turin can arrange other children’s activities, with visual stimuli and a fun educational path guided by educators. This shall enrich the kids’ experience while parents can explore the museum peacefully.
For schools, Museo Egizio offers educational programs that go from kindergartens to upper secondary level and can meet various teachers’ needs. These programs are based on ‘discovery, insights and sharing observations’. Their method focuses on the playful aspects of learning and can be suitable for students with special needs. The activities are available in Italian, English, French and German. For more information, go to https://museoegizio.it/en/info/school.
The Egyptian Museum in Turin has free Wi-Fi. They also feature a reference library (Silvio Curto Library) that’s open to all. And of course, there’s a Museum Shop selling all sorts of stuff, from educational publications to books for children, gadgets, boxed games, accessories, postcards, etc.
And that’s about it! Now you have all the information to visit the Egyptian Museum in Turin. Are you ready to see mummies, sarcophagi, different kinds of papyri (including the Egyptian Erotic Papyrus Turin), jewels, and overwhelming statues from Ancient Egypt? I bet you are! If you have any doubts, just leave a message below.