Location: Giza
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What to do and see in Giza, Egypt: The Best Places and Tips
Spot a tourist in New York, and chances are you can’t be sure exactly why they’re in town. Broadway? Shopping? A quest to find the world’s best bagel? It’s anyone’s guess. At Giza, though, it’s pretty simple—travelers come here to see the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. (Editor's note: Our list was compiled before political unrest prompted many countries to issue travel warnings for Egypt. If you're currently planning a trip to Egypt, please consider the risks and monitor your government's travel alerts.)
Restaurants in Giza
1. Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The largest and oldest of the Giza pyramids, this colossal structure stands nearly 500 feet tall.
Reviewed By David E - Los Angeles
These pyramids stand like titans across the landscape.
The hawkers are very persistent. Hold onto your cameras, as they will boldly take them from you hand, take pics then surprise you by asking for money (while holding your camera). You have to be pretty aggressive in telling them no.
We paid extra to enter the pyramid - WARNING: it's physically challenging. There is a large stretch of climbing a steep incline with only about 4' of ceiling room. So you are hunched over/semi-squat and climbing. It's tough. No air and hot. At one point I got on all fours because my back was aching. The actual interior chamber is just a room - nothing special. But the journey to get there was pretty spectacular.
It's such an experience. The pyramids take great distance pics, and super close .. but there is no way you can get the concept of their size across in a pic.
The Sphinx is not close. Not within walking (or a long walk).
There is a metal detector/security to get through.
2. Khafre's Pyramid
Overall Ratings
5 based on 536 reviews
Next to the Great Pyramid of Khufu, this is the second-largest of the Giza pyramids; Khafre was the son of Khufu.
Reviewed By djs482 - Indore, India
It is one of seven wonder of world 'Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The largest Pyramid height 147 mt., Base 231 mt., Volume nearly 25, 83, 283 cu.mt. Slope 51-52 degree, Architect Mr.Hemiunu, Ancient name is Khufu's Horizon. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest & largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, & the only one to remain largely intact. Based on a mark in an interior chamber naming the work gang and a reference to fourth dynasty Egyption Pharaoh Khufu, Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built as a tomb over a 10 to 20-year period concluding around 2560 BC. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years. Originally, the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure. Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base. There have been varying scientific & alternative theories about the Great Pyramid's construction techniques. Most accepted construction hypotheses are based on the idea that it was built by moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.
There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid. The lowest chamber is cut into the bedrock upon which the pyramid was built and was unfinished. The so-called Queen's Chamber and King's Chamber are higher up within the pyramid structure. The main part of the Giza complex is a setting of buildings that included two mortuary temples in honour of Khufu (one close to the pyramid & one near the Nile), three smaller pyramids for Khufu's wives, an even smaller "satellite" pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles.
3. Pyramids of Dahshour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 429 reviews
This complex contains pyramids from the Fourth and Twelfth Dynasties including the Southern Pyramid, or Bent Pyramid due to its unorthodox outline, and the Red Pyramid.
Reviewed By Hawkeye79 - Cairo, Egypt
Having lived in Cairo for about a year now, I think the Dahshour complex is one of the most underrated sites. Everyone should see the Giza pyramids because they are iconic and spectacular. However, once you've gotten your glamour shots, I think the Dahshour pyramids are a better overall experience:
The Step Pyramid: Alas, under renovation and the one site at Dahshour with about the same level of hassle as Giza - trinket vendors, camel renters and tour groups. Also, the pyramid is inaccessible and under partially scaffold. A lot of groups just seem to tag the step pyramid after Memphis and move on, which is tragic. Still worth seeing, but please don't stop there.
The Bent Pyramid - probably my favorite pyramid. The majority of the outer cladding is intact, unlike Giza where only the top of Khafre still has the cladding. The bent profile is striking when it looms over you. When I was there on a Friday morning in early March, we were literally the only people present aside from two guards on the front side.
The Red Pyramid - Very low traffic, and a far more interesting interior than the Great Pyramid. You descend in a sloped shaft for about 40 fifty meters, then see three internal chambers.
The Serapium - an underground complex where they buried the Apis bulls in massive stone sarcophagi. It's an extra ticket, but an interesting site very different than the others in the area, and again with very few visitors.
The Mastaba of Ti - Last time I was there, there was no guard and literally no other visitors. It has some of the best preserved Hieroglyphics, including the original coloration. It is one of the only sites I'm aware of where original green coloration still exists.
Some of the other locations on site are also worth visiting, but you won't miss them as they are more common.
You'll likely either need to self drive, take a taxi, or get a small group tour to get to these sites even though they are in the same complex. A knowledgable Egyptologist would be useful, although there are now quality multilingual signs with at least an overview of each site.
4. Great Sphinx
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
At over 240 feet long and 66 feet high, it’s a wonder that this mysterious sculpture was carved from a solid limestone block.
Reviewed By David G
Everything about this site fascinating! You can get wonderful photos early morning when not many tourist around, beautiful place in history! Lots of gift shops outdoor along the way. Safe and friendly people everywhere but lots of hustle by horse n buggy taxis to get you to ride to pyramids.. Walking is easy to pyramids but you need taxi to catch a camel for a 30 min ride for great at a distance to capture pyramids in background.
5. Pyramids of Giza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Perhaps the most recognizable among the Seven Wonders of the World, the exact origin of these majestic pyramids continues to spark debate.
Reviewed By B G - Windhoek, Namibia
I've been to Egypt many times and have seen the pyramids with different friends and families but am always amazed. Haven't been to Egypt in more than 15 years and was stunned by the growth of the city. Pyramids are always worth seeing. Funny thing this time though was that many of the local tourists wanted to take photos with us. Very odd but probably harmless. Our guide said they were from the village and weren't used to tourists. We went with a tour guide and avoided the scammers. March is a good time to visit, not to crowded and not too hot.
6. The Grand Egyptian Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By James D
One of the best museum. Wish I have loner time there to check out all the exhibits and read it's description. Hope to come back again.
7. Solar Boat Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 604 reviews
Reviewed By dickkimble10 - London, United Kingdom
Solar boat museum is located right next to the Great Pryamaid is incredible and a completely under rated attraction. In my opinion it has got to be one of the top sights in Egypt. The boat is over 4000 years. The boat was discovered in a pit just by the pryamaid and had been stored as individual planks and had to be re-assembled like a giant jigsaw. A number of other intact boat pits have also been discovered nearby but have been left for future generations to excavate.
8. Mastaba of Ti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By TravelerTrecker - Houston
The mastaba of Ti was one of the great discoveries by Auguste Mariette in Saqqara in 1860. It has the most beautiful reliefs of Saqqara, including the slaughtering cattle, cattle being driven through a ford, the carpenters at work, and the procession of the domains. It is really a gem. Most guided tours do not take you here as they cannot park close by. We hired a taxi driver and after parking we walked for a short distance. We were the only visitors and we simply loved it!
9. Egypt Papyrus Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 709 reviews
Reviewed By Nandini B - Gurugram (Gurgaon), India
All the tourist buses converge with their respective tourists here. Obviously their offer of hibiscus tea and turkish coffee is all for a purpose. The papyrus paintings eem too expensive and so d the perfumes. We preferred to decline to all offers politely and moved out quickly. Just saying!
10. Meidum Pyramid
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By Sean O - St. Petersburg, Florida
You think of the pyramids from the documentaries, pictures in books, and movies. The three brilliant and perfectly geometric ancient wonders with the Sphinx guarding them just south of Cairo. However around the area and a little further of a drive, and you have the pyramids built long before Giza when they architects were still learning how to make the perfect geometric shaped structures. The early ones were called the step pyramids and they are just as brilliant. If your doing a tour of Giza, then this must be added to your list as well.
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