Most visitors spend longer negotiating with camel handlers on the Giza plateau than they spend inside a pyramid. Some of that is the plateau’s fault. Most of it is a planning problem, and it is fixable. The three pyramids on this ridge at the edge of Cairo went up within roughly a century of each other, around 2600 to 2500 BC, and the largest held the record for the tallest structure built by human beings for close to four thousand years. What follows is how to see them without losing half your morning to the touts, plus what changed when the Grand Egyptian Museum opened next door.
A Brief History of the Pyramids of Giza
The three great pyramids of Giza were built as royal tombs during Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty, around 2600–2500 BC. The largest, the Great Pyramid, was raised for the pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) around 2560 BC. Originally about 146.6 metres (481 feet) tall, it stood as the tallest human-made structure on Earth for nearly 4,000 years. Beside it rise the pyramids of Khufu’s successors Khafre and Menkaure, and, guarding the plateau, the enigmatic Great Sphinx, a lion-bodied, human-headed colossus generally attributed to Khafre.
How the ancient Egyptians moved and stacked more than two million limestone blocks, some weighing many tonnes, without iron tools or the wheel remains one of history’s great feats of engineering and organisation. The site forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Memphis and its Necropolis, the pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshur.
The Great Pyramid was already 2,500 years old when Cleopatra was born. Almost nothing else you can visit on Earth reaches so far back into the human story.
The New Grand Egyptian Museum
There has never been a better time to come. In November 2025 the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opened on the Giza Plateau, within sight of the pyramids: the largest archaeological museum in the world, and the first place ever to display the complete treasures of Tutankhamun together. A visit to Giza now pairs the pyramids with a world-class museum a short drive away.
Dive deeper: The Grand Egyptian Museum & the Treasures of Tutankhamun.
How to Get to the Pyramids of Giza
The pyramids sit on the edge of Giza, part of Greater Cairo, roughly a 45-minute to 1-hour drive from central Cairo (traffic depending) and about 45 minutes from Cairo International Airport. Nearly everyone visits on a guided tour with hotel pickup, by far the easiest option given Cairo’s traffic and the value of an Egyptologist guide. Compare flights to Cairo here.
Best Pyramids of Giza Tours
Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Tour from Cairo with Egyptologist & Lunch — Best Overall
The essential half-day: the three pyramids, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple with an expert guide, hotel transfers and lunch included.
Pyramids, Sphinx & the Grand Egyptian Museum — Best for the New Museum
Combine the Giza Plateau with the brand-new Grand Egyptian Museum and the treasures of Tutankhamun on one full, unforgettable day.
Private Tour with Entry Inside a Pyramid & Camel Ride — Best Experience
Go inside one of the pyramids, ride a camel across the plateau, and see the Sphinx and Valley Temple on a flexible private tour.
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Continue the Journey Through Ancient Egypt
Giza is the beginning. The pharaohs who built the pyramids were followed, centuries later, by the great New Kingdom rulers whose temples and tombs line the Nile at Luxor and Aswan. Plan the full trip with our companion guides:
Tickets & Practical Tips
- Go early. The plateau opens in the morning; arriving early beats both the heat and the crowds.
- Separate tickets are needed to enter the pyramids’ interiors and to see the Solar Boat Museum; a guided tour usually handles these.
- Dress for the desert; sun hat, sunscreen, water and closed shoes. There is little shade.
- Agree camel and photo prices upfront. Booking through a reputable tour avoids the plateau’s persistent touts.
- Combine with the Grand Egyptian Museum for the complete Giza experience.
Where to Stay Near the Pyramids
Some Giza hotels offer rooms with direct pyramid views; central Cairo and Zamalek put you closer to the city’s other sights. Use the map below to compare options.
Tickets, Costs and the Traps (2026)
- General entry is about EGP 700 for foreign adults (roughly EGP 350 for students). That covers the whole plateau: the Sphinx enclosure, Khafre’s Valley Temple, the Queens’ Pyramids, the panorama viewpoints and the exteriors of all three pyramids.
- Going inside is a separate ticket, and here’s the money-saving part. The Great Pyramid of Khufu runs roughly EGP 1,000–1,500 and is capped at around 300 visitors a day. It sells out, especially December and January. But Khafre’s interior is about EGP 280 and Menkaure’s about EGP 200. Unless entering the Great Pyramid specifically matters to you, Khafre gives you much the same experience, a hot, stooped climb up a narrow ramp to a bare granite chamber, for a fraction of the price.
- Gates open at 7am and close around 4pm (8am–3pm during Ramadan, roughly 1–30 March in 2026). If you want a Khufu interior ticket, being there at opening is the only reliable way.
- Egypt has moved to card payment at most major sites. Do not assume cash will work at the window.
- Settle camel and horse prices before you get on, ideally in writing, and agree the return trip too. The “small tip to get down” is the oldest routine on the plateau. Booking through a reputable tour removes most of this friction.
- Claustrophobia is a real consideration. The interior passages are steep, low, hot and unventilated, with no natural light. There is nothing to see at the top but an empty stone room, the experience is the climb, not the destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old are the Pyramids of Giza?
They were built around 2600–2500 BC during Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty. roughly 4,500 years ago. The Great Pyramid of Khufu dates to about 2560 BC.
Can you go inside the pyramids?
Yes. With a separate ticket you can enter the interior passages of the pyramids, though the climb is steep, hot and narrow. Most guided tours can arrange it.
How do you get from Cairo to the pyramids?
The Giza Plateau is about 45 minutes to an hour from central Cairo. Most visitors take a guided tour with hotel pickup, which is the easiest way given the traffic.
Should you visit the Grand Egyptian Museum too?
Absolutely. Opened in November 2025 on the Giza Plateau, it is the world’s largest archaeological museum and the first to display the complete treasures of Tutankhamun: an ideal pairing with the pyramids.
Sources & Further Reading
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur
- Britannica, Pyramids of Giza
- UNESCO, The Grand Egyptian Museum
