GIZA, Egypt

OVERVIEW OF GIZA Giza is home to one of the most awe enspiring landmarks in the world, the 'Great Pyramid'. The last remaining of the seven wonders of the world, the great pyramid and other pyramids of Giza are a must see for tourists in Egypt. Aside from the pyramids, Giza also is home to the 'Great Sphinx', whilst looking it's age at 6000 years old, it is still another of Giza's fantastic tourist attractions and is only a short walk away from the pyramids. Contrary to the common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), not all three Great Pyramids , is on top of the list of Wonders. The monument was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he dies. The tradition of pyramid building started in Ancient Egypt as a sophistication of the idea of a mastaba or "platform" covering the royal tomb. Later, several stacked mastabas were used. Early pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid of King Zoser (Djoser) at Saqqara by the famous Egyptian architect, Imhotep, illustrate this connection. The great pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20 year period. The site was first prepared, and blocks of stone were transported and placed. An outer casing (which disappeared over the years) was then used to smooth the surface. Although it is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. This ramp, coated with mud and water, eased the displacement of the blocks which were pushed (or pulled) into place. A second theory suggests that the blocks were placed using long levers with a short angled foot. Those visiting the pyramids have an option for an extra fee of being taken inside the pyramids. Photography and camcorders are strictly forbidden but the memory snap shots that will be gained from this experience will last you forever. However, it is important to note that those who suffer from chlostrophobic environments and heat exhaustion need to think twice as each pyramid takes you deep into the ground where a stuffy atmosphere and small chambers will be upon you. Camel ride touts, nik-nak souvenirs, and beggars are in abundance in this area and unfortunately the downside to the Giza experience is a distinct lack of law that controls the number of salesmen in the area and lack of respect that these entrepreneurs show when trying to sell their gifts to tourists. Try and put these out of your mind and Giza will leave you with a fantastic day trip experience. THINGS TO DO IN GIZA The Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren) - slightly smaller than the Great Pyramid, though appearing from some angles to appear larger owing to a better position on the desert plateau The Pyramid of Menkaure (Mycerinus) - the smallest of the Giza Pyramids at 62 m (203 ft) high (originally 66.5 m) The Sphinx and the Temple of the Sphinx - the colossal, recumbent human-headed lion was conceived of by the ancient Egyptians as the sun god Re-Horakhty - "Horus of the horizon". The Egyptians call it Abu el-Hol , the "Father of Terror", and even the Greek name Sphinx is the less than pleasant "Strangler". 45 meters long, 22 meters wide, and carved from a single giant block of sandstone, the Sphinx is considerably smaller than the Pyramids around it. The missing nose is blamed on target practice by bored troops, commonly blamed variously on British soldiers in World War I or Napoleon's troops in 1798, but 18th-century drawings showing the nose already missing, pointing the finger towards the occupying Turks. Various Queens' Pyramids and Nobles' Tombs , located in regimented cemeteries surrounding the royal pyramids. Consider attending the nightly Sound and Light Show ( Son-et-Lumière ) - a bit kitsch, but a worthwhile evening activity. Avoid succumbing to the temptation of taking a camel ride around the Pyramids - not only is it a bit naff, but the practice is noisy, smelly and overrated - the camel drivers are also frequent targets for accusations of harrassment and petty crime. Most also do one way trips (without telling you) on a camel, after leaving you half a mile into the desert, you're either expected to either walk back or book a return journey.

Right Now · June 2026

Where to Eat

139 Pavilion, Marriott Mena House. The terrace here may be the most consequential table in Egypt: you eat Egyptian and continental fare at linen-covered tables while the Great Pyramid fills the frame behind your water glass. The Koshary is a reliable order; so is anything from the egg station at breakfast.

Moghul Room, Marriott Mena House. Tucked within the same 19th-century palace grounds, this long-running Indian kitchen is among the most-recommended on-property options at Mena House, drawing praise for its curries and the particular pleasure of cocktails in the adjacent lounge with a pianist in attendance. Reserve well in advance.

9 Pyramids Lounge. Perched on the Giza plateau itself, this restaurant delivers Egyptian buffet fare alongside what is arguably the most unobstructed nine-pyramid panorama available from a dining chair. Tour groups regularly stop here at lunch; independent travelers do better arriving at dusk, when the light on the limestone turns theatrical.

Andrea New Giza. An institution that has not adjusted its formula in decades — deliberately. The menu is grilled chicken, fresh-baked baladi bread, mezze, and little else, prepared the same way it has been since the restaurant opened. Locals treat it as a Sunday ritual; the wood-fired smoke and the sound of rotating spits greet you from the car park.

El Dar Darak. A straightforward, well-regarded stop near the pyramid complex that regulars seek out after a morning on the plateau. Traditional Egyptian plates — grilled meats, ful, local salads — arrive efficiently and without pretension. Worth a stop after your visit to the site.

After Dark

Royal Night Club. On Gamal Abd El-Nasser Road, this is among the more established club venues operating in the Giza corridor — a Bars & Clubs listing with consistent repeat patronage and a dance floor that draws a mixed local and visitor crowd late into the night.

Night Club Luxury. Billed as a luxurious nightlife experience in the heart of Giza with an upscale interior and live music running through the evening. The atmosphere leans toward dressed-up and celebratory; arrive no earlier than 11 p.m. for the room to feel right.

Marrakesh Night Club. A dance-oriented venue that registers consistently across Giza's nightlife listings. The staff, by most accounts, is attentive, and the room — while not understated — delivers the energy a night out near the pyramids seems to demand.

Out of Town

Interior Pyramid Access and Camel Ride, Giza Plateau. The combination of entering one or two of the burial chambers and following up with a camel traverse across the desert sand in view of all nine structures is the anchor experience of any Giza itinerary. The interior passages are low, warm, and genuinely vertiginous; the camel circuit provides the wide-angle perspective the plateau photographs require. Book a licensed private guide to navigate both without the noise of a group tour.

ATV Quad Bike, Giza Desert. Operators run one-hour circuits through the golden sand beyond the pyramid fence line, offering a perspective of the monuments that no pavement-bound vantage can replicate. Sunrise and sunset slots disappear fastest; the dunes soften the ride considerably, which reviewers seem to find more enjoyable than alarming.

Saqqara Necropolis and Dahshur Day Trip. An hour south of Giza, Saqqara contains the Step Pyramid of Djoser — the architectural ancestor of everything on the Giza plateau — along with mastaba tombs whose carved reliefs remain remarkably intact. Pair it with a stop at Dahshur's Bent Pyramid, where the geometry visibly records an ancient engineering correction mid-build. Considerably quieter than Giza and, for those inclined toward depth over spectacle, more rewarding.

On the Calendar

Sound & Light Show, Giza Pyramids — Nightly, ongoing through summer. Every evening after sunset, the Sphinx narrates five millennia of pharaonic history while laser and projection technology animate the faces of the three great pyramids. The show runs approximately 55 minutes and is presented in multiple languages on a rotating schedule. Front-row seating is worth the marginal premium for an unobstructed sightline to the illuminated Sphinx. Reserve in advance through your hotel concierge or a licensed operator.

Grand Egyptian Museum — Open continuously. The GEM, adjacent to the Giza plateau, remains one of the most significant cultural openings in recent memory: the world's largest archaeological museum, housing more than 100,000 artifacts including the complete Tutankhamun collection relocated from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. June's relative quiet (pre-peak European summer) makes this the better window to move through the Tutankhamun galleries without contention. Book timed entry tickets online — walk-up availability at the gate has been unreliable.