# Giza Pyramids, Cairo > The pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau, on Cairo's western edge. Plateau entry for foreign visitors is EGP 700; going inside the Great Pyramid costs extra. Open daily from 7:00, last entry 16:00. Allow about three hours and arrive at opening. Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/giza-pyramids - City: [Cairo](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo), Egypt - YesGo score: 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: EGP 700, Great Pyramid inside extra - With kids: Fine with kids - Plateau entry (foreign visitors): EGP 700 - Students up to 24: EGP 350 with ID - Children: Under 6 free - Inside the Great Pyramid: EGP 1,500, separate ticket, limited daily numbers - Inside Khafre's pyramid: EGP 280; Khafre and Menkaure open in rotation - Tomb of Meresankh III: EGP 200 - Hours: Daily from 7:00, last entry 16:00; Ramadan 8:00–15:30 - Where to buy: Egymonuments website, Experience Egypt app, ticket desks and kiosks at the gate - Payment: Visa and Mastercard on every sales channel - Main entrance: Grand Gate and visitor centre on the Fayoum Road, south of the plateau - Second entrance: Sphinx gate on the east side — mainly an exit, but sells tickets - Phone photos: Free - Coordinates: 29.97611, 31.13278 - Facts checked: 03.11.2026 ## Key facts - **146.6 m** — the Great Pyramid's original height; about 138.5 m today without its casing (source: English and Russian Wikipedia (Great Pyramid of Giza)) - **1 of 7** — the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still standing (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **4th Dynasty** — built for Khufu (c. 2589–2566 BC), his son Khafre and grandson Menkaure (source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; English Wikipedia) - **3,700+ years** — the Great Pyramid stayed the tallest human-made structure on Earth (source: English Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (≈ 3,800 years)) - **230 m** — each side of the Great Pyramid's base (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **≈ 2.3 million** — stone blocks in the Great Pyramid (source: English Wikipedia; Wikivoyage (“over 2 million”)) - **73 × 20 m** — length and height of the Great Sphinx, carved from the bedrock (source: English and Russian Wikipedia (Great Sphinx of Giza)) - **136.4 m** — Khafre's pyramid today — it stands on higher ground, so it looks the tallest (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **65–66 m** — Menkaure's pyramid originally — the smallest of the three (source: English Wikipedia (65 m); Russian Wikipedia (66 m)) - **6 queens' pyramids** — three beside Khufu's and three beside Menkaure's (source: English Wikipedia (Giza pyramid complex; Pyramid of Menkaure)) - **1979** — UNESCO World Heritage listing as part of Memphis and its Necropolis (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; UNESCO World Heritage List (No. 86)) ## Giza Pyramids tickets and prices Plateau entry for foreign visitors is **EGP 700**; students up to 24 with ID pay EGP 350 and under-6s go free. That ticket gets you onto the plateau, up to all three pyramids, the Sphinx viewing area and the panorama point. It does **not** cover going inside the Khufu, Khafre or Menkaure pyramids, the Tomb of Meresankh III or the Workers' Cemetery — each has its own ticket. The official channels are the Egymonuments website, the Experience Egypt app and the ticket desks and self-service kiosks at the gate. **Visa and Mastercard work everywhere**, so a card is all you need for tickets. Carry some small Egyptian pound notes anyway for toilets, tips, water and any camel ride; dollars are not reliably accepted on site. Tickets are non-refundable and dated, and you keep yours until you leave. There is no official combined ticket with the [Grand Egyptian Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/grand-egyptian-museum). The museum sells its own timed tickets online. “Combo” deals on reseller sites are simply the two standard tickets with a markup. > **The old Mena House entrance is closed** Since 2025 the main entrance has been the Grand Gate and visitor centre on the Fayoum Road, at the southern end of the plateau. Some map apps and drivers still head for the old northern gate by the Mena House hotel — you won't get in there. The other way in is the Sphinx gate on the east side, which also sells tickets. Private cars can't drive inside: walk or take the electric shuttle. ## Giza Pyramids opening hours and best time to visit The plateau opens **every day at 7:00**, with last entry at 16:00; during Ramadan it opens at 8:00 with last entry at 15:30. Be at the gate for opening: tour coaches roll in from around 10:00, and there is almost no shade by midday. Fridays and Saturdays are busier, when Egyptian families visit. November to March is the most comfortable season. In December and January a morning haze is common and usually lifts towards midday, so that is the time for clear photos. From June to August it is hot even early on — bring water, a hat and sunscreen. The plateau empties towards closing time, and for most of the year the sun sets after that. For pyramids at sunset, try a rooftop café or hotel along Pyramids Road (Al Haram), or the Sound and Light show by the Sphinx, which has its own ticket. ## How to get to the Giza Pyramids from central Cairo 1. Easiest: **Uber, Careem or inDrive** from Tahrir Square to the Grand Gate on the Fayoum Road — 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. Set the pin to the Pyramids Visitor Center on Fayoum Road, not the old Mena House gate. 2. Cheapest: the **metro**. Take Line 2 from Sadat station, under Tahrir Square, towards El Mounib and get off at Giza — about 15 minutes. 3. From Giza station, a taxi or Uber to the gate takes 20–30 minutes. Buses and microbuses marked “Haram” run along Pyramids Road but stop well short of the new gate; from there it is about a 25-minute walk to the Sphinx gate. 4. At the visitor centre, buy your ticket at a desk or kiosk and board the electric shuttle, which stops by the pyramids, the panorama point and the Sphinx. 5. Leave by the Sphinx gate, where taxis wait. The Grand Egyptian Museum is about 2 km away — 10–15 minutes by car. ## Is it worth going inside the Great Pyramid? Only if tight spaces don't bother you. The tourist entrance is a robbers' tunnel on the north face; from there you climb, often bent double, up the Ascending Passage and the Grand Gallery to the King's Chamber, where Khufu's empty granite sarcophagus still sits. It is hot, humid and steep, and there is nothing painted on the walls. No mummies are kept in any of the pyramids. The ticket is unofficially quoted at **EGP 1,500**, and only a limited number are sold each day, so decide before you arrive. Our take: once is memorable, but the outside is the real spectacle. If you want a taste for less, Khafre's or Menkaure's pyramid (whichever is open that year) is cheaper and quieter, and the Tomb of Meresankh III has the colour the pyramids lack. ## What are the Giza Pyramids? A royal cemetery of Egypt's **4th Dynasty**, on a limestone plateau at the edge of the Western Desert, in the city of Giza on the Nile's west bank — today part of Greater Cairo. The three big pyramids belong to **Khufu** (Cheops), his son **Khafre** (Chephren) and his grandson **Menkaure** (Mycerinus). Around them stand six small queens' pyramids, nobles' mastaba tombs, temples, causeways and the **Great Sphinx**. The Great Pyramid originally rose 146.6 m; it is about 138.5 m today because its smooth white casing was stripped for building stone. For more than 3,700 years nothing built by people was taller. The whole plateau joined the UNESCO list in 1979 together with Memphis, [Saqqara](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/saqqara) and Dahshur. ## What to see on the Giza Plateau - **The Great Pyramid of Khufu** — walk along its base; the bottom blocks come up past your waist. - **Khafre's pyramid** — a cap of original casing survives near the top, showing how all three once looked. - **Menkaure's pyramid** and the three queens' pyramids on its south side — the quietest corner, with some shade. - **The panorama point** on the rise to the southwest, where all the pyramids fit in one frame. It is almost 3 km uphill from the Sphinx gate, so ride the shuttle. - **The Great Sphinx** (73 m long) and Khafre's granite Valley Temple, near the eastern exit. Morning light is best on its face. - **The Tomb of Meresankh III** — painted reliefs of a queen, on a separate low-cost ticket. - The nobles' mastabas west of the Great Pyramid — several are open and usually empty. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Heading for the Grand Gate on the Fayoum Road, not the Mena House - [ ] At the gate by 7:00–8:00 - [ ] Visa or Mastercard for tickets - [ ] Small Egyptian pound notes for toilets and tips - [ ] Student ID, if I have one - [ ] Water, hat, sunscreen and good shoes - [ ] Decided whether I'm going inside the Great Pyramid ## Giza vs Saqqara vs the Grand Egyptian Museum | | Giza Pyramids | Saqqara | Grand Egyptian Museum | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Three 4th-Dynasty pyramids and the Sphinx | Djoser's Step Pyramid and nobles' tombs | Museum with the Tutankhamun galleries and Khufu's boats | | Foreign visitor ticket | EGP 700 | EGP 600 | Own ticket, online only | | Hours | From 7:00, last entry 16:00 | From 8:00, last entry 16:00 | Galleries 9:00–18:00, Wed and Sat to 21:00 | | Where | Western edge of Cairo, Giza | Desert south of Giza | About 2 km from the pyramids | One day in Cairo? Pyramids in the morning, the museum after lunch — they are next door. Save Saqqara and [ancient Memphis](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/ancient-memphis) for a second day, or for pyramids without the crowds. ## Ancient Egypt in Cairo compared Cairo's historic sights rated by YesGo. - [Memphis](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/ancient-memphis) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · EGP 200, students EGP 100 - [Egyptian Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/egyptian-museum) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · EGP 550, students EGP 275 - [Al-Azhar Mosque](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/al-azhar-mosque) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Cairo Citadel and Muhammad Ali Mosque](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/cairo-citadel) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 550 EGP, students 275 EGP - [Giza Pyramids](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/giza-pyramids) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · EGP 700, Great Pyramid inside extra - [Khan el-Khalili](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/khan-el-khalili) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free - [Hanging Church](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/hanging-church) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry - [Grand Egyptian Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/grand-egyptian-museum) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ EGP 1,830, online only - [Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/saqqara) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · EGP 600, pyramid interior +280 - [National Museum of Egyptian Civilization](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/egyptian-civilization-museum) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · EGP 550, mummies included ## Pyramids and the museum in one day The plateau at opening, Tutankhamun's treasures 2 km away after lunch, then an evening in the bazaar. 1. [Giza Pyramids](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/giza-pyramids) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · EGP 700, Great Pyramid inside extra 2. [Grand Egyptian Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/grand-egyptian-museum) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ EGP 1,830, online only 3. [Khan el-Khalili](https://yesgo.io/egypt/cairo/khan-el-khalili) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free > **Keep your ticket and agree camel prices first** Gate staff tear your ticket and hand it back — anyone asking to keep it is running a scam. Politely decline “help”, photos and shortcuts offered by strangers. If you want a camel or horse ride, use a licensed handler and fix the price before you get on. The plateau is easy to cover on foot and by shuttle. ## Good to know The Giza Pyramids are the whole complex; the Great Pyramid is Khufu's alone. Khufu's solar boat no longer sits beside the pyramid — it has moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Sphinx International Airport (SPX) near Giza and Cairo International Airport (CAI) are two different airports. ## Tips - Be at the gate at 7:00 — the first hour is the coolest and quietest. - Decide on the Great Pyramid interior before you go: daily tickets are limited and can be gone by mid-morning. - For all the pyramids in one shot, take the shuttle to the panorama point rather than walking 3 km uphill. - Photograph the Sphinx in the morning — its face is in shade after noon. - Pair the plateau with the Grand Egyptian Museum, about 2 km away; book that ticket online in advance. - Want pyramids without the crowds? Add Saqqara and Djoser's Step Pyramid on another day. - A day trip from Hurghada is 12–14 hours door to door; if you can, stay a night in Cairo instead. ## Questions ### How much are Giza Pyramids tickets? EGP 700 for foreign adults, EGP 350 for students up to 24 with ID, free for under-6s. Going inside the Great Pyramid is a separate ticket, unofficially EGP 1,500. ### Can you buy Giza Pyramids tickets online? Yes — on the official Egymonuments website or the Experience Egypt app, or at the desks and kiosks at the gate. Visa and Mastercard are accepted; tickets are non-refundable. ### What are the Giza Pyramids opening hours? Daily from 7:00, last entry 16:00. During Ramadan, from 8:00 with last entry at 15:30. ### How long do you need at the Giza Pyramids? About three hours for the pyramids, the panorama point and the Sphinx; add an hour if you go inside the Great Pyramid. ### Is it worth going inside the Great Pyramid? If you are fine with steep, cramped, hot passages, yes — once. There are no paintings or mummies, just the King's Chamber with an empty granite sarcophagus. ### How do I get to the Giza Pyramids from Cairo? Uber or taxi from Tahrir Square to the Grand Gate on the Fayoum Road, 45–60 minutes. Or Metro Line 2 to Giza station, then a taxi. ### Which entrance should I use? The main Grand Gate and visitor centre on the Fayoum Road, or the Sphinx gate on the east side. The old Mena House gate is closed. ### Is the Sphinx included in the Giza ticket? Yes. The Sphinx viewing area is part of the plateau ticket; only the pyramid interiors and some tombs cost extra. ### When is the best time to visit the Giza Pyramids? November to March, right at 7:00 opening. Avoid midday in summer and expect more people on Fridays and Saturdays. ### How far is the Grand Egyptian Museum from the pyramids? About 2 km — 10–15 minutes by car from the Sphinx gate. It needs its own ticket, booked online. ## How we checked Plateau fares, concessions, hours (including Ramadan), sales channels and card payment come from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' official ticketing system. The Ministry's older information page still lists 8:00–16:00; the ticketing system says from 7:00 with last entry at 16:00, and we use the newer ticketing data. Interior fares are not officially published and sources disagree: EGP 1,500 for the Great Pyramid (Wikivoyage, April 2026, and Pure Nile Tours) versus EGP 900 (EarthTrekkers, December 2025); Menkaure is given as EGP 280 or 200, so we leave its price out. The new entrance and shuttles are described by guidebooks and the press, with no official map — marked “verifying”. Wikipedia gives the Sphinx as 73 × 20 m while Wikivoyage says 45 m long; we follow the encyclopaedia. Hurghada distances are tour-operator estimates. We don't repeat myths about underground cities or “energy” — there is no scientific source for them. ## Sources - Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, official Egymonuments ticketing: Giza plateau — fares, hours, Ramadan hours, free entry; FAQ — sales channels and payment, 03.11.2026 - Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: Giza Plateau — what the ticket excludes, history, 03.11.2026 - Egymonuments: Saqqara Monuments and Memphis pages — fares and hours for comparison, 03.11.2026 - Grand Egyptian Museum official ticketing: opening hours, 03.11.2026 - English and Russian Wikipedia: Giza pyramid complex, Great Pyramid of Giza, Great Sphinx of Giza, Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Menkaure; Wikidata Q12508 - Wikivoyage: Cairo/Giza — entrances, interior tickets, transport (April 2026 edit) - Pure Nile Tours: Giza Plateau upgrade, 2026 — Grand Gate, visitor centre, electric shuttles - EarthTrekkers: How to visit the Pyramids of Giza (December 2025) — seasons, timing, panorama point --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.