Cairo and Giza: The Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
By Panda Travel Egypt 3 min read
The pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum are a short drive apart. How to see them, with Saqqara and Old Cairo, in two or three days.
The pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum are about two kilometres apart and fit in one day: the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Sphinx in the morning, the museum and Tutankhamun’s treasures in the afternoon. A second day covers the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and Old Cairo.
The pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum sit on the western edge of Cairo, about two kilometres apart. Together they are one day, and with Saqqara and the old city, Cairo and Giza are two or three. Every one of our programmes that visit Giza starts here.
The Giza plateau
The Great Pyramid of Khufu
Built about 4,500 years ago and originally some 146 metres tall, it is the largest of the three. Going inside to the King's Chamber is a separate ticket.
Khafre, Menkaure and the Sphinx
The pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure stand beside it; the Great Sphinx lies below Khafre's causeway. The panorama point south of the plateau shows all of them in one view.
The Grand Egyptian Museum
Built within sight of the pyramids, it holds the treasures of Tutankhamun displayed together, with the colossal statue of Ramesses II in the Grand Hall and the Grand Staircase lined with statues. Allow at least three hours.
Saqqara and Old Cairo
- Saqqara: the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest of the pyramids. See tours that include Saqqara.
- Old Cairo: the Citadel of Salah El-Din, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
A one-day plan: pyramids and museum
- Early morning: the Giza plateau. Arrive at opening time. The Great Pyramid first, then Khafre and Menkaure.
- Mid-morning: the panorama point and the Sphinx. All three pyramids in one view, then down to the Sphinx and the Valley Temple of Khafre.
- Lunch near the plateau.
- Afternoon: the Grand Egyptian Museum. The Grand Hall, the Grand Staircase and the Tutankhamun galleries.
Old Cairo in more detail
- The Citadel of Salah El-Din, on its hill above the city, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali inside it.
- Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church and the old churches and synagogue of the district.
- Khan el-Khalili, the bazaar, best in the late afternoon and evening.
- The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the older museum, still full of treasures.
Practical tips
- Dress: shoulders and knees covered for mosques and churches; women bring a scarf for mosques.
- Traffic: Cairo's traffic is heavy, so group the sights by district rather than crossing the city twice in a day.
- Tickets: the pyramids, the inside of the Great Pyramid and the museum are separate tickets.
How to plan it
- Two to four days in Cairo: Cairo short breaks, such as Discover Cairo Like Never Before.
- With Luxor and the Nile: Pyramids and Nile Escape Program spends its first days here. Read how many days you need in Egypt.
- With Alexandria: Discover Egypt’s Soul: Cairo & Alexandria.
Start at the pyramids at opening time: the plateau is cooler and quieter in the first hours.
Cover: The Great Sphinx and the Pyramid of Khufu, Giza. Photo: kallerna / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plan Discover Cairo Like Never Before
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with the programme day by day, and its price.
Frequently asked
Can you see the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one day?
Yes. They are about two kilometres apart. Start at the pyramids early, before the heat and the crowds, and spend the afternoon in the museum.
Can you go inside the Great Pyramid?
Yes, with a separate ticket. The passage is narrow and steep and leads to the King’s Chamber; it is not for anyone uncomfortable in tight spaces.
How many days do you need in Cairo?
Two or three: one for Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, one for Saqqara and Old Cairo, and a third for the Citadel, Khan el-Khalili and the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square.
Places in this article
Tours that visit Giza
Where to stay
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