Things to do at the Giza Pyramids at a glance
Things to do at the Giza Pyramids start on the plateau with the Great Pyramid of Khufu, 146.5 m high when it was built, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx.
Items 1 to 4 stand on the plateau itself. Items 5 and 6 are the viewpoint and the show. Items 7 and 8 lead to the museum and the older pyramids, and items 9 and 10 are coach trips with lunch included.
On the plateau (1 to 4)
The Giza Pyramids plateau holds the three main pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
1. Walk the plateau with a ticket
The general plateau ticket covers the grounds, not the interiors of Khufu's, Khafre's or Menkaure's pyramids. Children under 6 enter free, and students up to 24 need a valid ID. Tickets are sold on the official portal, in the Experience Egypt app and at the site, with prices in Egyptian pounds. The ticket and entry guide sets out the options.
2. Step inside the Great Pyramid
Khufu's pyramid was built for the king who reigned from about 2589 to 2566 BC. The administration describes 3 chambers and the Grand Gallery that leads to the King's Chamber. Entry inside costs an extra ticket on top of the plateau ticket. Read about going inside the Great Pyramid before you buy it.
3. Compare Khafre's and Menkaure's pyramids
Khafre's pyramid looks taller than Khufu's because it stands on higher ground, and the administration gives its height as 143.5 m. Limestone casing survives near its tip. Menkaure's pyramid is the smallest of the 3 main pyramids at 65 m original height, with part of its granite casing in place.
4. Meet the Great Sphinx and its valley temple
The Great Sphinx is carved from the bedrock, with a lion's body and a king's head, and the administration dates it cautiously to the reign of Khafre, about 2558 to 2532 BC. Beside it stands Khafre's valley temple, built of limestone blocks with granite casing, alabaster floors and monolithic granite pillars. The Sphinx visit guide explains the views and the guided visits that include it.
Things to do around Giza with a ticket or a day trip
A skip-the-line pass for the grounds, plus coach trips from Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh that combine the pyramids with a museum, lunch or Old Cairo.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Giza and Sphinx from Sharm el-Sheikh
- Transportation on an air-conditioned coach
- Egyptologist guide
- Lunch overlooking the pyramids
Entry to Giza and the Sphinx is included; the museum depends on the option. Entry to the Khufu or Khafre burial chamber is extra.
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Giza and Old Cairo from Hurghada
- Air-conditioned bus
- Visit to Khan El Khalili Bazaar
- Lunch at a local restaurant
The itinerary also visits the Sphinx and Old Cairo. Entry inside Khufu is included only if that option is selected.
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Giza and museum visit from Hurghada
- Air-conditioned big bus transport
- Visit to the Great Sphinx
- Lunch at a local restaurant
The option determines whether you visit the Grand Egyptian Museum or the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Entry into the Khufu or Khafre burial chamber is extra.
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Giza pyramids skip-the-line fast entry pass
- Skip-the-line entry to the Giza Pyramids
The pass is valid for one day. Entry inside the pyramids needs additional tickets.
Check availability →More Giza tours and tickets
Guided visits, museum combinations and tickets for the plateau, with live prices and availability.
Viewpoint and show (5 and 6)
The panorama viewpoint and the Sound and Light show give the Giza Pyramids a different setting.
5. Take the panorama view and ride a camel or horse
The panorama viewpoint lies southwest of the plateau on Pyramids Panorama Road. It stands on raised ground with a view of all 3 main pyramids. The ground is sandy and uneven, with no shade, so bring water, sun protection and sturdy shoes. Camel and horse operators work around the viewpoint. Agree the price before you mount.
6. See the Sound and Light show
The Sound and Light show is staged at the pyramids and the Sphinx. In November 2026 the operator listed a regular ticket at 20 USD, a child ticket for ages 6 to 12 at 11 USD and a VIP ticket at 26 USD. The operator advertises 10 languages, and the dates change through the year.
Museum and older pyramids (7 and 8)
The Grand Egyptian Museum and the pyramid fields of Saqqara and Dahshur sit beyond the plateau.
7. Spend a morning at the Grand Egyptian Museum
The Grand Egyptian Museum opened on 1 November 2025 near the pyramids. Its ticket covers the Tutankhamun galleries, the main galleries, the Grand Hall, the Grand Stairs, Khufu's Boats Museum and the gardens. Galleries run 09:00 to 18:00 on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 09:00 to 21:00 on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets are bound to a date and time window. Details are in the museum visit guide.
8. Travel to Saqqara and Dahshur
Saqqara lies about 40 km southwest of Cairo and holds Djoser's Step Pyramid, further royal pyramids, tombs, the Serapeum and the Imhotep Museum. Dahshur, the southern part of the Memphis necropolis, has Snofru's Bent and Red Pyramids. Djoser's interior, the South Tomb and the Serapeum cost extra. See the Saqqara and Dahshur trips.
Coach trips with lunch (9 and 10)
Coach trips to the Giza Pyramids start from Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea coast.
9. Join a coach trip from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh
The Hurghada bus trip includes pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned bus, the Giza Pyramids Complex, the Great Sphinx, lunch at a local restaurant and a local workshop, plus the Grand Egyptian Museum or the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization depending on the option. The Sharm el-Sheikh coach trip adds an Egyptologist guide and lunch overlooking the pyramids. The tour comparison covers the Hurghada departure.
10. Add Old Cairo and the Khan El Khalili Bazaar
A second Hurghada bus route combines Giza and the Sphinx with Old Cairo and the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. It includes lunch at a local restaurant, a local workshop visit and 3 bottles of mineral water per person. Entry inside Khufu's pyramid is included only if that option is selected.
Planning a day at the Giza Pyramids
A day at the Giza Pyramids is easiest early, because the official ticket portal lists last entry to the plateau at 16:00, or 15:30 in Ramadan. The older Cairo Airport record for 1981 to 2010 gives average daily highs of 19.0 °C in January and 34.8 °C in July, and the airport is not the plateau. The best time to visit page explains the seasons.
The Giza access guide covers the routes. For a bed, Giza puts you near the pyramids, Downtown and Garden City suit central Cairo sights, and Zamalek lies on the northern part of Gezira island. See hotels near the pyramids.
Keep your ticket with you on the plateau. Short on time? Take the fast entry pass for the grounds. Want lunch and a museum in one day? Take a coach trip. Drones are tightly restricted at the monuments and need a permit from the Egyptian Ministry of Defence.
Things to do at the Giza Pyramids: frequently asked questions
Does the plateau ticket include the pyramid interiors?
No. The plateau ticket excludes the interiors of Khufu's, Khafre's and Menkaure's pyramids, which need separate tickets in addition to plateau entry. Children under 6 enter the plateau free, and students up to 24 need a valid ID. The official portal lists prices in Egyptian pounds.
How much is the Sound and Light show?
A regular ticket costs 20 USD, a child ticket for ages 6 to 12 costs 11 USD and a VIP ticket costs 26 USD, as the operator listed in November 2026. The operator advertises 10 languages. The operator notes that show dates change.
What else is there to do near the pyramids?
The panorama viewpoint southwest of the plateau, camel and horse rides around it, the Grand Egyptian Museum with galleries open from 09:00 and Saqqara with Djoser's Step Pyramid all fit around the plateau visit.