What to Know When Visiting the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Up close and personal with the Pyramids of Giza

Seeing the pyramids of Giza, Egypt up close and personal is something everyone is bound to have had on their bucket list since childhood. An incredible wonder of the world, these ancient structures are larger than life and will completely take your breath away, from the thousand tones of yellow sand and stone under the bluest sky, to the sheer magnitude of the structures and the desert that serves as their home. Our trip to the pyramids spanned a couple days, as we enjoyed staying in the adjacent Marriott Mena House, trying the restaurants in and around the complex, and taking in views that last a lifetime.

Although the pyramids are stunning, it can be a bit tricky navigating the infamous Egyptian haggling culture and the setup around the structure. Hopefully, these ins and outs I’ve put together from multiple visits will make your trip of a lifetime just a little bit easier.

GETTING TO THE PYRAMIDS FROM CAIRO

ENTRANCES

PRICING

CAMEL AND HORSE TOURS

WHERE TO EAT AROUND THE PYRAMIDS

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT

GETTING TO THE PYRAMIDS FROM CAIRO

Uber is the best way to get to the pyramids complex, and will be very cheap - even if you're coming from Cairo. Bear in mind that some Uber drivers will request to be paid an additional fee in cash to supplement the ride. Although this isn’t the norm, it is common, so be prepared to have some cash on hand. The additional fee should not cost more than half the cost of the ride itself.

The view of the pyramids from one of the best restaurants inside the pyramids complex — 9 Pyramids Lounge

ENTRANCES

There are two entrances. One is the Marriott Mena House entrance and the other is the Great Sphinx entrance - both are the same, but if you start at the Sphinx, it's easier to view the Sphinx and its surrounding complex before walking uphill to the pyramids. If you start at the Marriott Mena House entrance, you can walk over to the ticket offices, grab your tickets, and view the pyramids before heading downhill to the Sphinx complex.

At both entrances, expect a long wait time, especially during peak seasons. This will look like lines of cars and buses waiting to get into the complex. It’s best to get there as early as possible to beat both the crowds and the heat!

PRICING

Without proof of Egyptian/Arab citizenship, one entrance ticket to the pyramids complex costs 200 EGP (as of April 2023). If you want to go inside the pyramids, there is an additional fee of 100 EGP for the two smaller pyramids (Khafre and Menkara) and 400 EGP for the great pyramid (Khufu). Keep in mind that these prices DO NOT include camel/horse rides or further tours, and you will need to haggle with independent tour guides once you are in the complex for a tour or horse/camel ride if you have not booked one in advance. Additionally, remember that the entrance tickets can be paid with credit card, but definitely plan to have cash on hand to pay tour operators inside the pyramid complex. It is also always good to have small bills to tip with (1s and 5s), as tipping is very expected in Egyptian culture.

In our opinion, going inside the pyramids isn't really worth it, as they're empty and all the artifacts are in the museums throughout Cairo. Until the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza opens (currently scheduled in 2024), you can find mummies and phaoronic artifacts at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization Mummies Hall in Cairo.

CAMEL AND HORSE TOURS

Touring the pyramids complex on horse or camel is a separate cost and can be purchased inside the pyramids complex by the independent people who you will find throughout the complex. This is a haggling game - the tour operators will start with very high prices (1000 EGP), but you will need to haggle the prices- they will drop. You should aim to pay no more than 200-500 EGP for a 30-minute tour around the 3 pyramids and the sphinx on horsel or camel. Touring the full 9 pyramids may be a higher cost.

WHERE TO EAT AROUND THE PYRAMIDS

There are many great food options around the pyramids with beautiful views and great food - be sure to make reservations. Our favorites are PAVILION 139, 9 PYRAMIDS LOUNGE (inside the pyramids complex), KHUFUS (inside the pyramids complex), LADUREE (inside the pyramids complex), and CHERISTOS. For any restaurants inside the complex, make sure you make reservations well in advance! Additionally, to access the restaurants inside the pyramids complex, you will need to drive or take a horse — the walk is over an hour long!

Pro tip: Walking back from 9 Pyramids Lounge to the main entrance (Mena House entrance) of the complex will give you incredible views and photography opportunities with virtually zero people in the background. Because you will be behind the pyramids, no visitors get around to this area unless they are visiting one of the restaurants.

The view from the outdoor terrace at 9 Pyramids Lounge

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT

Summer can be unbearably hot Egypt, and walking around the desert surrounding the pyramids in the scorching heat is sure to put a damper on the experience, so our favorite time to visit is between March/April and September/October, when it will still be sunny and warm, but humidity and 100+ degree temperatures are rare. Additionally, although there are always crowds at the pyramids, visiting early in the day during those months will ensure fewer people around.