The Gayer-Anderson Museum is named for an early-20th century British doctor, John Gayer-Anderson, who restored the two 16th-century buildings that now house the museum collection. Gayer-Anderson decorated the rooms in a variety of Oriental styles and filled them with objects from his travels. In addition to objects from Iran and Turkey, he also has Egyptian (both ancient and historic) items, as well as a collection of paintings and drawings done by 20th century artists. The building, with its wooden mashrabiya (screened windows), is also known for being a set for the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me.

Labels are in Arabic and English, but a guide is a requirement. For a small tip staff members will guide you through the museum, showing you details of the buildings, such as a secret room from which women could watch festivities taking place in the room below. The house also boasts one of the few working Islamic period fountains in Egypt, and has a fine collection of birthing chairs and ethnomedical equipment in keeping with Gayer-Anderson ’s job as a doctor.

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Open Saturday-Thursday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Friday, 8:00 AM-noon, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

TICKET COST:
Egyptian: LE 2 (LE 1, students)
Foreign: LE 30 (LE 15, students)

Student rates available to bearers of a valid student ID from an Egyptian University or an International Student ID Card (ISIC)

LOCATION:
Beit al-Kritliyya, Sharia ibn Tulun (next to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun)

DIRECTIONS:
BY TAXI: Ask for “mes-ghid ibn tulun.” The museum is attached to the south-east corner of the mosque.

The museum is not wheelchair accessible.