Safety: what the US and UK governments say
- Terrorism: the UK FCDO says terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt, including in places visited by foreign nationals, and advises staying aware of your surroundings and being vigilant in crowds (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026); the U.S. State Department says to stay alert throughout the country due to the threat of terrorism (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025)
- Crowds and sites: the State Department advises exercising caution in crowds, on public transportation and in isolated sections of temples and pyramids
- Driving: the FCDO says not to drive outside main cities and resorts at night
- Sources: UK FCDO, Egypt travel advice and U.S. Department of State, Egypt (travel.state.gov), read 26 October 2026. See also our Cairo page and entry requirements for Egypt.
The Giza pyramids can be visited every day with a ticket for the plateau; the inside of the Great Pyramid (Khufu), of the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and of some tombs requires separate tickets. The plateau, about 20 km (12 mi) from central Cairo, brings together the three great pyramids and the Sphinx. It can now be combined with the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), open next door.
This guide to visiting the Giza pyramids gives the official prices of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, cross-references the heat month by month with sunrise times and the site’s opening, and suggests a pyramids + GEM itinerary. It complements our guide to visiting Cairo.
Giza pyramids: key facts
- Opening hours: every day, 8 am–4 pm according to the site’s official page — checked 15 October 2026 on egymonuments.gov.eg
- Full price (foreign visitors): plateau access 700 EGP adult, 350 EGP student — checked 15 October 2026 on egymonuments.gov.eg
- Not included: inside the Great Pyramid, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, the tomb of Meresankh III, the workers’ cemetery (separate tickets, prices not shown on the official page we consulted)
- Booking: not required according to the official page; tickets at the site’s ticket office
- Duration: half a day for the plateau and the Sphinx; a full day with the GEM
- Prices recorded on 15 October 2026, subject to change: check before you go.
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Tickets: official vs resellers
The plateau access price is set by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and published on egymonuments.gov.eg. The ministry has announced the installation of card-accepting machines on the plateau. Agencies and drivers sell « pyramids » excursions: ask whether entry is included, and which entries. The price for the inside of Khufu’s pyramid does not appear on the official page we consulted: we do not give it; check it at the ticket office.
| Ticket | Foreign adult | Student |
|---|---|---|
| Plateau access (Giza Plateau) | 700 EGP | 350 EGP |
| Inside the pyramids, Meresankh III, workers’ cemetery | Separate tickets | Separate tickets |
| Vehicle (car/taxi) | 25 EGP | — |
Opening hours
The official page says 8 am–4 pm every day. Older ministry schedules mentioned other hours: rely on the up-to-date page and check the day before. The site does not state a closing day.
Best time to visit: heat and sunrise
The plateau is desert and has no shade. According to the 1991–2020 normals for Cairo airport (Egyptian Meteorological Authority, WMO), repeated on our Cairo page, maximum temperatures exceed 33 °C (91 °F) from June to September. The table cross-references these normals with sunrise and sunset times on the plateau on the 15th of each month (Destination de Voyage calculation) and the 4 pm closing.
| Month | Max °C (°F) | Sunrise (15th) | Sunset (15th) | Day length | Our reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.9 (66) | 6:52 am | 5:17 pm | 10 h 26 min | ✅ Comfortable visit |
| February | 20.5 (69) | 6:35 am | 5:43 pm | 11 h 08 min | ✅ Comfortable visit |
| March | 23.8 (75) | 6:05 am | 6:03 pm | 11 h 58 min | ✅ Comfortable visit |
| April | 28.1 (83) | 5:29 am | 6:22 pm | 12 h 53 min | ⚠️ Arrive at opening |
| May | 32.2 (90) | 6:02 am | 7:41 pm | 13 h 39 min | ⚠️ Arrive at opening |
| June | 34.6 (94) | 5:54 am | 7:57 pm | 14 h 04 min | ❌ Strong heat: 8 am, water, hat |
| July | 35.0 (95) | 6:04 am | 7:58 pm | 13 h 54 min | ❌ Strong heat: 8 am, water, hat |
| August | 34.9 (95) | 6:22 am | 7:36 pm | 13 h 14 min | ❌ Strong heat: 8 am, water, hat |
| September | 33.4 (92) | 6:39 am | 7:01 pm | 12 h 22 min | ❌ Strong heat: 8 am, water, hat |
| October | 30.0 (86) | 6:57 am | 6:25 pm | 11 h 28 min | ⚠️ Arrive at opening |
| November | 24.9 (77) | 6:20 am | 4:59 pm | 10 h 39 min | ✅ Comfortable visit |
| December | 20.5 (69) | 6:43 am | 4:57 pm | 10 h 14 min | ✅ Comfortable visit |
How to read it: from October to April, the visit is most comfortable; in winter, sunset around 5 pm leaves little margin after the 4 pm closing. To choose your dates, see also the best time to visit Egypt. The ministry does not publish daily attendance: we give none.
Pyramids + Grand Egyptian Museum in one day
- 8 am: plateau at opening (Great Pyramid, panorama, Sphinx), before the heat.
- Late morning: lunch.
- Afternoon: Grand Egyptian Museum, next to the plateau, for at least half a day (tickets on its official site; check hours).
- Summer alternative: GEM during the hot hours, plateau the next day at opening.
What to see on the plateau
- Pyramid of Khufu: the largest; interior with a separate ticket.
- Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure: separate tickets for the interior.
- The Sphinx: below, near the Valley Temple.
- Tomb of Meresankh III and workers’ cemetery: separate tickets.
- Panorama: an overall viewpoint of the three pyramids from the plateau.
Getting there
The plateau is about 20 km (12 mi) from central Cairo. Our Cairo guide recommends ride-hailing taxis (Uber, Careem) or a driver; the UK FCDO advises not to drive outside main cities and resorts at night (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026, read 26 October 2026). For a longer trip, see our page on Nile cruises.
Accessibility
The ministry does not publish accessibility information for wheelchair users on the plateau page we consulted. The ground is sandy and uneven; the inside of the pyramids is reached through narrow, steep passages. Ask on site before buying an interior ticket.
Checklist before you go
- Ticket: bring a bank card (machines announced by the ministry) and your student card if you have one.
- Budget: the inside of the pyramids and some tombs cost extra on top of plateau access.
- Hours: arrive at 8 am, leave before 4 pm.
- Water, hat, sunscreen, closed shoes: the ground is sandy and shadeless.
- Transport: ride-hailing or a booked driver, price agreed in advance.
- Visa and entry: see entry requirements for Egypt before you leave.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the plateau ticket gives access to the inside of the pyramids: they are separate tickets.
- Arriving in the middle of the day in summer: average maximum above 33 °C (91 °F) from June to September.
- Planning to end your visit at sunset in winter: closing is at 4 pm.
- Accepting a service (camel, guide, photo) without agreeing the price first: advice from our Cairo guide.
- Driving yourself at night outside the city: the UK FCDO advises against it outside main cities and resorts.
What to see nearby
The Grand Egyptian Museum, next door, then Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur, about 30 km (19 mi) to the south: all covered in our guide to things to do in Cairo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Giza pyramids?
For a foreign visitor, plateau access costs 700 EGP (350 EGP for students), recorded on 15 October 2026 on the ministry’s website; the inside of the pyramids costs extra.
Can you go inside the pyramids?
Yes, with a separate ticket for the Great Pyramid, Khafre or Menkaure, not included in plateau access.
What are the Giza pyramids’ opening hours?
8 am–4 pm every day according to the official page consulted on 15 October 2026.
When should you visit the Giza pyramids?
From October to April for the heat; at opening time all year. From June to September, the average maximum exceeds 33 °C (91 °F).
Are the Giza pyramids safe to visit?
The UK FCDO says terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt, including in places visited by foreign nationals, and advises vigilance in crowds (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026); the U.S. State Department advises staying alert throughout the country (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025). Check the latest advice before you go.
Our sources
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (egymonuments.gov.eg), « Giza Plateau » page: hours and prices, consulted on 15 October 2026
- UK FCDO, Egypt travel advice (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026), consulted on 26 October 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Egypt travel advisory (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), consulted on 26 October 2026
- Climate normals: Egyptian Meteorological Authority, 1991–2020, Cairo airport (WMO/NOAA), see our Cairo page
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm (Global Monitoring Laboratory), IANA time zones, applied by Destination de Voyage to the site’s coordinates (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.