The Great Sphinx at a glance
The Sphinx is a lion's body with a royal human head, cut from the natural rock of the plateau. It is one of the best-known sights on the site. You do not need a special pass to look at it: the Sphinx area is part of the normal plateau visit.
A plateau ticket costs EGP 700 for foreign adults and EGP 350 for students (2026). It does not cover the chambers inside the pyramids. If you would rather not organise transfers, tickets and timing yourself, Giza pyramids and Sphinx tours with a guide are the simple option, and you can compare current prices below.
Sphinx, Sphinx Temple and Valley Temple
Three things stand close together and are often mixed up.
The Sphinx
A figure worked out of the bedrock. It belongs to the 4th Dynasty, and archaeological evidence points to the reign of Khafre, about 2558–2532 BC. No inscription gives an exact building date, so this is an attribution, not a certainty.
The Sphinx Temple
The temple in front of the figure. Ordinary visitors see it from outside. Do not count on being able to go in.
Khafre's Valley Temple
The building right next to the Sphinx Temple. A causeway links it with Khafre's pyramid complex higher up. Some guided tours include the Valley Temple, but do not assume it is open every day.
Our pick: a half day with the Sphinx
A half-day tour that covers the pyramids and the Sphinx with an Egyptologist.
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.
Giza pyramids and Sphinx tours
Half-day and full-day tours with hotel pickup, plus combinations with the Grand Egyptian Museum, with live prices and availability.
How to see the Sphinx
Private cars and tour buses no longer drive across the plateau. Since April 2025 visitors use a new entrance on the Fayoum Highway south of the pyramids and switch to electric vehicles, and the shuttle is included in the plateau ticket. The former entrance near the Marriott Mena House is no longer the way in, so ask at the ticket control if a path is closed.
Plateau hours are daily 08:00–16:00, with the Great Pyramid and Menkaure area open 07:00–17:00. Arrive at opening and confirm the day's times at the gate. Bring a working bank card, because card payment is the normal way to pay for tickets.
The Sphinx can also be visited privately, with extra site fees. For the normal view, do not expect to walk between the paws or touch the stone.
Rules to know before you take photos
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Drones | Bringing one into Egypt needs prior permission from the civil aviation authority. Without it a drone can be confiscated and you can face prosecution. |
| Climbing | Climbing the outside of the pyramids is forbidden. The paid way inside the Great Pyramid is a separate matter. |
| Helpers at the viewpoint | People who offer to take your photo or guide you may ask for money afterwards. A clear, polite no is enough. |
| Heat | Summer days are hot. Plan for water, sun protection and breaks. |
For most visitors the best plan is to see the Sphinx early in the day with the pyramids, then move on before the heat builds.
The Sphinx in older pictures
The Sphinx has been photographed and painted for well over a century. A 19th-century photograph shows it half buried in sand. The pyramids around it belong to Khufu (Great Pyramid), Khafre and Menkaure. Our history of the Giza pyramids explains who built what and when.
Great Sphinx of Giza: frequently asked questions
How big is the Great Sphinx?
About 73.5 m long, 19 m wide and 20 m high. It is carved out of the natural rock rather than built from separate blocks.
Who built the Sphinx and when?
It dates to the 4th Dynasty. Archaeological evidence points to the reign of Khafre, about 2558–2532 BC, but no inscription gives an exact date, so the link to Khafre is an attribution.
Do I need a separate ticket for the Sphinx?
No. The Sphinx area is part of the normal plateau visit, which costs EGP 700 for foreign adults and EGP 350 for students in 2026. Private visits are possible with additional fees, but they are not needed to see the Sphinx.
Can I touch the Sphinx or walk between its paws?
Do not plan on it. The ordinary visit is a look at the figure from where visitors are allowed, and you should not count on entering the Sphinx Temple in front.
How long should I plan for the Sphinx?
It fits easily into a plateau visit that also covers the pyramids. Check the day's opening times at the gate, because they are given as 08:00–16:00 for the plateau and 07:00–17:00 for the Great Pyramid.
Is this website the official Sphinx site?
No. This is an independent guide. Tickets and rules are set by the authorities at the site, so confirm current details at the entrance.