Giza Pyramids: Tickets and Tours

The world-famous Giza Pyramids are one of the last Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - captivating all who visit. The iconic structure of tens of thousands of workers was built within a 70-year span during the Fourth Dynasty (2575-2465 B.C.), 4,500 years ago.

These extraordinary human feats have been explained by fantastical and supernatural theories, including space aliens! Listed by the UNESCO World Heritage, the Giza plateau has been the site of many exciting archaeological discoveries.

Continue reading our guide to find out more about visiting the Giza Pyramids, one of the most astonishing attractions in Cairo.

How much do Giza Pyramids tickets cost?

The Giza Pyramids are accessible with a general admission ticket for the whole Giza plateau. General admission tickets allow you to tour the entire complex and include the entrance inside one of the three, smaller Queen of Cheops pyramids. If you wish to explore one of the three main pyramids, you can do so with the purchase of an additional ticket. Giza Pyramids ticket prices vary significantly between the three attractions.

• General Site Entrance Ticket: 160£E (US$10)
• Entry into the Great Pyramid: 300£E (US$19)
• Entry into the Pyramid of Khafre: 200£E (US$12)
• Entry into the Pyramid of Menkaure: Adult: 60£E (US$4)

In addition to the Sphinx and the Temple of the Sphinx, the pyramids share the complex with the Solar Barque Museum. The well fascinating archive showcases a reconstructed "solar boat", that was buried alongside with the pharaoh. The entrance fee for the museum is 80£E (US$5).

Photography and video inside the hall are permitted with the purchase of separate tickets: 50£E (US$3) for photos, 300£E (US$19) for videos, and 20£E (US$1.25) to bring in a tripod.

Visitors who want to see the entire complex can purchase an all-access ticket for 500 £E (US$30).

Where can I buy Giza Pyramids tickets?

Giza Pyramids tickets cannot be bought online of the official website. They can be purchased on other online websites or at ticket office at the entrance.

There are two different entrances where visitors can purchase tickets: the main northern "Mena House" entrance and the eastern entrance, near the Sphinx. The main entrance is the only ticket office where tickets for the pyramid interiors are sold; otherwise, visitors can find general admission tickets at either site.

Should I book Giza Pyramids tickets in advance?

Unfortunately, travelers cannot book their Giza Pyramids tickets in advance without booking a tour. Tickets are not sold online.

Individuals who wish to avoid long lines should either arrive early or join a tour group. Guided tours include skip-the-line tickets for express entry. Tickets to enter inside the Great Pyramid are limited to 150 in the morning and 150 in the afternoon, following a lunchtime closure.

Are there any discounted tickets?

Students are eligible for a 50% discount on all prices at the Giza Pyramids. Remember to bring your student I.D. and show it to the ticket booth vendor to take advantage of this reduced rate. In addition to the pyramids, students can also enjoy a discount on tickets for the Solar Barque Museum.

What are the best Giza Pyramids tours?

No travelers are alike, which is why there are numerous tours to match your adventure style. Whatever your preference, schedule or budget, Giza Pyramids guided tours are a fun, hassle-free way to explore the famous monuments. Bookings include convenient benefits like pick-up, skip the ticket line, and live tour guide.

Giza Pyramids Private Tours

Private tours offer an exclusive in-depth introduction to the pyramids, ideal for solo travelers, couples, families, and friends. Enjoy a private history lesson of the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx customized for you. Private tours can be customized by adding the entrance ticket to the inside of the Pyramids or adding extra activities, such as quad tours or camel riding.

Giza Pyramids Group Tours

Group tours are an exciting way for fellow tourists to share a unique excursion. Visit Giza Pyramids in a group led by a guide expert on Ancient Egypt. You can also opt to embark on a desert journey from the back of a camel or horse carriage, or hit the desert sand on a quad biking tour.

Giza Pyramids Night Tours - Light and Sound Shows

Night tours at the pyramids are an unforgettable, must-do experience. The iconic Dinner and Night Show at the Giza Pyramids is an hour-long light and sound show projected on the Giza monuments. It is followed up by a traditional Egyptian Dinner.

Are there any combined tours, including Giza Pyramids and other attractions?

With so many spectacular Cairo attractions to choose from, it can be hard to pick! Combination tours are a great way to save time and money while visiting multiple attractions in one day.

Combine your Giza Pyramids visit with a tour of a bustling Cairo bazaar or a cruise down the serene Nile River. With multiple packages to choose from, there are tours to fit every itinerary.

Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara, Dahshur & Lunch

Discover the fascinating history of ancient Egypt with a guided tour of all the most renowned pyramids in Cairo.

Pyramids, Bazaar, Citadel Tour with Photographer

Experience the world-famous Pyramids, followed by a thrilling camel ride across the Sahara Desert accompanied by a photographer. Back in town, wander through the colorful Khan El-Khalili Bazaar and marvel at the spectacular views from Saladin Citadel.

Pyramids, Museum & Bazaar Private Tour with Entrance & Lunch

Return to Ancient Egypt with a full-day tour of the Egyptian Museum and the Giza Pyramids. Witness over 120,000 art masterpieces at Egypt's most renowned museum. After, browse for souvenirs at Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

Cairo Day Tour to Giza including Nile Dinner Cruise and Lunch

Cruise down the Nile on an unforgettable full-day tour to Giza. Discover the Giza Pyramids through the eyes of an expert Egyptologist and browse the unearthed artifacts at the Egyptian Museum. Enjoy a traditional Egyptian lunch and then stroll through Cairo's Old Town on a guided tour.

Two-Day Private Guided Tour to Giza, Saqqara, Dahshur and Cairo

Uncover the mysteries of the pyramids of Dahshur, Saqqara and Giza on this private tour lasting 2 days, led by a qualified Egyptologist. On this multi-day experience, see the best of Cairo, including the antiquities of the Egyptian Museum, mosques and churches in the Citadel, and Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

Enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences like dinner overlooking the Great Sphinx of Giza, a Nile dinner cruise featuring belly dancers, and a camel ride on the Giza plateau.

What will I see inside the Giza Pyramids?

The Pyramids of Giza are among the most spectacular relics of ancient Egypt, fascinating all who visit.

Located on a boulevard known as the Giza Plateau - which includes Necropolis, Sphinx, and the Valley Temple of Khafre - the cluster of pyramids sits where the capital of Giza once was almost 5,000 years ago. The grounds served as burial grounds for royals, so to honor the pharaohs laid to rest where the pyramids were erected.

Khufu's Pyramid (the Great Pyramid of Giza) is the largest pyramid of the complex. A truly mind-blowing sight at 137 m (449 ft), it is one of the last remaining seven wonders of the ancient world. You can enter the Great Pyramid, but don't expect to see any wall paintings or inscriptions, just a small crawl space.

The other two smaller Pyramids of Giza are for the pharaohs Khafre and Menkaure. Pyramid of Menkaure (Mycerinus) is the smallest of the three main monuments at a still impressive 62 m (203 ft) high. A little way east of the plateau you'll find three small (20 m high) queens' pyramids ruin tombs of Khufu's wives and sisters.

An equally notable attraction, Sphinx and the Temple of the Sphinx, also sit on the Giza complex. The colossal human-headed lion was built by ancient Egyptians to represent the sun god Re-Horakhty - "Horus of the Horizon". The 45 meters long and 22 meters wide Sphinx was carved from a single massive block of sandstone, but it is dwarfed in size by the surrounding pyramids.

Before or after touring the complex tourists can visit the Solar Boat Museum located on the south side of the Pyramid of Khufu. The museum is a showcase dedicated to the excavated and reconstructed "solar boat" found buried in the pharaoh's tomb.

Where are the Giza Pyramids located and how do I get there?

In photos, the Giza Pyramids appear to stand in the middle of a far-flung desert, but in reality, they are very central. Located about 15 miles outside of downtown Cairo, you can reach the site by taxi, rideshare, or public transport.

Unmetered and metered taxis are a cheap option with a one-way ride from Tahrir square costing about 50£E (US$3). Foreigners might encounter upcharges or be forced to haggle. Careem is the Middle East version of Uber and is the cleanest and safest rideshare option.

The CTA bus from central Cairo is the best public transit option to reach the Giza Pyramids. Buses leave every 20 minutes on bus routes 355 or 357 from the airport, Heliopolis, the bus stop at Abdel Menem Riyadh Station in Midan Tahrir. The large, air-conditioned coaches can be spotted by the CTA (Cairo Transport Authority) sign on their sides. The tickets cost 20£E (U$1.25).

Guided tours offer transportation and the expertise of a guide if you want to avoid the hassle of figuring out transportation altogether.

When is the best time to visit the Giza Pyramids?

Savvy travelers looking to avoid crowds should arrive at the Pyramids the moment they open or in the late afternoon. The pyramid complex opens every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, according to the official Egyptian tourism website, with most tour buses arriving between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM.

If your arrival time clashes with the early morning masses, try hitting the Solar Barque Museum first or enter through the eastern entrance and explore the Sphinx.

Travel tips

• It gets hot in the open desert, so prepare accordingly. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and extra water.
• Comfort is key on walking tours. The plateau is rocky, so opt for sturdy footwear.
• Do not show your entrance ticket to anyone else. There are scammers around the site who claim to work for the government and will ask to see the ticket, then grab it, and try to take you on a tour.
• If you want to take a camel or horse ride, agree on a price before the ride or they might harass you to pay more at the end of the tour.
• Climbing the pyramids is officially forbidden and extremely dangerous.
• If you are going to a mosque on a combination tour, bring something to cover up with.
• Not all the Pyramids are accessible throughout the year. Only two are open at a time to allow for conservation and renovation measures.