Things to Do in Giza (2026): Pyramids, Sphinx & the GEM

Giza is where most Egypt trips begin: the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World stands on a desert plateau on the edge of Cairo. But there is far more to a day here than a photo — you can climb inside the Great Pyramid, meet the Sphinx face to face, ride a camel across the sand at sunset, and finish next door at the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum. Across more than 1,000 bookable experiences the typical price is about 3,736 EGP (~$76) per person. Here is how to make the most of the plateau.

The Pyramids of Giza

Three pyramids dominate the plateau: the Great Pyramid of Khufu — the oldest and largest, raised around 2560 BC and the only Ancient Wonder still standing — flanked by those of Khafre and Menkaure. You can walk right up to the two-tonne blocks, and a separate ticket lets you climb inside the Great Pyramid, up a cramped ascending passage to the bare granite burial chamber. Most tours finish at the panorama viewpoint out in the desert, where all three pyramids line up for the classic shot.

The Great Sphinx

Carved from a single ridge of limestone, the Sphinx — a lion's body with a pharaoh's head, most likely Khafre's — crouches at the eastern edge of the plateau beside its Valley Temple. It is smaller than people expect but no less arresting up close, and it anchors the after-dark Sound & Light show, when the monuments are lit and narrated.

Camel, horse and quad rides

The desert around the pyramids was made for it. A camel or horse ride across the sand to the panorama point is the classic way to escape the crowds at the base, while ATV and quad-bike tours run out into the dunes behind the plateau, best at sunset. These are the cheapest and most-booked extras, usually bundled with the entry tour.

The Grand Egyptian Museum

Right on the doorstep of the plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is the largest archaeological museum in the world devoted to a single civilisation — home to the complete Tutankhamun collection and a grand staircase lined with royal statues. Many Giza tours now pair the pyramids with the GEM; see our Grand Egyptian Museum guide for tickets and what to see first.

Day trips: Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur

Half an hour south, the older necropolis of Saqqara holds Djoser's Step Pyramid, the world's oldest monumental stone building; Dahshur has the Bent and Red Pyramids, the first true smooth-sided pyramids; and Memphis, Egypt's ancient capital, keeps a colossal fallen statue of Ramesses II. The Giza–Saqqara–Memphis full day is one of the best-value, highest-rated tours in the country.

The top-rated experiences travellers book

• From Hurghada: Cairo & Giza Highlights Day Tour — 4.56★ · 7,064 reviews · from 3,786 EGP (~$77).
• From Cairo: Desert Safari, Camel Ride, Magic Lake, & Lunch — 4.87★ · 1,629 reviews · from 6,496 EGP (~$133).
• Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara & Memphis — Full-Day Tour — 5.0★ · 1,340 reviews · from 1,650 EGP (~$34).
• Cairo: Female-Guided Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum City Tour — 4.8★ · 1,684 reviews · from 3,427 EGP (~$70).
• Pyramids, Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum , Nile Felucca OR Bazaar — 4.9★ · 764 reviews · from 747 EGP (~$15).
• Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping, Dinner cruise — 4.9★ · 737 reviews · from 349 EGP (~$7).

Browse all things to do in Giza, or see how activity prices compare in the Egypt activity price guide.

When to go and practical notes

The plateau is open year-round; October–April brings comfortable temperatures, while summer means fierce midday sun — arrive at opening (around 8am) to beat both the crowds and the heat. Separate tickets are needed to go inside the Great Pyramid and for the Solar Boat area, where a reconstructed cedar boat buried beside Khufu's pyramid is displayed. Ignore the touts offering "free" camel photos, agree every price up front, and most tours include hotel pickup from Cairo or Giza.

How we built this guide

This guide combines the live prices and details of 1,041 bookable Giza experiences (June 2026) from our marketplace with Egypt's official tourism sources and the archaeological record of the Giza plateau for the facts on the pyramids, the Sphinx and Saqqara. Prices are per person in Egyptian pounds at about 49 EGP to the dollar; we use the median. Updated as prices and availability change.