Travel guide
Plan your visit to the Pyramids
Practical, no-nonsense tips so you can walk through the gates with confidence — what to bring, what to skip, and the small details most first-time visitors only learn the hard way.
Site map of the Giza Plateau
Detailed plan of the Giza Plateau showing the three royal pyramids, the Sphinx, the Valley Temple, the queens' pyramids, mastabas and the surrounding necropolis. Tap the map to magnify, or download the PDF to save it offline before you arrive.
At a glance
The basics
Opening hours
Daily · 07:00 – 16:00 Ramadan · 08:00 – 15:30
Suggested visit
2–3 hours
Walking distance
≈ 6 km on site
Best entry time
07:00 first opening
Insider tips
What to know before you go
Distilled from people who visit the plateau weekly. Read these once and you'll skip the most common rookie mistakes.
- Tip 01
Sun protection and water are non-negotiable
There is almost no shade on the plateau and the sun is brutal year-round. Bring high-SPF sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, light long-sleeved clothing and at least 1.5 L of water per person. This is the single most common thing first-time visitors underestimate.
- Tip 02
Buy every ticket you need before you enter
Buy your Giza Plateau entry plus every interior add-on (Khufu, Menkaure, Mars Ankh) online before you arrive. You can't buy interior pyramid tickets once you're past the main gate — you'd have to leave and come back.
- Tip 03
Hold on to your ticket — you'll need it twice
The first scan is at the main entrance. The second is at the Valley Temple, where the guardian will ask to see it again before letting you walk down to the Sphinx. If you've thrown the ticket away by then, you won't get the close-up view.
- Tip 04
Only show your ticket where it's required
The only people authorised to see your ticket are the gate attendant at the main entrance and the guardian at the Valley Temple. If anyone else asks, politely keep walking.
- Tip 05
Polite "gifts" are never free
A friendly older man in traditional dress may chat, then press a small carved scarab or trinket into your hand and call it a gift. He'll come back later asking for payment. If you don't want to buy, hand it back immediately and walk on.
- Tip 06
Agree the price — and the currency — first
Camel rides around the plateau are a beautiful experience, but settle the full price in writing or photo before mounting. Confirm the currency explicitly: "pound" can mean Egyptian pound or British pound, and "dollar" can mean USD or AUD. Confirm whether it's per person, per ride, and how long the ride lasts.
- Tip 07
The famous trick shots — go to the panoramic viewpoint
The classic "holding", "touching" and "leaning on the pyramid" photos are taken from the panoramic viewpoint above the plateau. Head there to get all three pyramids in frame and plenty of space for forced-perspective shots.
Ready?