Egypt is home to some of history’s most impressive architecture, and the Pyramids of Giza are definitely the most famous. At over 4,500 years old, these pyramids hold a certain allure that brings millions of visitors every year. How were the pyramids built? What was it like to live in Ancient Egypt? And what lies inside the pyramids’ walls?
While we’re not the most equipped to answer questions like this, we can help you figure out how to best prepare for visiting Egypt’s most popular attraction. We visited several years ago and learned a lot about how to make your pyramid adventure one to remember.
Here are 10 tips you need to know before visiting the Pyramids of Giza:
This photograph was taken on January 29, 2025, at the Giza Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. The Giza Pyramids are a world – renowned complex of ancient tombs. Constructed during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom in Ancient Egypt, they were built to house the remains of pharaohs. The most prominent ones are the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. These colossal structures were crafted from massive stone blocks, some weighing tons, showcasing the advanced engineering and architectural skills of the ancient Egyptians. In the picture, a Chinese male tourist, around 40 years old, is seen exploring these majestic pyramids. he is photographing the pyramids, creating a memorable moment at this historical site.
(SW Photography via Getty Images)
I know, I know, waking up early on vacation is never fun. But trust us, it’s worth it. This tip applies when visiting most world wonders, but we found it especially applicable when visiting the Pyramids of Giza. Not only does visiting early help you avoid the major tourist crowds and large tour groups, but it also helps you beat that relentless desert heat.
We left our hotel at 6:30 a.m. and met our tour guide at the pyramids before 7:00 a.m. Instead of visiting spots like the Great Pyramid first, we headed straight to some of the smaller pyramids instead. And we got these spots almost completely to ourselves! Of course, at a spot as famous as this, running into some crowds is completely unavoidable, but showing up early makes the experience as crowd-free as possible.
Market and gift shop atThe pyramid of Chephren is one of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids of Giza that still has cladding at the top. Famous travel destination, sunny day in a touristic area in Cairo, Egypt. Geometric shape, contrast light and shadow in the desert.
(Brigitte Theriault via Getty Images)
You’re going to be hassled a lot during your visit to the pyramids. There’s really no way around that. The moment you arrive on site, you’ll be met with vendors everywhere selling everything from camel rides to guidebooks.
Some (but definitely not all) of the vendors can be a bit aggressive, and if you’re not prepared for that, it could put a damper on your experience. We just advise that you be prepared for it, have a bit of patience, and remember that they’re people too. Selling their products is how they feed their families.
This close-up image shows a hand holding a fanned-out stack of Egyptian two hundred pound banknotes, issued by the Central Bank of Egypt. Prominently displayed on the front of each note is an image of the Seated Scribe, an iconic figure from ancient Egyptian art, symbolizing knowledge and history. The currency features intricate Arabic calligraphy and detailed patterns, reflecting Egypt’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. The photo effectively captures a sense of economic value and local identity, making it a powerful visual for topics related to finance, inflation, or the Egyptian economy.
(Noppawat Tom Charoensinphon via Getty Images)
Nothing comes free at the pyramids. Like most tourist spots in Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza have a huge tipping culture. A local may offer to take your picture or let you pet their camel, but this offer is almost never free. Most of them will expect a small tip in exchange. Around the complex, you’ll find plenty of signs marking a location as “no photography or filming”. But if you’re willing to slip the guard a few bucks, they may let that rule slide. So, in all of these cases, it’s important to bring lots of small bills reserved for tipping.
This one is less of a tip and more of an explanation. When you go to the pyramids, you pay one fee to go inside the complex and another to actually go inside the Great Pyramid. Many people just buy tickets for the complex, but is it worth it to pay for the Great Pyramid as well?
Stairway descent into dark home basement. Eerie ancient staircase like steps into tomb ruins, crypt or catacombs. Stone cut crumbling brickwork walls. Inside spooky abandoned cellar or archaeology dig site remains. Shadows cast from light in darkness. Derelict dungeon setting underground is gloomy hallway leading up to stairs. Mysterious lost brickwork passageway feels ghostly and haunted hidden beneath house. Old empty tunnel
(Mike Beverley via Getty Images)
Well, if you’re claustrophobic, probably not. To get to the pyramid’s main tomb, you have to walk through a series of tunnels that are so short, you won’t be able to stand up straight. I thought it was pretty epic, but it might not be everyone’s thing. The tomb itself is nothing spectacular, just a big square room with a coffin. In my opinion, the appeal of going inside is more the adventure of wandering through a 4,000 tomb than any sight you may see. So, the decision of whether or not to pay extra to enter the Great Pyramid is really up to personal preference.
We love exploring places on our own, but in our opinion, the Pyramids of Giza are the one place you need to get a guide. Our guide, Mustafa, made our experience so incredible, it was absolutely worth the extra cost for a few reasons.
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Nate with our guide, Mustafa
(Kara and Nate)
The first reason is that you don’t get approached nearly as much when you’re walking around with a local. The vendors will know that your tour guide won’t let you get talked into paying too high a price for a camel ride or souvenir, so they’ll leave you alone for the most part.
The second is that your guide will be able to teach you so much about the pyramids. During our tour, Mustafa taught us all kinds of things that we never would’ve known if we’d gone on our own. Like, did you know, there are enough stones in the pyramids that you could build a 10-foot-tall 1-foot-thick wall around the entirety of France? Pretty incredible!
Egypt is a Muslim country, so you’ll be expected to dress modestly during your visit. This can be daunting when you’re visiting somewhere so hot. We’d recommend packing lots of light, airy clothes made of fabrics like linen and cotton to keep cool. And remember to bring hats and lots of sunscreen. There is no shade in the desert!
Bedouins riding on camels, pyramids on the background, Giza, Egypt.
(hadynyah via Getty Images)
When you enter the complex, one thing the vendors will try to sell you is transportation. They’ll tell you it’s too far to walk between pyramids, so you need to buy their camel ride or car ride. We’re here to tell you that this claim is false. It is totally possible to walk between all the complex’s main attractions. In fact, we had the option to ride in a car, but we chose to walk because it gave us time to soak in all the little pieces of history scattered everywhere you look.
The only thing we’ll say is that if you visit in the middle of the day, the heat can make walking around not so fun. In those cases, it might be worth it to pay extra for the car ride.
Real talk: Instagram is very rarely reality. It’s very important to educate yourself on what a tourist attraction is like before you visit, so you’re not disappointed. Seeing the Pyramids of Giza was one of the coolest things we’d ever seen, but if we hadn’t been prepared for the heat and vendors, our experience might have been a less happy one.
September 2021 – Giza, Egypt – The Great Pyramids next to Cairo city
(StockByM via Getty Images)
But one thing we weren’t prepared for is that the pyramids aren’t out in the middle of the desert all by themselves. They’re actually right on the edge of the massive city of Giza. Seriously, the famous sphinx stares right at a Pizza Hut every day.
Digital SLR camera equipped with a lens and petal-shaped lens hood. In the background, two additional lenses and lens filters can be seen.
(francisco jose sanchez via Getty Images)
This tip won’t apply to everyone, but if you’re planning to bring professional-looking camera equipment, expect to pay extra to bring it in. There doesn’t seem to be any official rules on what cameras are or are not allowed in without an extra fee. A good rule of thumb is that the fees usually apply to DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
The Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser stands in the Saqqara necropolis near ancient Memphis in Egypt. Built during the Third Dynasty around 2670 BC by Imhotep.
(TAKAYUKI UEDA via Getty Images)
We kind of feel like the Pyramids of Giza are the only thing in Egypt that people talk about, but there’s so much more to see. Less than an hour from Giza is Saqqara, which is the oldest pyramid in the world. It’s kind of a crumbling mess, but it’s so cool to touch the oldest stone structure in history. There are several tombs you can visit, filled with hieroglyphics that still have their original paint. That literally blew our minds! We did the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara in one day, with lunch in between.
Hopefully, after reading this, you feel a little more prepared to tackle your dream trip to Egypt. To see all our tips for visiting the Pyramids of Giza, check out the video below.