Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx

4 hours, from €34, entrance included. 3.3 out of 12 reviews. What Egypt Nile Felucca promises, what remains open, and what is included in the price.

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Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx

★ 3.4(12 Reviews)
  • Site ticket for the plateau included
  • Hotel pickup included
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • Duration according to provider: 4 hours

Four Hours in Giza: Three Pyramids, Sphinx, and Viewpoints

You start in Giza on a four-hour tour by Egypt Nile Felucca. From the city area of Giza, it is 12.2 kilometers to the plateau, and the drive takes about 15 minutes. The destination is the Giza Plateau with the three pyramids, the Sphinx, and the viewpoints between the structures. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the largest of the three and is shown from the outside; the Pyramid of Khafre is the middle one, still partly clad at the top; the Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest and is clad with granite from Aswan on the lower courses. The Sphinx is not built from blocks but carved from the natural rock. The tour is offered in English, Spanish, or Arabic. The tour is aimed at travelers who want a compact introduction and are comfortable with one of these languages.

Pyramids of Giza and the SphinxPyramids of Giza and the SphinxPyramids of Giza and the SphinxPyramids of Giza and the SphinxPyramids of Giza and the Sphinx

Photos by the provider Egypt Nile Felucca. They show the offer, not your day.

Provider
Egypt Nile Felucca
Duration
4 hours
Start location
Giza
Group type
Group
Guide
Live guide
German-speaking
Not specified
Hotel pickup
Yes
Price
From €34
Rating
3.3 out of 12 reviews
Quality threshold
Not passed

What is included, what is not, and what the provider does not say

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

ServiceStatusWhat this means for you
Site ticket for the 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.
LunchNot includedNot included.
Burial chambers and mastabasNowhere in the catalogIn the entire reviewed catalog, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau.
CancellationFree up to 24 hours beforeProvider's statement in the catalog.
Site ticket for the 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
Not included
What this means for you
Not included.
Burial chambers and mastabas
Status
Nowhere in the catalog
What this means for you
In the entire reviewed catalog, 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.

Costs and Included Services

The tour is offered from €34. This price includes the site ticket for the plateau, which officially costs 700 Egyptian pounds, about €11, plus hotel pickup and the guided tour. Lunch is explicitly not included. This makes the tour part of a minority: only ten other offers in the category also do without it. An interior ticket for the Great Pyramid of Khufu costs officially 1,000 EGP, about €16, and for the Pyramid of Menkaure 280 EGP. Both tickets are not part of the site ticket. The provider does not say whether an interior visit is planned. Tipping is customary in Egypt, but it is not a surcharge for special service.

Price Comparison

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

Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx34 €
Giza: Guided Pyramid Tour at Sun…40 €
Giza: Pyramid, Memphis, Sakkara with…31 €
Pyramids of Giza: Quad Desert Safari…34 €
Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx: Half-Day…25 €

Price alone says little. Read it together with the 'Site ticket' row in the comparison table: An offer without entrance is not cheaper, but calculated differently.

Figures in this chart as a table
RowPyramids of Giza and the SphinxGiza: Guided Pyramid Tour at Sun…Giza: Pyramid, Memphis, Sakkara with…Pyramids of Giza: Quad Desert Safari…Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx: Half-Day…
Entry price34 €40 €31 €34 €25 €

This Tour vs. Four Comparable Ones

All five come from the category 'Tours from Giza'. The column for this tour is highlighted; the other four are the best-documented in the category.

Pyramiden von Gizeh und SphinxGizeh: Geführte Pyramiden-Tour bei Sonnenaufgang …Gizeh: Pyramide, Memphis, Sakkara mit optional …Pyramiden von Gizeh: Quad-Wüstensafari und …Pyramiden von Gizeh und Sphinx: Halbtägige private …
ProviderEgypt Nile FeluccaEgypt Excursions OnlineEgypt Excursions OnlineEmo Tours EgyptEmo Tours Egypt
Pricefrom 34 €from 40 €from 31 €from 34 €from 25 €
Duration4 hours5 hours3 to 8 hours1 to 2 hours4 hours
Group typegroupgroupgroupprivateprivate
German-speakingnonoyesyesno
Area ticketincludedAdd-onincludedAdd-onincluded
Pickupyesyesyesyesnot specified
Rating (reviews)3.3 (12)4.7 (928)4.8 (388)4.5 (1,167)4.4 (1,607)
Quality thresholdfailedpassedpassedpassedpassed
Free cancellation until24 h24 h24 h24 h24 h
Pyramiden von Gizeh und Sphinx
Provider
Egypt Nile Felucca
Price
from 34 €
Duration
4 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
no
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
3.3 (12)
Quality threshold
failed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Gizeh: Geführte Pyramiden-Tour bei Sonnenaufgang mit Kamelritt und Frühstück
Provider
Egypt Excursions Online
Price
from 40 €
Duration
5 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
no
Area ticket
Add-on
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.7 (928)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Gizeh: Pyramide, Memphis, Sakkara mit optional Dahschur und Feluke-Tour
Provider
Egypt Excursions Online
Price
from 31 €
Duration
3 to 8 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.8 (388)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Pyramiden von Gizeh: Quad-Wüstensafari und optionaler Kamelritt
Provider
Emo Tours Egypt
Price
from 34 €
Duration
1 to 2 hours
Group type
private
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
Add-on
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.5 (1,167)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Pyramiden von Gizeh und Sphinx: Halbtägige private oder Gruppen-Tour
Provider
Emo Tours Egypt
Price
from 25 €
Duration
4 hours
Group type
private
German-speaking
no
Area ticket
included
Pickup
not specified
Rating (reviews)
4.4 (1,607)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h

The order follows the documentation, not the commission. All values come from the same catalog fields to make the columns comparable.

How Many People Have Judged?

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

Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx… (3.3)12 Reviews
Giza: Guided Pyramid Tour… (4.7)928 Reviews
Giza: Pyramid, Memphis, Sakk… (4.8)388 Reviews
Pyramids of Giza: Quad Desert… (4.5)1.167 Reviews
Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx… (4.4)1.607 Reviews

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

Figures in this chart as a table
RowPyramids of Giza and the Sphinx… (3.3)Giza: Guided Pyramid Tour… (4.7)Giza: Pyramid, Memphis, Sakk… (4.8)Pyramids of Giza: Quad Desert… (4.5)Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx… (4.4)
Reviews12 Reviews928 Reviews388 Reviews1,167 Reviews1,607 Reviews

3.3 out of Twelve Reviews: A Narrow Basis

The average rating is 3.3 and comes from twelve reviews. So few votes are not a reliable basis. In the category of pyramid tours from Giza, the tour ranks 30th out of 43; the order is based on the strength of evidence, not the rating alone. By number of reviews, it ranks 20th out of 43. A clear statement about quality cannot be derived from twelve votes.

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 go by electric shuttle or on foot.

  3. Great Sphinx

    Carved from the natural rock, 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 partly clad 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 the lower courses.

  7. 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 place 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 values per month. Two series, one axis; the points mark the hottest and coldest months. Giza (city) has no official station of its own; measurements are taken in Cairo.

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

When the four hours on the plateau are most pleasant

The chart shows long-term monthly values for Cairo, the nearest official station; no separate values are available for the city of Giza itself. They are normal outdoor values, not a forecast for your visit day. There is hardly any shade on the plateau. The coolest months are December to February, with highs staying at 19 to 20 degrees. From May to September, highs reach 32 to 35 degrees; at night it only cools down to 19 to 24 degrees. The provider does not specify the start time; you should ask before booking whether the four hours take place in the morning or the afternoon.

The complete data sheet

Every piece of information this project has documented about this tour, the places in its program, and the area covered by your ticket: 201 rows, each with its source. Collapsed because this is not a reading page, but fully present.

Download full table as CSV · 201 Rows

Show all 201 entries
ItemValueSource
The offer30
Provider's titlePyramids of Giza and SphinxGetYourGuide catalog
ProviderEgypt Nile FeluccaGetYourGuide catalog
Product number597251GetYourGuide catalog
Start locationGizaGetYourGuide catalog
Duration4 hoursGetYourGuide catalog
Multi-daynoGetYourGuide catalog
Entry price34 €GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Entry price in local currencyabout 2,011 EGPExchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro
Rating3.3 starsGetYourGuide, live retrieval
Number of reviews12GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Project quality thresholdnot passedOwn rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews
Rank in category30 out of 43 in "Tours from Giza"Own evaluation, grade weighted by number of reviews
Plateau area ticketincludedGetYourGuide catalog
Interior of a pyramidno informationGetYourGuide catalog
Access to a tombno offer in the catalog sells thatOwn evaluation of all 252 offers
Hotel pickupincludedGetYourGuide catalog
Lunchnot includedGetYourGuide catalog
Type of accompanimentlive guided tourGetYourGuide catalog
Guide languagesEnglish, Spanish, ArabicGetYourGuide catalog
German-speaking guidenoGetYourGuide catalog
Private booking possiblenoGetYourGuide catalog
Small groupnoGetYourGuide catalog
Group format according to providerno informationGetYourGuide catalog
Preferred entryyesGetYourGuide catalog
Wheelchair accessibleno informationGetYourGuide catalog
Free cancellationyesGetYourGuide catalog
Cancellation deadline24 hours before startGetYourGuide catalog
Giza reference in cataloghighOwn check of catalog fields
Provider images5 photosGetYourGuide catalog
Data status2026-09-03Own retrieval
Giza Plateau22
Area ticket for foreigners (adults)EGP 700 · Students EGP 350; Egyptians EGP 60/30. Does NOT cover the interiorsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Site 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 office closes one hour before closingMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Ticket office closes before the gate1 hourAntiquities administration (standard practice)
Payment at the ticket officecard only, no cash · Cashless sales since 2023; cash is 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 is open but has no ticket officeRESEARCH-BASE
Private vehicles on the plateauforbidden since the 2025 reorganisationRESEARCH-BASE
Electric shuttleincluded in the entrance fee, hop-on/hop-off · Stops: Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, Panorama Point, SphinxRESEARCH-BASE
Visitor operationsOrascom Pyramids Entertainment (OPE), 15-year contract since 2018 · Ticket revenue stays entirely with the state, plus 50% of project profitEgyptian Streets
Visitors per year (operator's figure)3,500,000 · Figure from 5 Jan 2026; target 5 million; no official figure per site 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 Roasch to Dahschur)30 km · Over two dozen pyramids depending on counting methodUNESCO World Heritage Centre
Great Pyramid of Khufu closed at noon12:00–13:00RESEARCH-BASE (site visit 2026-08-31)
Interior of the Great Pyramid (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 at the plateau since1978 · About 15 documented major performances in five decades, almost annually since 2021The National
First professional boxing match at the plateau2026-05-23 · Usyk vs Verhoeven, T.K.o. round 11Saudi Press Agency
Private photography at the sitesfree, also with system/SLR cameras · Permit required for: photo umbrellas, artificial light, equipment that blocks the wayMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Milky Way over the plateaunot visible (brightest night sky in the world 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 the natural limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Date of creation4th 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 Templedirectly 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 figure 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 the succession and fulfilment of the king's core duty to maintain sacred buildingsKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Condition in the New Kingdomlargely covered in sand, probably only the head visibleKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
The plateau in the New Kingdomrecreation ground for the court: hunting, chariot driving, archery, resting places in the shadeKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Dream Stele: material and sizegranite, just under four metres high, several tons · Only secondarily attested; according to a widespread interpretation, a reused lintel from the mortuary temple of KhafreKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Dream Stele: conditionabout half of the text is missing, crack from the twelfth line · Exposed in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Caviglia; thereafter accelerated weatheringKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Public accessfrom the east via the valley temple of Khafre up to the viewing terrace · There is no walkable circular path on the north side of the pit; the minimum 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 opening fee – not an invention of providers, but also not a normal 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
Inclination angle51°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 high-quality limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
BuilderKing Khufu, 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 one of the ancient Seven Wonders still standingMinistry 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 ships · Found dismantled; the first boat is now in the Grand Egyptian MuseumMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Interior visit foreigners (adults)EGP 1,000 · Official amount; the site ticket is also required. In circulation are also 400 to 1,500 EGP – the ministry's figure is the reliable oneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Interior visit studentsEGP 500Ministry 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 limited daily quotaZahi Hawass, Restoring the Great Pyramid
Air purification systemsince September 2025 in the King's Chamber and the chamber below · Plasmacluster technology; the unit 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
Inclination angle53°10' · Steeper than the Great Pyramid, which partially compensates for the height differenceWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
BuilderKing Khafre, 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 an intentionMinistry 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 earlier 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 the Khafre complex · listed literally as a “colossal statue beside 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 statuescontradictory records · 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 accurate 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 site ticketincluded · making it the nearest accessible interior space by the Sphinx and the shadiest spot on the open siteMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Interior visitnot officially listed · The monument page does not include a 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 under 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 area102.2 × 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)
Funerary 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, site 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, ordering the fallen blocks, excavation in the rubble slope, visitor access · The construction project became a research and outreach project – the current state remainsState Information Service (Review Committee Menkaure)
UNESCO World Heritage since1979UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Giza (city) and the climate17
Population4,458,135 inhabitants · As of 2023; third largest city in EgyptWikipedia (en): Giza
City area98.4 km2Wikipedia (en): Giza
Elevation above sea level30 mWikipedia (en): Giza
Latitude29.99 degreesWikipedia (en): Giza
Longitude31.21 degreesWikipedia (en): Giza
Founded642 ADWikipedia (en): Giza
Administrative seatCapital of Giza GovernorateWikipedia (en): Giza
Visitors 202514,700,000 people · According to the article, this makes it Egypt's most visited destinationWikipedia (en): Giza
Road to Giza Plateau12.2 km · From Giza city center; the plateau lies on the western edge of the cityOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
Driving time to Giza Plateau15 min · Free-flow time without traffic; in Greater Cairo realistically much longerOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
Distance to Memphis (Mit Rahina)under 30 km southWikipedia (en): Giza
International airportCAI IATA · According to the article, 45 km from Giza via the Cairo-Alexandria desert roadWikipedia (en): Giza
Second airport: Sphinx International (SPX)opened 2018 · Explicitly built to serve the plateau and the Grand Egyptian MuseumWikipedia (en): Sphinx International Airport
Sphinx Airport to Giza Plateau36.8 kmOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
Cairo University on site since1924 · The campus is in Giza, not CairoWikipedia (en): Giza
Public transportCairo Metro, shared network with CairoWikipedia (en): Giza
Nearest official climate stationCairo Airport (NOAA normals 1991-2020) · According to the article, the climate corresponds to that of Cairo; no separate official normals exist for GizaWikipedia (en): Giza
Cairo: Normals of the nearest station41
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
Area of Greater Cairo2,744 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 · Older predecessor settlements (Babylon, Fustat) are significantly earlierWikipedia (en): Cairo
Nearest airportCAI IATAWikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport
Airport to city center20.7 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 realistically much 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
May daily high32.2 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
May daily low19.3 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
June daily high34.6 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
June daily low22.2 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
July daily high35 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
July daily low23.8 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
August daily high34.9 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
August daily low24.3 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
September daily high33.4 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
September daily minimum22.7°C · Cairo Airport station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
October daily maximum30°C · Cairo Airport station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
October daily minimum20°C · Cairo Airport station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
November daily maximum24.9°C · Cairo Airport station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
November daily minimum15.6°C · Cairo Airport station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
December daily maximum20.5°C · Cairo Airport station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
December daily minimum11.7°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 Gate: Map, Electric Shuttle, and Ticket Office Hours

The official website lists the plateau's opening hours as 8 am to 4 pm; an official PDF from 2020 lists 7 am to 5 pm instead. The ticket office closes one hour before the site closes. Payment at the counter is by card only; cash is not accepted. Private vehicles have been banned from the plateau since 2025. You can reach the pyramids via the electric shuttle, which is included in the area ticket, or on foot. The main entrance is the Great Gate on the desert road between Cairo and Fayoum; the Sphinx Gate is open but has no ticket counter.

Who This Tour Is For and Who It's Not For

The tour is right for you if you're looking for a compact introduction to the pyramids and the Sphinx and are happy with a guided tour in one of the mentioned languages. It's not right if you want a German-speaking guide: In that case, the tour "Pyramid, Memphis, Sakkara with optional Dahshur and Felucca Tour" is the alternative, which specifies a German-speaking guide. The provider also does not offer private bookings or small groups. Whether the tour is suitable for wheelchair users is left open.

Similar Tours on This Page

Six options that a reader of this page might genuinely be torn 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. Pyramiden von Gizeh und Sphinx: Halbtägige private oder Gruppen-Tour

    4 hoursEmo Tours Egypt

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    • Plateau entry included
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    from 25 €
    Go to page
  2. Private Halbtagestour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh und der Sphinx

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    • Hotel pickup
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    from 47 €
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  3. Pyramiden von Gizeh-Tour mit Eintritt in die Khufu-Pyramide ab Kairo

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    4.4284 reviews

    • German-speaking guide
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    • Hotel pickup
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    from 73 €
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  4. Von Gizeh: Tagesausflug zu den Gizeh-Pyramiden mit Abholung

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    4.723 reviews

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    from 41 €
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  5. Gizeh: Private Quad-Tour mit Pyramidenblick und Sanddünen

    3 hoursSun Pyramids Tours

    4.466 reviews

    • German-speaking guide
    • Hotel pickup
    • Free cancellation until 24 h before
    from 32 €
    Go to page
  6. Gizeh-Pyramiden und Sphinx Privattour mit Hotelabholung

    4 hoursEmo Tours Swiss GmbH

    4.4only 8 reviews

    • German-speaking guide
    • Plateau entry included
    • Free cancellation until 24 h before
    from 41 €
    Go to page

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 area ticket of about €11 (700 Egyptian pounds) is included in the price.

How long does the tour actually take?

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

Is there a German-speaking guide?

No German-speaking guide is listed for this offer.

Does this get me inside a pyramid?

The offer says nothing about that, which is the case for 175 out 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 for this offer meaningful?

No. 3.3 stars from only 12 reviews is not enough for a judgment, regardless of how high the score is.

Where can I find all the data for this tour?

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

GetYourGuide

Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx

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

Sources

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

  1. 1
    GetYourGuide: Pyramiden von Gizeh und Sphinx 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" indicates a lower limit.
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    Daily News Egypt abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
  8. 8
    Middle East Observer abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    UNESCO / Wikidata abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    The National abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Saudi Press Agency abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids) abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Sphinx International Airport abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-09-04
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    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Wikipedia (en): Cairo abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03