The Pyramids of Giza are Egypt's defining icon: three great pyramids built for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure around 4,500 years ago during the Old Kingdom, guarded by the Great Sphinx. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the only surviving wonder of the ancient world and, at roughly 146m when finished, stood as the tallest human-made structure on Earth for over 3,800 years. In 2024–2025 the plateau reopened with a new main gate (the Great Gate) and Visitors Center on the Cairo–Fayoum road and an electric hop-on-hop-off shuttle system, and in November 2025 the vast Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opened fully just next door, so most visitors now pair the pyramids with the museum. Standing beneath these colossal stone monuments at the edge of the desert is the highlight of any trip to Egypt.
Great Pyramid of Khufu - the largest of the three; with a separate, daily-capped ticket you can climb inside up the Grand Gallery to the King's Chamber
The Great Sphinx - the giant lion-bodied, human-faced statue, best paired with the adjacent Valley Temple of Khafre
Panorama Point - the classic viewpoint that frames all three pyramids in one shot, and a stop on the shuttle route
Khufu's Solar Boat - a 4,500-year-old dismantled cedar ship excavated beside the pyramid, now displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum
The neighbouring Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) - the world's largest museum devoted to one civilisation, home to the full Tutankhamun collection and the colossal statue of Ramses II; easily combined with the plateau
Good to know
SeasonFrom May to September the exposed plateau climbs past 35°C by mid-morning. Enter at opening (08:00 in cooler months, 07:00 in summer) and tour early; bring water, a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
CautionFreelance camel and carriage handlers are notorious for bait-and-switch pricing, quoting a cheap fare to get on and then demanding many times more to let you off in the desert. Skip on-plateau touts; if you want a ride, pre-book through a licensed operator or guide and agree the round-trip (on and off) price in Egyptian pounds up front.
CautionWatch for the 'let me take your photo' trick (they hold your phone hostage for a tip/baksheesh), the 'free gift' scarf scam (once it's on your head they insist you pay), and fake officials who block a path claiming it's 'closed' to force you onto a paid ride.
MannersTipping (baksheesh) is customary for restroom attendants, porters and small help. Carry plenty of 10–50 EGP notes, which also avoids the 'no change' shakedown. To refuse politely, say 'La shukran' (no, thank you) firmly and keep walking.
RulesGeneral plateau admission and entry inside the Great Pyramid are separate tickets, and interior access is capped at about 150 people per day, selling out early in high season. If going inside Khufu matters to you, arrive at opening and head straight to that ticket window (last entry around 15:30).
SafetyThe interior passages are narrow, steep, poorly ventilated and require long stretches of stooping; they get hot and humid. Skip it if you have claustrophobia or heart, knee or back problems. Since the new gate opened, private cars are no longer allowed onto the plateau, so you move around by shuttle.
Practical info
The plateau sits about 20km southwest of central Cairo; the new Great Gate is on the Cairo–Fayoum road, reached by taxi, Careem or a tour vehicle. Buy tickets at the Visitors Center, where the electric shuttle linking the main sites is included in admission. Hours are broadly 08:00–17:00 (Oct–Apr) and 07:00–19:00 (May–Sep), but prices, hours and the interior daily quota change often, so confirm the latest on the official ticketing site (egymonuments.com) before you go.
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