Visiting The Pyramids: 5 Essential Tips You Need To Know

The Pyramids of Giza are Egypt’s most iconic tourist attraction – a wonder of the ancient world that will leave you awestruck (no matter how many times you see them).

But when I first visited the pyramids over a decade ago (on my first trip to Egypt), it all felt very rushed and stressful. I mostly remember the humidity and the aggressive vendors.

And unfortunately the pyramids have a bad reputation online for vendor that just won’t leave you alone, tourist scams and dodgy camel ride salesmen.

So how do you avoid the hassle and make your trip to the pyramids as magical and fascinating as it should be?

I’m a travel planner living for over a decade in Egypt and I’ve visited the pyramids dozens of times. And I’ve discovered how to really enjoy this bucket list destination – a lot more than I did on my first trip to Egypt!

So here’s my ultimate local’s guide to the Giza Pyramids.

It unpacks this chaotic destination and gives you all the tips to enjoying the pyramids without the overwhelm, the scams and the pitfalls.

It’s everything I wish I knew when I first visited Giza:

1. Don’t expect a desert

The pyramids are just as impressive in real life as they are in photos. I’ve seen them many times, but they still amaze me.

But they’re also not like what you probably expect.

Photos on social media often show the pyramids rising up from stretches of windblown sand.

In reality, the pyramids are in the middle of a huge metropolis. Giza is – after all – Egypt’s third-largest city after Cairo and Alexandria.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get a strategically cropped photo that looks like something out of Indiana Jones.

But be prepared for traffic jams, views of apartment blocks rising over the plateau, and streets packed with “papyrus museums.”

The sand surrounding the three pyramids isn’t much larger than an American parking lot.

And if you’re using the entrance facing the Sphinx, you can stand at the ticket booth and spot the Pizza Hut across the street (which I actually really recommend).

The restaurants, colorful camels and souvenir stands can feel like an amusement park.

2. Give yourself time

To get the real spirit of the pyramids, you’ll need to spend more time in Giza.

Take at least a few hours inside the complex to walk around, sit down and have a drink and enjoy the view.

Because if you linger for awhile your experience of the pyramids will change. When you first see them it’s all about the wow factor. And then you wonder if you paid too much for those postcards or where to go for the best photo op.

But if you stay awhile, your head clears and you begin to ponder what the strange, massive structures really mean.

3. Visit the Mena House

 

 

If you have more than a few hours, stay longer for dinner or coffee with a view at the iconic Mena House.

This stunning hotel was built in 1869 for the Khedive and it’s worth seeing on its own.

Spend the night at the Mena House and you’ll get pyramid views right out your balcony. Enjoy the pyramids over breakfast. And at night, sip beer at the hotel’s 139 Lounge Bar with views of the illuminated pyramids.

You’ll see them everywhere and they’ll grow all too familiar. At times stunning and luminous. At other times towering and oppressive reminders of the king’s supremacy over the masses. You can’t quite get them out of your line of vision and their enormity will hit you for an experience you just can’t get during a 2-hour tour.

4. Spend the night in Giza

Spend the night at a nearby Airbnb or hotel. There are many bargain-priced hostels and rooms to let with incredible views of the pyramids that will leave you breathless.

A view of the pyramids is, in my mind, the most incredible sight you can get in Cairo. And many of the rooms in Giza are a fraction of the price you’d pay in Zamalek or downtown.

5. And about that Pizza Hut…

It’s touristy and people love to philosophize about how a Pizza Hut this close to the pyramids means the commercialization of an ancient culture.

But you know what, it has great air conditioning. And there’s also good food with clearly marked prices.

Just go and enjoy. It’s miles better than a bargain buffet catered to tourists. And the views really are spectacular – you can gaze head-on at the Sphinx while you munch your thin crust.

Perfect Cairo one-day itinerary

Cairo is a huge city with lots of traffic jams. A lot of online one-day itineraries don’t take this reality into account.

You’re not going to pack in a half dozen attractions across the city – that will only leave you exhausted.

But with a streamlined itinerary and some good planning, you can experience the best of Cairo in a single day.

Read The Perfect 1 Day Cairo Itinerary (A Local’s Guide!) for my ultimate guide.

Best things to do in Cairo

Pyramids, mummies, souqs, museums. There’s a lot to do in Cairo. And planning your perfect itinerary can quickly get overwhelming.

Where do you even start? And what’s worth visiting and what are the overrated attractions to avoid?

Read 25 Best Things To Do In Cairo (A Local’s Guide) for my ultimate guide.

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