Solar Boat Museum (Khufu Ship)

The Basics

Entrance to the Solar Boat Museum is not included in Giza Pyramids admission tickets, although, as it’s located right by the Great Pyramid of Khufu, you will need to pay to enter the complex first. There’s a significant additional charge for the museum, with another fee if you would like to use a camera. You don’t need a guide to explore the museum, as the signage is clear and the barque quite self-explanatory, but some find a guide or an organized Giza Pyramids tour adds greatly to their experience of the site as a whole.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Solar Boat Museum is a must for anyone with an interest in ancient Egyptian history.

• Wear sensible shoes, as you’ll need to add protective covers to keep the sand out of the museum.

• The Solar Boat Museum has entrance ramps and wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

How to Get There

The Solar Boat Museum stands just south of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, inside the Giza Pyramids complex. While Giza can be reached from Cairo proper on the metro, you’ll need to ride a bus, microbus, or taxi from the stop. Many prefer to avoid the hassle of aggressive transport touts and book a door-to-door tour.

When to Get There

The Solar Boat Museum is open from morning to afternoon, seven days a week. It is at its least busy soon after opening, before the group tours come through, while visits tick up slightly over the Islamic weekend (Friday to Saturday). It is also a pleasantly cool spot to beat the midday heat.

King Khufu—aka King Cheops—and His Solar Boat

King Khufu, often known by his Greek name, Cheops, ruled Egypt during the 26th century BC and founded the Giza Pyramids by building his Great Pyramid. The solar boat preserved in the Solar Boat Museum is one of five that were buried in his honor. This one was rediscovered in 1954 and painstakingly extracted and reassembled over several years for display.