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1 city
Province · Cairo and Giza
Giza
The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the pyramids of Saqqara and Dahshur and, in the desert, the Bahariya Oasis.
In the photo: The Bent Pyramid, in the Dahshur field.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Giza
Giza Governorate occupies the west bank of the Nile across from Cairo and stretches southward and into the desert, as far as the Bahariya Oasis. Giza city is part of the Cairo urban area, and the pyramid plateau sits on the edge of the desert where the city ends.
On the Giza plateau are the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, with the smaller queens' pyramids, the valley temples and the Sphinx. They are part of the UNESCO site of Memphis and its Necropolis, which extends from Giza to Dahshur. Next to the plateau is the Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses the Tutankhamun collection and a staircase lined with statues of kings.
To the south, Saqqara has Djoser’s Step Pyramid, considered Egypt’s first major stone monument, as well as tombs with reliefs of daily life. In Dahshur stand the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid of Pharaoh Sneferu, and at Mit Rahina, the site of ancient Memphis, an open-air museum preserves a colossal statue of Ramesses II.
To the west, more than 300 km across the desert, the Bahariya Oasis also belongs to Giza Governorate. Bawiti, the main town, is the starting point for the Black Desert, with hills covered in dark rocks, and for the White Desert, already in the New Valley Governorate. 4x4 excursions usually include hot springs and an overnight in a campsite.
Destinations
2 destinations in Giza
Cities
2 cities in Giza in the guide
Giza
Capital
Giza
City on the west bank of the Nile, opposite Cairo, capital of Giza governorate. On the edge of the desert, southwest of the center, the plateau rises with the three great pyramids and the Sphinx, with the Grand Egyptian Museum beside them. To the south, Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis complete the necropolis inscribed by UNESCO.
Giza
Bawiti
Largest settlement of the Bahariya Oasis, with low houses, palm groves, hot springs and an antiquities museum. It belongs to the Giza governorate and concentrates the operators who take visitors by 4x4 into the desert.
When to go
From October to April the heat is milder on the pyramid plateau, which has little shade; early morning and late afternoon offer softer light. From May to September, daytime highs often exceed 35 °C. For the Bahariya Desert, the season runs from October to April, with cold nights in winter.
Getting there
Sphinx Airport (SPX), west of Giza, is close to the pyramids and handles domestic and some international flights; Cairo International Airport (CAI) is about 45 km from the plateau. From downtown Cairo, the pyramids are roughly 20 km away by taxi, rideshare or a booked tour. To reach Bahariya, the road heads west from Giza, served by buses and private cars with driver.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Giza
How do you get from Cairo to the Giza pyramids?
By taxi, rideshare or a booked tour, the trip from downtown Cairo to the Giza plateau is about 20 km and takes 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. Many tours combine the pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single day.
Can you go inside the Giza pyramids?
Yes. the Great Pyramid of Khufu and other pyramids on the plateau offer interior visits, which involve narrow, low passageways and require a separate ticket from the plateau entry—check the current fee schedule. If you are claustrophobic, consider carefully before entering.
Can you visit Saqqara and Dahshur in the same day?
Yes. Saqqara is about 25 km from the Giza pyramids and Dahshur is another 10 km to the south. A day with a driver allows you to see Djoser’s Pyramid, the Saqqara tombs, Sneferu’s two pyramids at Dahshur and the Ramesses II colossus at Memphis.
Where is the Grand Egyptian Museum located?
On the edge of the Giza plateau, about 2 km from the pyramids. The museum houses the Tutankhamun collection and thousands of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Allow at least half a day for the visit.
Is the Bahariya Oasis in Giza Governorate?
Yes. Giza Governorate extends across the desert to Bahariya, about 370 km from Cairo by road. Bawiti, the oasis town, is the starting point for the Black Desert and the White Desert.