Pyramids of Giza: Complete Guide for First Time Visitors (2024)

January 9, 2024

Are you finally embarking on that iconic bucket-list trip to see the Pyramids of Giza BUT have no idea where to start and how to make the most out of your trip? Well look no further as I’ve set out everything you need to know about visiting the Pyramids of Giza in this guide. As a bonus, I’ve also spilled all the secrets on how to get those Insta-worthy pictures with no tourists in, what order to do the Pyramids in, and the best panoramic viewing spots. So go on and have a little scroll, you know you want to!

WHAT ARE THE 3 FAMOUS PYRAMIDS IN EGYPT?

If you haven’t heard of the Pyramids of Giza then you need to crawl out from whatever rock you’ve been hibernating under…

The Pyramids of Giza are one of the most iconic historical sites in the World and the last remaining wonder of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World! They were built almost 5,000 years ago and consists of 3 main pyramids being the Great Pyramid (Pyramid of Khufu), and its two neighbours, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. As the ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife, the Pyramids are thought to have been built to serve as monumental tombs, designed to protect the pharaoh’s body and belongings and ensuring a safe journey to the afterlife.

There are also 6 smaller Pyramids, thought to be constructed for queens and other members of the royal family, taking the total to 9 Pyramids within the Giza Plateau. There is also the iconic Great Sphinx statute, built by Pharaoh Khafre to represent Ra-Harakhte, the sun god, as he rises in the east at dawn, but the face of the Sphinx is a portrait of Khafre himself.

Fun fact: the Great Pyramid was the tallest standing man-made structure in the World for almost 4000 years!

WHERE ARE THE EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS LOCATED?

Most people think the Pyramids are in Cairo, but they are mistaken. The Pyramids of Giza are (unsurprisingly) located in Giza, which sits only 30 minutes outside of Cairo.

HOW TO GET TO THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

Getting to the Pyramids couldn’t be easier! There are four main ways:

Group Tour: You can join onto one of the numerous tour groups from Cairo which includes transportation. The downside is that these tour groups tend to be quite large and you’re restricted to the viewing spots they take you to.
Private Tour and Guide: There are many websites offering private tours which eliminates a lot of the hassle, making it a popular choice. This particular tour is a good option and reasonably priced.
Local Taxi: You can negotiate with a local cab driver from Cairo to do a round-trip. You can do a one-way option and then negotiate with another cab driver outside the Pyramids to take you back to Cairo but having a round-trip will be better and offers peace of mind.
Uber: Uber is cheap and easy to operate in Cairo, making it the preferred option over a local taxi.

We stayed at the Marriott Mena House Hotel which is located next door to one of the Pyramid entrances. This meant we didn’t have to book onto a tour or negotiate a taxi fare, making it the easiest option. Being in the vicinity of the Pyramids also meant we were one of the first to enter the complex on the day before all the tour groups arrived.

THE PERFECT ITINERARY FOR YOUR DAY TRIP TO THE PYRAMIDS

The Pyramids have two entrances. There is the main entrance near the Great Pyramid, quite close to the Marriot Mena House, and one down the hill, near the Great Sphinx. To beat the crowds, you will want to start at the lesser used entrance near the Great Sphinx, as all the tour groups start at the main entrance near the Great Pyramid.

You’ll also want to arrive at 7am (opening time) as this is the key to getting those Insta-worthy photos (the tour groups start arriving from 10am onwards). If you’re visiting during the summer months, it is also better to arrive at the opening time before the peak heat hits, which makes it unbearable especially as there is no shade. One point to note is that if you visit during the winter months there’s a chance of a haze in the early morning which obstructs some of the views of the Pyramids. It starts to disappear by 10am but this is also when all the large tour groups arrive.

Spot 1 (In front of the Great Sphinx): Once you get through the entrance, turn left and head towards the car park gates. It will seem like your exiting again but go through the gates and turn right past the souvenir stalls, and right again where you’ll find an dirt road leading you back in and towards the front of the Great Sphinx. You’ll pass all the seating for the light and sound show but you won’t be able to get through the usual entrance to the light and sound show as there are guards blocking it.

This spot in front of the Great Sphinx with one of the Pyramids directly behind it is a perfect photo op so get ready to snap away!

Spot 2 (Kissing the Sphinx): Next, you will need to enter the ticketed area of the Great Sphinx. If you’re facing the Great Sphinx turn right towards the main road, continue up the main road and you’ll see the ticketed area entrance on the left of the path. For the side view walk up the ramp and past the face of the Sphinx to get the prime shot of kissing the Sphinx.

Once you’re done at the Great Sphinx, it is your choice as to which order to go in for the Pyramids. You can either head to the Great Pyramid or you can head towards the panoramic viewing points. We went for the panoramic viewing points so that we could end at the Great Pyramid entrance as we were staying at the Marriot Mena House and chose to have lunch there (next door to the entrance). However, if you end at the panoramic viewing points, your exit point will be the entrance by the Great Sphinx. There are plenty of food options here as well for lunch such as Pizza Hut or the 9 Pyramids Lounge.

Spot 3 (Pyramid of Khafre): Once you’re done at the Great Sphinx, exit through the gate (opposite to the entrance as it’s a one way system) and head up the pathway towards the base of the middle of the Pyramid of Khafre. As you get closer you’ll see low barriers which you need to step over, and then keep following the path to the left to go around the Pyramid. As you go around you will see the Pyramid of Menkaure.

Head towards it, staying on the dirt path, and then turn back around to face the Pyramid of Khafre to get another Insta-worthy snap! It will be pretty quiet here as most tourists don’t tend to go off the main pathway but also the tour groups do not stop here due to time constraints.

Spot 4 (Panoramic Point 1): From here, head towards the main path again and up the slight incline to get to the first panoramic point. You can’t really get lost as this panoramic point is on google maps, which you can find by searching “Giza Panorama”. It’s a 15 minute walk and fairly easy.

This viewpoint will be busy as it’s the main viewing point to see all 3 main Pyramids against the backdrop of Cairo city, so be prepared. Tip: hop over the wall to get a clear picture without people or the wall in it.

Spot 5 (Panoramic Point 2): To get the iconic shot of all 9 Pyramids you will need to walk over the sand dunes. You can opt for a camel ride but they mistreat the camels and it is a complete tourist trap which we didn’t want to participate in. Honestly, the walk was fine and took around 15 minutes, and even though the sand dunes might look a bit daunting they really aren’t that steep.

Spot 6 (The Great Pyramid): From Panoramic Point 2 back to the Great Pyramid is a long walk. It took us around 20-25 minutes. By this point the Great Pyramid was crowded although we didn’t mind as it wasn’t the most impressive photo spot in the Giza Plateau! But fear not, as you can still get good photos here if you angle it right and go towards the back side of the Pyramid.

There are plenty of photo ops everywhere around the Giza Plateau. Don’t be afraid to step off the main path and go through the dirt paths to find some unique angles!

The directions for each of the photo spots will make sense once you’re actually there, but this map will also help you to find each of the photo spots and entrances!

MORE INFO…

ARE YOU ALLOWED TO GO INTO THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA?

You can go inside all three main Pyramids at a cost, with most people opting for the Great Pyramid. The inside is pretty underwhelming as there really isn’t much to see inside, it’s very hot, and it can be claustrophobic so just take this into consideration. We gave this a miss as we were going to the Valley of Kings in Luxor where you can go inside the tombs which are much more impressive. For more information, check out this guide on the West Bank of Luxor.

CAN I CLIMB UP THE PYRAMIDS?

No! By law, it is forbidden to climb up the Pyramids to try and preserve the structures so please don’t be that idiotic tourist that tries climbing the Pyramids! It really is not worth the photo and you’ll look like a fool.

CAN YOU VISIT THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA ON YOUR OWN?

Absolutely! It is so simple to this by yourself and you really cannot get lost. Tour guides are good for if you want to have an in-depth history lesson whilst you’re at the Pyramids, but we decided to read all about the Pyramids before going and googled any questions we had after! If you do want a tour guide there are plenty of guides on site but you will need to negotiate a price.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO TO THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA?

The entrance fee (2024) is 540EGP for adults and 270EGP for students. Free entry for children under 6 years old. This rate doesn’t include access to inside the Pyramids and you’ll need to purchase a separate ticket for this at the ticket office.

HOW LONG SHOULD I SPEND AT THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA?

I would recommend at least 3.5-4 hours to cover the Giza Plateau at a leisurely pace, including the viewing points. You can easily spend longer here if you want to take the time to walk around each of the 9 Pyramids and if you want to find more photo spots.

WHAT TO WEAR TO THE PYRAMIDS

There’s no restrictions on what you can wear but given the amount of walking you’ll be doing I’d recommend wearing comfortable footwear. I wore a pair of comfy sandals which I preferred over trainers as I didn’t want sand getting inside!

Clothing wise, wear something loose that you’re comfortable in in the heat, especially if you’re going in the summer months. I still wouldn’t opt for something too short as you will get a lot of stares which can be uncomfortable!

WHERE TO GO AFTER THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

Once you’ve finished the Pyramids I would recommend getting a taxi or uber to Saqqara. To do this you will need to negotiate a round trip as you won’t find taxis waiting outside of the Saqqara complex. You can also book a private transfer, which is what we did and it’s relatively inexpensive. For more on Saqqara check out day 2 of this itinerary.