Giza & Pyramids Visitor Guide: Tickets, Timing & Tips

The Pyramids of Giza sit on the western edge of Cairo — Giza is technically its own city but functionally part of the capital. Visiting is straightforward if you plan for the heat, the crowds and the persistent touts.

Best time to visit

The plateau is open daily from 8am with last entry at 4pm. Arrive at opening or mid-afternoon to avoid tour bus crowds and the worst heat. Winter (November–March) is by far the most comfortable season.

Tickets & access

• Giza plateau area entry — 700 EGP adult, 350 EGP student (official rate for foreign visitors).
• Great Pyramid (Khufu) interior — 1,000 EGP adult, 500 EGP student, on top of the area-entry ticket and sold in limited daily slots.
• Pyramid of Menkaure interior — 280 EGP adult, 140 EGP student; the Pyramid of Khafre is ticketed separately at the gate. The Solar Boat Museum on the plateau has closed — Khufu's boat is now displayed inside the Grand Egyptian Museum.
• Egyptian nationals pay 60 EGP adult / 30 EGP student for area entry. Buy tickets at the entrance or via the official portal at egymonuments.gov.eg, where card and QR e-tickets are now the norm.

The Grand Egyptian Museum

Located next to the plateau and now fully open, GEM is the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization. Standard admission for foreign visitors is 1,450 EGP for adults and 730 EGP for students and children, and one ticket covers the Tutankhamun Galleries — where King Tut's full collection is displayed together for the first time — plus the main galleries, the Grand Hall and Khufu's Boats Museum. The complex opens at 8:30am (galleries 9am–6pm, and until 9pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays), with the last ticket sold at 5pm. Allow 4+ hours — you cannot rush it.

Camels, horses and touts

Camel and horse rides are a Giza tradition but a common scam source. If you want one, agree a price in writing before mounting and never pay upfront for a return trip. Better: book through your hotel or a licensed operator.

Getting there & staying online

Uber and Careem both serve Giza. From central Cairo expect a 45-minute ride costing 200–350 EGP. An Egypt eSIM keeps Google Maps working — vital because Giza's streets are hard to navigate.