Cairo: Private Tour to the Pyramids, Sphinx, and the Grand Egyptian Museum

4 to 6 hours, from €36, entrance included. 4.6 out of 68 reviews. What Sun Pyramids Tours promises, what remains open, and what is included in the price.

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Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum

★ 4.6(68 Reviews)
  • Site ticket for the plateau included
  • Hotel pickup included
  • Tour in German available
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Three stops: plateau, Sphinx, new museum

The tour by Sun Pyramids Tours starts in Cairo and lasts four to six hours. It leads to the Giza Plateau with the three pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and the viewpoints in between. The Great Sphinx is carved from the bedrock; the Pyramid of Khafre, the middle one, still has its casing at the top. The second stop is the Grand Egyptian Museum, two kilometers from the plateau. A live guide is included. Languages listed are Arabic, English, German, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, and French; if you want a German-speaking guide, it is available. For travelers who want to see both in one day, this is the compact option among pyramid tours from Cairo.

Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian MuseumCairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian MuseumCairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian MuseumCairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian MuseumCairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum

Photos by the provider Sun Pyramids Tours. They show the offer, not your day.

Provider
Sun Pyramids Tours
Duration
4 to 6 hours
Start location
Cairo
Group type
Group
Guide
Live guide
German-speaking
Yes
Hotel pickup
Yes
Price
from €36
Rating
4.6 out of 68 reviews
Quality threshold
Passed

What is included, what is not, and what the provider is silent about

The catalog distinguishes three states, and the third is the most important: no information does not mean excluded, but unresolved.

ServiceStatusWhat this means for you
Site ticket plateauIncludedIncluded in the price, nothing more to pay.
Interior of a pyramidNo informationThe normal case. Khufu officially around €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds).
Hotel pickupIncludedIncluded, meeting point is your accommodation.
LunchIncludedIncluded.
Burial chambers and mastabasNowhere in the catalogIn the entire catalog checked, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau.
CancellationFree up to 24 hours beforeProvider's statement in the catalog.
Site ticket plateau
Status
Included
What this means for you
Included in the price, nothing more to pay.
Interior of a pyramid
Status
No information
What this means for you
The normal case. Khufu officially around €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds).
Hotel pickup
Status
Included
What this means for you
Included, meeting point is your accommodation.
Lunch
Status
Included
What this means for you
Included.
Burial chambers and mastabas
Status
Nowhere in the catalog
What this means for you
In the entire catalog checked, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau.
Cancellation
Status
Free up to 24 hours before
What this means for you
Provider's statement in the catalog.

What the price includes and what is added on site

The tour can be booked from €36. Sun Pyramids Tours includes in this price the site ticket for the Giza Plateau, lunch, and hotel pickup. The site ticket has an official value of 700 EGP, around €11; the provider covers this amount, and you will not be asked to pay again at the ticket office. Regarding the interior of a pyramid, the provider says nothing. The interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu is a separate ticket for 1,000 EGP, around €16, which must be purchased on site. For the Pyramid of Menkaure, the official price list states 280 EGP for the interior visit; this visit also requires the site ticket. Tipping is customary in Egypt; the provider does not specify an amount.

The price in comparison

Entry price of this tour against the four best-documented offers in the same category. The highlighted bar is this tour.

Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphi…36 €
Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids and G…51 €
Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramide…83 €
Cairo: City tour with female guide…52 €
From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramids of Gi…62 €

The price alone says little. Read it together with the line "Site ticket" in the comparison table: An offer without entrance is not cheaper, but calculated differently.

Figures in this chart as a table
RowCairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphi…Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids and G…Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramide…Cairo: City tour with female guide…From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramids of Gi…
Entry price36 €51 €83 €52 €62 €

This tour against four comparable ones

All five come from the category "Pyramid tours from Cairo". The column of this tour is highlighted; the other four are the best-documented in the category.

Kairo: Private Tour zu Pyramiden, Sphinx und Großem …Kairo: Private Tour zu Pyramiden und Großer Sphinx …Kairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramiden …Kairo: Stadtführung mit weiblicher Führung zu …Ab Kairo: Tour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh, Sphinx …
ProviderSun Pyramids ToursSnefro TravelOceanAir TravelOceanAir TravelOceanAir Travel
Pricefrom 36 €from 51 €from 83 €from 52 €from 62 €
Duration4 to 6 hours4 to 8 hours7 to 8 hours8 hours8 hours
Group typegroupprivategroupgroupsmall group
German-speakingyesnoyesyesyes
Area ticketincludedincludedincludedincludedincluded
Pickupyesyesyesyesyes
Rating (reviews)4.6 (68)4.9 (7,579)4.7 (4,382)4.8 (1,697)4.7 (3,587)
Quality thresholdpassedpassedpassedpassedpassed
Free cancellation until24 h24 h24 h24 h24 h
Kairo: Private Tour zu Pyramiden, Sphinx und Großem Ägyptischem Museum
Provider
Sun Pyramids Tours
Price
from 36 €
Duration
4 to 6 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.6 (68)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Private Tour zu Pyramiden und Großer Sphinx mit Kamelritt
Provider
Snefro Travel
Price
from 51 €
Duration
4 to 8 hours
Group type
private
German-speaking
no
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.9 (7,579)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramiden, Sphinx-Tour und Mittagessen
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 83 €
Duration
7 to 8 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.7 (4,382)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Stadtführung mit weiblicher Führung zu Pyramiden, Sphinx und Museum
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 52 €
Duration
8 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.8 (1,697)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Ab Kairo: Tour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh, Sphinx, Sakkara und Memphis
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 62 €
Duration
8 hours
Group type
small group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.7 (3,587)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h

The order follows the evidence and not the commission. All values come from the same catalog fields so that the columns are comparable.

How many people have judged?

Number of reviews per offer, the rating in parentheses. A rating without its sample size is not information.

Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramid… (4.6)68 Reviews
Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramid… (4.9)7.579 Reviews
Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, … (4.7)4.382 Reviews
Cairo: City tour with female… (4.8)1.697 Reviews
From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramide… (4.7)3.587 Reviews

The quality threshold of this page is ten reviews. Anything below is not a judgment, but a coincidence.

Figures in this chart as a table
RowCairo: Private Tour to Pyramid… (4.6)Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramid… (4.9)Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, … (4.7)Cairo: City tour with female… (4.8)From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramide… (4.7)
Reviews68 Reviews7,579 Reviews4,382 Reviews1,697 Reviews3,587 Reviews

What the rating 4.6 says

The rating 4.6 is based on 68 reviews. That is a narrow basis; the number of votes is more informative here than the height of the rating. In the category of pyramid tours from Cairo with 126 offers, the tour ranks 37th by number of reviews. In the overall ranking of the category, it ranks 31st; this order is formed by evidence strength, not solely by the rating.

The day, stop by stop

The order follows the usual sequence. Each stop tells you what to expect there and the documented figures; everything else is in the data sheet.

  1. Pickup at your accommodation

    The provider picks you up; the duration of the tour counts from here, not from the gate.

  2. Giza Plateau

    The site itself: the three pyramids, the Sphinx, and the viewpoints in between. Private vehicles are not allowed up; you travel by electric shuttle or on foot.

  3. Great Sphinx

    Carved from the bedrock, not built. The public stands on the terrace above, not next to the paws.

  4. Great Pyramid of Khufu

    The largest of the three, from the outside. The interior is a separate ticket and is not included in almost any offer.

  5. Pyramid of Khafre

    The middle one, still with casing at the top. Its valley temple is included in the site ticket and is the shadiest place on the site.

  6. Pyramid of Menkaure

    The smallest of the three, clad in granite from Aswan on its lower courses.

  7. Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

    The new museum, two kilometres from the plateau. Since mid-November 2025, entry is only possible with a pre-booked time slot.

  8. Back to the starting point

    The return trip is included in the stated duration. In Cairo traffic, it is the most unpredictable part of the day.

A stop in this list is a stop, not a promise about the duration of the stop.

Temperatures in Cairo over the year

Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures per month. Two series, one axis; the points mark the hottest and coldest months.

Daily maximumDaily minimum
715233038Daily maximum, Jul: 35,0 °C35Daily maximum, Jan: 18,9 °C19Daily minimum, Aug: 24,3 °C24Daily minimum, Jan: 10,1 °C10JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

There is hardly any shade on the site itself; the values are normal outdoor values and not a forecast.

Figures in this chart as a table
RowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Daily maximum18.9 °C20.5 °C23.8 °C28.1 °C32.2 °C34.6 °C35 °C34.9 °C33.4 °C30 °C24.9 °C20.5 °C
Daily minimum10.1 °C11 °C13.2 °C15.9 °C19.3 °C22.2 °C23.8 °C24.3 °C22.7 °C20 °C15.6 °C11.7 °C

Heat and suitable months for the plateau

The temperature chart for Cairo shows the hottest months from June to September: highs there are 35 degrees, lows 22 to 24 degrees. Even the night cools down little. From November to February, on the other hand, highs remain at 19 to 20 degrees, lows at 10 to 12 degrees. Since this tour lasts four to six hours and the Giza Plateau offers little shade, the time of day is crucial: the coolest hours are in the early morning; those who spend the midday hours on the site get the highest values of the day.

The complete data sheet

Every piece of information that this project has documented about this tour, the places in its programme, and the area covered by your ticket: 207 rows, each with its source. Collapsed because this is not a reading page, but fully present.

Download full table as CSV · 207 Rows

Show all 207 entries
ItemValueSource
The offer30
Tour titleCairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian MuseumGetYourGuide catalogue
ProviderSun Pyramids ToursGetYourGuide catalogue
Product number448326GetYourGuide catalogue
Start locationCairoGetYourGuide catalogue
Duration4 to 6 hoursGetYourGuide catalogue
Multi-daynoGetYourGuide catalogue
Starting price36 €GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Starting price in local currencyapprox. 2,129 EGPExchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro
Rating4.6 starsGetYourGuide, live retrieval
Number of reviews68GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Project quality thresholdpassedOwn rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews
Rank in category31 of 126 in "Pyramid tours from Cairo"Own evaluation, grade weighted by number of reviews
Plateau area ticketincludedGetYourGuide catalogue
Interior of a pyramidno informationGetYourGuide catalogue
Access to a tombno offer in the catalogue sells thatOwn evaluation of all 252 offers
Hotel pickupincludedGetYourGuide catalogue
LunchincludedGetYourGuide catalogue
Type of guidelive guideGetYourGuide catalogue
Guide languagesArabic, English, German, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, FrenchGetYourGuide catalogue
German-speaking guideyesGetYourGuide catalogue
Private bookingnoGetYourGuide catalogue
Small groupnoGetYourGuide catalogue
Group format according to providerno informationGetYourGuide catalogue
Preferred entryyesGetYourGuide catalogue
Wheelchair accessibleno informationGetYourGuide catalogue
Free cancellationyesGetYourGuide catalogue
Cancellation deadline24 hours before startGetYourGuide catalogue
Giza reference in cataloguehighOwn verification of catalogue fields
Provider images5 photosGetYourGuide catalogue
Data status2026-09-03Own retrieval
Giza Plateau22
Area ticket for foreigners (adults)EGP 700 · Students EGP 350; Egyptians EGP 60/30. Does NOT cover interiorsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Area ticket for students (foreigners)EGP 350Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Opening hours (official website)08:00–16:00 · Official sources contradict each other (PDF from 2020: 07:00–17:00); ticket booths close one hour before closingMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Ticket booth closes before gate closes1 hourAntiquities administration (standard practice)
Payment at ticket boothcard only, no cash · Cashless sales since 2023; cash still needed for tips and small purchasesDaily News Egypt
Main entrance since 2025Great Gate on the Cairo–Fayoum desert road (southwest) · Replaces the old gate at Mena House; Sphinx Gate open but without ticket boothRESEARCH-BASE
Private vehicles on the plateaubanned since the 2025 reorganisationRESEARCH-BASE
Electric shuttleincluded in admission, hop-on/hop-off · Stops confirmed: Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, Panorama Point, SphinxRESEARCH-BASE
Visitor operationsOrascom Pyramids Entertainment (OPE), 15-year contract since 2018 · Ticket revenue remains entirely with the state, plus 50% of project profitEgyptian Streets
Visitors per year (operator figure)3,500,000 · Figure from 5 Jan 2026; target 5 million; no official per-site figures publishedMiddle East Observer
Visitors per day (derived)9,600 · Calculated from 3.5 million/yearMiddle East Observer
UNESCO World Heritage since1979 · Part of 'Memphis and its Necropolis', No. 86UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Area of the World Heritage site16,358.52 haUNESCO / Wikidata
Length of the pyramid field (Abu Roash to Dahshur)30 km · Over two dozen pyramids depending on counting methodUNESCO World Heritage Centre
Great Pyramid of Khufu closed at midday12:00–13:00RESEARCH-BASE (site visit 31 Aug 2026)
Interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu (circulating figures)EGP 400–1,500 · Three orders of magnitude circulate; daily quota ~300 in two windows (Hawass regulation after 1998)RESEARCH-BASE (multiple sources, disputed)
Entry for under-16s on Fri/Sat/holidaysonly with ID or accompanied · Regulation from June 2022; current application unverifiedEgypt Independent
Major concerts on the plateau since1978 · About 15 confirmed major performances in five decades, almost yearly since 2021The National
First professional boxing match on the plateau23 May 2026 · Usyk vs. Verhoeven, T.K.o. round 11Saudi Press Agency
Private photography at sitesfree, including with system/SLR cameras · Permits required for: photo umbrellas, artificial light, equipment that blocks pathwaysMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Milky Way over the plateaunot visible (brightest night sky worldwide in the Nile Delta) · Starry-sky photos over the pyramids are montagesFalchi et al., Science Advances 2016
Air purification system in the King's Chamber sinceSeptember 2025 · Plasmacluster; aim: reduce humidity, protect wallsEgyptian Streets
Great Sphinx23
Length73 mWikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza
Height20 mWikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza
Width19 mWikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza
Materialcarved directly from the bedrock · Not a built structure, but a sculpture in natural limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Time of origin4th Dynasty, c. 2613–2494 BC · Thus the oldest of the Egyptian colossal statuesMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
AttributionReign of Khafre, c. 2558–2532 BC · The official wording is 'the evidence points to' – supported but not provenMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Iconographythe king with a lion's body, as a sign of his powerMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Sphinx Templeimmediately in front of it, next to the Valley Temple of KhafreMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Construction sequencethe Valley Temple was finished before work on the Sphinx began · Result of archaeological analysis, not traditionMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Facial featuresstriking resemblance to the statues of KhafreMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Interpretation in the New Kingdommanifestation of the sun god, called Horemakhet ('Horus in the Horizon') · 18th Dynasty, c. 1550–1295 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Temple of Amenhotep IIbuilt next to the Sphinx, dedicated to this god · Amenhotep II, c. 1427–1400 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Dream Steleerected by Thutmose IV between the front paws · Thutmose IV, c. 1400–1390 BC; the research date given by NOVA is 1401–1391 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Content of the Dream SteleThe young prince rests at noon in the shadow of the Sphinx; the god promises him kingship in a dream if he removes the sandKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Purpose of the stelelegitimisation of succession and fulfilment of the royal core duty to maintain sacred buildingsKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Condition in the New Kingdomlargely buried in sand, probably only the head visibleKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
The Plateau in the New KingdomRoyal leisure grounds: hunting, chariot driving, archery, rest stops in the shadeKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Dream Stele: material and sizeGranite, nearly four meters high, several tons · Only attested secondarily; according to a common interpretation, a reused lintel from the valley temple of KhafreKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Dream Stele: conditionabout half of the text missing, crack from the twelfth line · Excavated in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Caviglia; thereafter accelerated weatheringKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Public accessfrom the east through the valley temple of Khafre up to the viewing terrace · There is no walkable circular path on the north side of the pit; the closest distance is on the order of 30 to 50 mMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Access at paw levelofficial category "The Sphinx (Private Visits only + Site Opening Fee)" · Private booking outside opening hours with additional site opening fee – not an invention of providers, but also not a regular ticketMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Claim of a second, buried sphinxnot substantiated · Presentation from June 2026 from the same group whose foundational work was withdrawn in August 2026Remote Sensing (MDPI), retraction notice 10.08.2026
UNESCO World Heritage since1979UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Great Pyramid of Khufu25
Original height146.6 m · 280 cubits; the official site states 146.5 mWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Current height138.5 m · The missing eight meters are the removed casing and the pyramidionWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Base length230.33 m · 440 cubitsWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Volume2,600,000 m³Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Angle of inclination51°50'40" · Corresponds to a seked of 5 1/2 palmsWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
MaterialLimestone, mortar, graniteWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Origin of the casingTurah, south of Maadi, delivered by ship · The structure was once completely clad in fine limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
BuilderKing Khufu (Cheops), ca. 2589–2566 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Estimated construction time10 to 20 years · Official figure; exactly how it was built remains unresolved to this dayMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Tallest building in the worldfor 3,800 yearsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Seven Wonders of the Worldthe only surviving one of the ancient Seven WondersMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Chambers3 chambers · One in the bedrock, two in the masonry – according to the ministry, no other pyramid has thisMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Sarcophagusin the King's Chamber, still in place todayMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Grand Gallerycorbelled ascent to the King's ChamberMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Boat pits on the south side2 boats · Found dismantled; the first boat is now in the Grand Egyptian MuseumMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Interior visit foreigners (adults)1,000 EGP · Official amount; the site ticket is additionally required. Amounts of 400 to 1,500 EGP are also in circulation – the ministry's figure is the reliable oneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Interior visit students500 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Opening hours (monument side)07:00–17:00 · Seven days; the site side of the same ministry states 08:00–16:00. The contradiction is official and unresolvedMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Midday closure12:00–13:00 · Only the Great Pyramid; documented in the project's research baseMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Temporary closureApril 1, 1998 · Humidity inside had risen to 80 percent due to visitorsZahi Hawass, Restoring the Great Pyramid
Water release per visitor20 g · Through breath and sweat; the moisture carries salts into the plaster and justifies the tight daily quotaZahi Hawass, Restoring the Great Pyramid
Air purification systemsince September 2025 in the King's Chamber and the chamber below · Plasmacluster technology; the system is located in the chambers, not in the Grand GalleryEgyptian Streets / Ahram Online, September 2025
ScanPyramids: Big Voidat least 30 m above the Grand Gallery · Muon radiography, published 2017Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids)
ScanPyramids: North Face Corridorconfirmed behind the chevron stones on the north side · Confirmed in 2025 by ground-penetrating radar, ultrasound, and resistivity measurementScientific Reports 2025 (North Face Corridor)
UNESCO World Heritage since1979 · As part of "Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur"UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Pyramid of Khafre23
Original height143.5 m · Only slightly lower than the Great PyramidMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Current height136.4 m · 274 cubitsWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
Base length215.25 mWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
Volume2,211,096 m³Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
Angle of inclination53°10' · Steeper than the Great Pyramid, which partially compensates for the height differenceWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
BuilderKing Khafre (Chephren), ca. 2558–2532 BC · A son of KhufuMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Locationbuilt on slightly higher bedrock · That is why it appears as tall as his father's – the official text explicitly calls this intentionalMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Remaining casingpolished limestone blocks at the top · The only one of the three that still has casing at the topMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Origin of the casingTurah, south of Maadi, by shipMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Core masonryBlocks of local limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Mortuary and valley templeslarger than those of all older pyramids · And among the best-preserved structures of the Old KingdomMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Valley temple: constructionmassive limestone blocks with granite facing, alabaster floors, monolithic granite pillarsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Valley temple: statue nichessymmetrically arranged, once filled with royal statuesMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Most famous statueGranodiorite seated figure with Horus falcon at the back of the head · Considered one of the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian artMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
The Great Sphinxofficially part of Khafre's complex · Literally listed as a 'colossal statue next to his valley temple'Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Statue discoveries1860 by Auguste Mariette, some from a shaft in the templeGiza Project, Harvard University
Current location of the statuesdocumented inconsistently · The official site names the Egyptian Museum, while the Harvard find catalogue lists most pieces with GEM inventory numbersGiza Project, Harvard University
North-south axis relative to Khufuabout 0.5 arc minutes difference · Total station survey by Nell and Ruggles, December 2006Nell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012)
Right angles of the sidesmore precise than the Great Pyramid · Same survey; the east-west axis of both is closer to true cardinal than the north-south axisNell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012)
Valley temple in the area ticketincluded · Thus the nearest accessible interior near the Sphinx and the shadiest spot on the open siteMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Interior visitnot officially indicated · The monument page lists no ticket block; circulating figures range from 130 to 280 EGP. Do not treat as a priceMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Claimed structures beneath the pyramidnot substantiated · The March 2025 press conference relied on a method whose foundational work was withdrawn on 10 August 2026; the authors dispute the withdrawalRemote Sensing (MDPI), withdrawal notice 10.08.2026
UNESCO World Heritage since1979UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Pyramid of Menkaure20
Original height65 m · 125 cubitsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Base dimensions102.2 × 104.6 m · 200 cubitsWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure
Construction volume235,183 m³ · About one tenth of the Great PyramidWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure
Inclination angle51°20'25"Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure
BuilderKing Menkaure, c. 2532–2503 BC · Probably son of Khafre and grandson of KhufuMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Base area in comparisonless than a quarter of the other two · The ministry cites, among other reasons, the limited space on the plateauMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Casing materialred granite from Aswan instead of limestone · Over 800 km transport route, and a much harder stone than limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Granite portion of the casingonly the lower quarter · The rest is limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Condition at the end of his reignunfinished · Menkaure died before completion; many granite blocks were never smoothedMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Mortuary and valley templesplanned as limestone with granite facing, executed in whitewashed mudbrickMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Mortuary cult after his deathstill practised for about 300 yearsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Queen's pyramids3 pyramidsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Satellite pyramidnone found · It is suspected that the largest of the three queen's pyramids originally had this roleMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Interior visit foreigners (adults)280 EGP · Official amount, area ticket also requiredMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Interior visit students140 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Opening hours (monument page)07:00–17:00 · Seven daysMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Announced casing projectJanuary 2024, estimated at three years · The granite blocks lying on the ground were to be reattachedState Information Service (Review Committee Menkaure)
Decision of the review committeeunanimous rejection · Reason: the original position of no single block can be determinedState Information Service (Review Committee Menkaure)
Instead recommendedsurveying, sorting the fallen blocks, excavation in the rubble slope, making the site accessible to visitors · The construction project became a research and interpretation project – the current state remainsState Information Service (Review Committee Menkaure)
UNESCO World Heritage since1979UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)23
Full opening2025-11-01 · State ceremony 1.11.2025, public a few days later; partial opening Oct. 2024RESEARCH-BASE
Distance from the Giza Plateau2 km · 'about two kilometers'RESEARCH-BASE
Site area500,000 m²ArchDaily
Exhibition space81,000 m² · Al Jazeera mentions 24,000 m² of permanent exhibition; check which size is meantArchDaily
ArchitectureHeneghan Peng Architects (competition 2002, >1,500 entries from 82 countries)ArchDaily
Construction cost (reports)1,000,000,000 USD · 'around 1 billion USD', as reportedRESEARCH-BASE (reports)
Tutankhamun Gallery7,500 m² · Over 5,600 pieces, of which over 3,000 never before publicly displayed; other sources cite ~5,000/5,398ArchDaily
Galleries open9:00–18:00, Wed+Sat until 21:00 · Grounds 8:30–19:00 (Wed+Sat until 22:00); last entry 1 hour before closeGEM (official)
Fixed entry time slots sinceMid-November 2025 · Trigger: 27,000 visitors in one day; optimal capacity 15,000–20,000Ahram Online
First Khufu solar boatincluded in museum admission ('Khufu's Boats Museum') · The boat museum on the plateau no longer exists; moved in 2021GEM (official)
Second boat: recovered timbers1,700 pieces (approximately) · 1,343 transferred to the museum; assembly publicly visible, ~4 years, 3+2 million USD from JapanJICA
Admission exemptionChildren under 6, visitors with disabilitiesGEM (official)
Combo ticket with the plateaudoes not officially exist · Do not adopt provider claims of 15–20% savingsGEM ticket page (full-text check 2026-08-31)
Time needed for main galleries3–4+ hoursRESEARCH-BASE
Red granite colossus of Ramses II in the atrium11 m, 75 t, since 2018 · Often confused with plateau areasWikipedia (Statue of Ramesses II)
Optimal daily capacity15,000 to 20,000 visitors · On average around 15,000; fixed time slots exist because 27,000 came in one dayAhram Online / Egypt Independent, November 2025
Crowds in the first weekson 7 November 2025 early closure at 13:30Ahram Online / Egypt Independent, November 2025
Partial openingOctober 2024 with twelve halls · The official ceremony for full opening followed on 1 November 2025ArchDaily (GEM)
Museum grounds open8:30–19:00, Wednesdays and Saturdays until 22:00Grand Egyptian Museum (official)
Last entryone hour before the galleries closeGrand Egyptian Museum (official)
AddressRemayah Square on the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road, access via Gate 2Grand Egyptian Museum (official)
Pieces in the Tutankhamun Galleryover 5,600, of which over 3,000 never before publicly shown · Other reports cite around 5,000 or 5,398 – the range is part of the figureArchDaily (GEM)
Second Khufu boat: timbers transferred to the museum1,343 pieces · Of approximately 1,700 recovered timbers from thirteen layers; around 90 Japanese specialists, led by Sakuji YoshimuraJICA (second Khufu boat)
Cairo and the Climate41
Population (city)9,801,536 inhabitants · As of 2023Wikipedia (en): Cairo
Population (Greater Cairo)22,200,000 inhabitantsWikipedia (en): Cairo
City area606 km2Wikipedia (en): Cairo
Greater Cairo area2,744 km2Wikipedia (en): Cairo
Elevation above sea level23 mWikipedia (en): Cairo
Latitude30.04 degreesWikipedia (en): Cairo
Longitude31.24 degreesWikipedia (en): Cairo
Founding of the Fatimid city969 AD · Earlier predecessor settlements (Babylon, Fustat) are significantly olderWikipedia (en): Cairo
Nearest airportCAI IATAWikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport
Airport to city centre20.7 kmOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
Road to Giza Plateau16.5 kmOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
Driving time to Giza Plateau18 min · Free-flow time without traffic; in Greater Cairo actually significantly longerOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
January daily high18.9°C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
January daily low10.1°C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
February daily high20.5°C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
February daily low11°C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
March daily high23.8°C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
March daily low13.2°C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
April daily high28.1°C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
April daily low15.9°C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in May32.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in May19.3°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in June34.6°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in June22.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in July35°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in July23.8°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in August34.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in August24.3°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in September33.4°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in September22.7°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in October30°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in October20°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in November24.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in November15.6°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in December20.5°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in December11.7°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Annual precipitation24.8 mmNOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Annual mean of daily highs28.1°CNOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Annual mean of daily lows17.5°CNOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Highest recorded value47.8°CNOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Lowest recorded value1.2°CNOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia

At the Great Gate: card payment, opening hours, shuttle

Since the 2025 reorganization, the main entrance to the Giza Plateau is at the Great Gate on the desert road between Cairo and Fayoum; the old gate at Mena House has been replaced. The Sphinx Gate remains open but has no ticket office. The official opening hours of the plateau are 8 am to 4 pm; an older official source states 7 am to 5 pm. The ticket office closes one hour before the site closes. Payment at the counter is by card only; you will need cash only for tips and small expenses. Private vehicles are not allowed on the plateau; visitors are taken by electric shuttle to the stops: Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, Panorama Point, and the Sphinx.

Who this tour suits and who it doesn't

For travelers seeking a compact day with a guided tour, this tour is a suitable basis. It is explicitly not suitable if a broad review base is important to you: 68 reviews is few in a category with 126 offers. The comparison tour “Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramids, Sphinx Tour and Lunch” lasts seven to eight hours, costs from €83, is rated 4.7 out of 4,382 reviews, and also offers a German-speaking guide. If you expect a privately booked experience, you won't find it here; this offer is not marked as a private booking.

Similar tours on this page

Six offers that a reader of this page might actually waver between: same departure point first, then same destinations, then similar duration. Each card leads to the page with the same data sheet, not directly to the provider, so you can compare before booking.

  1. Kairo: Private Tour zum Grand Egyptian Museum und den Pyramiden von Gizeh

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  6. 3 Tage zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh, Ägyptischem Museum und GEM-Museum

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The order follows proximity to this tour, not commission. Reviews, prices and availability according to GetYourGuide, retrieved on 2026-09-03. Prices in euros; "from" is the provider's lowest entry price.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the plateau included in this offer?

Yes. The site ticket for about €11 (700 Egyptian pounds) is included in the price.

How long does the tour actually take?

The catalog states 4 to 6 hours. This range is counted from the meeting point or hotel, not from the gate; in Cairo traffic, a good half hour to a full hour each way is lost.

Is there a German-speaking guide?

Yes, the provider lists German as the guiding language. This is a promise by the provider, not a verified attribute of the person on site.

Does this get me inside a pyramid?

The offer says nothing about this, which is the case for 175 of 252 offers. You buy the ticket on site; for the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the official price is about €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds).

Is the rating of this offer meaningful?

Yes. 4.6 stars from 68 reviews is above the threshold of 4.0 with at least ten votes that this page uses.

Where can I find all data on this tour?

In the data sheet on this page. It lists every detail about the tour, each destination, and the climate of the departure city, each with its source, and can be downloaded as a CSV.

GetYourGuide

Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum

Dates, availability, and the latest version of services are with the provider. This page reflects the catalog status, not today's morning status.

from 36 €
View

Sources

Every number on this page comes from one of these sources. The running text does not cite them to keep it readable; the data sheet lists the source in each row.

  1. 1
    GetYourGuide: Kairo: Private Tour zu Pyramiden, Sphinx und Großem Ägyptischem Museum abgerufen 2026-09-03Title, duration, services, languages, cancellation policy, stars, number of reviews, and starting price.
  2. 2
    Kursdatensatz des Projekts, partners/fx.json abgerufen 2026-09-03Conversion of Egyptian pounds to euros, 59.14 EGP per euro. Amounts are rounded down because 'from' is a lower bound.
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
    Daily News Egypt abgerufen 2026-08-31
  6. 6
    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
  7. 7
    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
  8. 8
    Middle East Observer abgerufen 2026-08-31
  9. 9
    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-08-31
  10. 10
    UNESCO / Wikidata abgerufen 2026-08-31
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
  14. 14
    The National abgerufen 2026-08-31
  15. 15
    Saudi Press Agency abgerufen 2026-08-31
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
  19. 19
    Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
    Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
    Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids) abgerufen 2026-09-03
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31
    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre abgerufen 2026-09-03
  32. 32
  33. 33
  34. 34
  35. 35
    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure abgerufen 2026-09-03
  36. 36
  37. 37
    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
  38. 38
    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
  39. 39
    ArchDaily abgerufen 2026-08-31
  40. 40
    RESEARCH-BASE (Berichte) abgerufen 2026-08-31
  41. 41
    GEM (amtlich) abgerufen 2026-08-31
  42. 42
    Ahram Online abgerufen 2026-08-31
  43. 43
    GEM (amtlich) abgerufen 2026-08-31
  44. 44
    JICA abgerufen 2026-08-31
  45. 45
  46. 46
    Wikipedia (Statue of Ramesses II) abgerufen 2026-08-31
  47. 47
  48. 48
    ArchDaily (GEM) abgerufen 2026-09-03
  49. 49
    Grand Egyptian Museum (amtlich) abgerufen 2026-09-03
  50. 50
    JICA (zweite Cheops-Barke) abgerufen 2026-09-03
  51. 51
    Wikipedia (en): Cairo abgerufen 2026-09-03
  52. 52
    Wikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport abgerufen 2026-09-03
  53. 53
  54. 54
    NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03
  55. 55
  56. 56
    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-09-04
  57. 57
    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
  58. 58
    NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03