Which kind of wish list would be complete without a visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt? Unbelievably, it is not too difficult to tour the Giza pyramids in one day from Egypt’s main city of Cairo.
For 3,800 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was constructed in 2560 BC, stood as the highest man-made structure on Earth. Out of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is the oldest and the only one that remains intact to this day.
Visiting the Egypt pyramids is a pretty simple experience, and there’s not a whole lot to do there except gaze at the big piles of rock, but it’s still a profound and unique experience that every traveler should check off their list.
This travel guide will explain how you can visit the Egyptian pyramids on your own, with or without a tour, and with a very modest budget and minimal planning!
Quick Facts (Main Pyramid)
- Date: 2560 BC
- Height: 150 meters (500 ft)
- Base Length: 150 meters (500 ft)
- Weight: 6 million tons
- No. of Blocks: 2.3 million
- Builders: 200,000+
Best Day Tours To The Egypt Pyramids
First of all, if you’re on a tight schedule and want to skip the extra steps involved in arranging your own trip to the pyramids, or if you’d rather travel in a tour group for safety or convenience, there are options for doing that.
There are a number of companies that offer prearranged day tours to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx for as low as $45 USD, complete with hotel transfer, optional camel ride, and same day return to Cairo.
Many international airlines serve Cairo International Airport (CAI), which is the closest airport. Skyscanner offers flight searches to Cairo.
Giza may be reached by car in one hour from the Cairo airport. There are several cabs available in the arrivals area, but I personally took Uber, which is far more affordable and perhaps safer.
If you are unfamiliar with driving in the Middle East, do not rent a car in Egypt! You’ll be far better off travelling with a driver who is knowledgeable with the hazardous and chaotic traffic in Arab countries.
Additionally, drivers in Egypt are reasonably priced; as of 2024,
Giza Pyramids: What To Expect
If you’re staying at least one night in Giza, which I’d recommend, then you can drop off your luggage first at your hotel and then easily walk to the entrance of the pyramids and sphinx.
There are a bunch of hotels in Giza that are within a 5 minute walk to the main entrance for the pyramids, and they usually have great rooftop views to boot. More on that later.
If you’re ready to visit the pyramids, then just head up to the main ticket office and buy your tickets. The scammers and touts will already be trying to chat you up at this point, but you should ignore them.
As of 2024, the general ticket price is 540 EGP (~$11 USD) and that gives you admission to the sphinx and the whole area surrounding the pyramids.
You will need to purchase an additional ticket if you intend to enter the pyramids rather than merely stroll around and observe them from the outside, as I did.
The entrance fee to the Khafre/Menkaure pyramid is 50 EGP, while the Khufu pyramid is 300 EGP.
