The Giza Plateau at a glance
The Giza Plateau is the royal burial ground of the 4th Dynasty, from about 2613 to 2494 BC. The three main pyramids belong to Khufu (the Great Pyramid), Khafre and Menkaure. Around them stand smaller pyramids, mastabas, boat pits, valley and mortuary temples and the causeways that link them. Giza is part of the World Heritage site Memphis and its Necropolis, inscribed in 1979.
This guide covers what you need to plan a visit: tickets and opening hours, tours, the inside of the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, camel rides, the sound and light show, Saqqara and Dahshur, Cairo day tours, history, tips, the way there, the best time to go and where to stay. Prices are in Egyptian pounds (EGP) as of 2026 and can change.
Our picks: Giza pyramid tours and tickets
Our take: the private tour with the Grand Egyptian Museum covers both main sights with entries in one day. The horse ride is the special option, and the QR ticket is enough if you want to walk the plateau on your own.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Horse ride around the pyramids with plateau ticket
- Giza Plateau ticket
- Horse, gear and helmet
- Water and light snacks
Two hours on horseback with local guides, starting at the ticket office. The plateau ticket is included.
Check availability →
Private tour: pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum
- Entry tickets for your route
- Hotel transfer
- English-speaking guide
The plateau and the museum with your own guide. Entry tickets for the chosen route are included; camel, quad and lunch only with the matching option.
Check availability →
Giza Pyramids QR entry ticket
- QR entry to the pyramid complex
- Use on your chosen day
Entry to the plateau, bought ahead. The inside of the Great Pyramid needs its own ticket.
Check availability →Giza pyramid tours and tickets
Half-day and full-day trips to the pyramids and the Sphinx, plus entry tickets, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Start with tickets or a tour, then pick the pages you need.
Pyramids of Giza tickets
Plateau entry, interior add-ons, hours and the new entrance.
Giza pyramids tours
Half-day, full-day and private trips compared.
Inside the Great Pyramid
Ticket, the Grand Gallery and what the passages are like.
The Great Sphinx
Size, dating and what the plateau ticket covers.
Grand Egyptian Museum
Tickets, hours and what a visit includes.
Camel rides
What to agree on before you ride, and animal welfare.
Sound and light show
Prices, languages and the operator's notes.
Saqqara and Dahshur
The Step Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid.
Cairo day tours
Museums, the Citadel, Old Cairo and Khan el-Khalili.
History of the pyramids
The kings, the builders and the dates.
Tips for your visit
Touts, heat, timing and photo rules.
Getting to the pyramids
Metro, taxi, Uber and the airport.
Best time to visit
Monthly weather and Ramadan.
Where to stay
Giza, Downtown Cairo or Zamalek.
A few things to know before you go
Prices and rules as of 2026.
Plateau and interior tickets are separate
Foreign adults pay EGP 700 and students EGP 350 for the plateau. The insides of the Great Pyramid, Khafre and Menkaure, the tomb of Meresankh and the workers' cemetery are not included. Bring a working bank card, because cash is not guaranteed at the ticket office.
Ticket prices →The main entrance moved
Since April 2025 the main entrance is on the Fayoum Highway south of the pyramids, replacing the old gate near the Marriott Mena House. Private cars and tour buses no longer drive across the plateau, and visitors use electric vehicles. The shuttle is part of the plateau ticket.
Getting there →Menkaure is closed for now
In September 2026 the Menkaure pyramid closed temporarily for regular maintenance, and the Khafre pyramid opened again. No reopening date has been announced.
Pyramid interiors →The Grand Egyptian Museum is open
The museum opened officially on 1 November 2025 and shows the Tutankhamun collection together. The Khufu boats are part of the visit today, so the old boat museum beside the pyramid is no longer a stop.
Museum tickets →Metro fares are EGP 10 to EGP 20
The fare is EGP 10, 12, 15 or 20, depending on the number of stations. Giza station on Line 2 is not at the pyramids; most people continue by taxi.
Metro and taxi →Visa fees
The tourist e-visa costs $30 for a single entry and $65 for multiple entries, and your passport must be valid for 6 months. At Cairo airport, visa on arrival works with QR codes since 1 September 2026. Rules depend on your nationality.
More tips →Beyond Giza
Other places in Egypt that have their own guides.
For Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, see the Luxor guide. For Aswan and Abu Simbel, see the Nubian Village guide. This site stays with the Giza Plateau, Saqqara, Dahshur and Cairo.
More independent Egypt guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place on the Nile.
Giza Plateau: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Giza Plateau?
A foreign adult pays EGP 700 and a student EGP 350 in 2026. Children under 6 enter free, and students up to 24 need a student ID. The insides of the pyramids cost extra. See the tickets page.
Can I go inside the Great Pyramid?
Yes, with an extra ticket on top of the plateau ticket. For adults the price is EGP 1,000 or EGP 1,500, so check the amount at the ticket office. The Great Pyramid page describes the route and the narrow passages.
How long should I plan for the pyramids?
A private tour of the plateau and the Sphinx is offered at about 4 hours including transfers. That is a tour length, not a required time. Add time if you want to go inside a pyramid or ride a camel.
Is it safe to visit Giza?
Germany's Foreign Office currently has a partial travel warning for certain Sinai, border and Sahara areas, and it points to a nationwide terror risk and possible flight disruption because of the regional crisis. The US State Department lists Egypt at Level 2, exercise increased caution, issued 15 July 2025. Neither points to a general closure of Giza. Read your own government's current advice before you travel.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
It depends on your nationality. The e-visa portal lists $30 for a single tourist entry and $65 for multiple entries, with a passport valid for at least 6 months. Germany's Foreign Office also names $30 for visa on arrival. At Cairo airport, a QR code replaces the sticker since 1 September 2026, with $6 for a pre-applied code or $36 at the bank counter.
Is giza-plateau.org the official site of the pyramids?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Grand Egyptian Museum or any tour operator.