See the two sights every first-timer in Cairo asks about in one easy day: the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx in the morning, then the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir in the afternoon. Your guide and driver pick you up from your hotel in Cairo or Giza, and entry tickets and lunch are already paid.
Mornings at Giza are cooler and less crowded, so the day starts at the pyramids, and the museum visit focuses on the highlights so you leave with the story, not just the photos.
Your driver and guide meet you at your hotel or address in Cairo or Giza.
Walk around the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, then stop at the panoramic viewpoint for the classic photo of all three.
See the Sphinx up close from the Valley Temple of Khafre, where your guide explains how and why it was carved.
A sit-down lunch of Egyptian dishes, included in the price.
Cairo’s historic museum of ancient Egypt, opened in 1902, with Old Kingdom statues, jewellery, coffins and everyday objects.
We drive you back to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Tap a number to see the stop. The line shows the order of the day.
This day covers the oldest and the most famous sights in Egypt in the right order: the pyramids while the morning is still cool, then the museum, where the objects found in tombs like these are kept. Here is what you will see, what is worth knowing before you go, and how to get the most out of the day.
The Giza Plateau holds three main pyramids, built for three kings of the 4th Dynasty around 4,500 years ago. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the largest. It was about 146 metres tall when it was finished, held the record as the tallest building on earth for nearly 4,000 years, and is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.
The Pyramid of Khafre, Khufu’s son, looks taller in photos because it stands on higher ground, and it still has some of its original smooth casing stones near the top. The Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three, with three small queens’ pyramids beside it. Your guide drives you to the panoramic viewpoint on the desert side of the plateau, where all of them line up in one frame: the classic photo of Giza.
The Sphinx was carved out of the bedrock of the plateau, with the body of a lion and the head of a king, most likely Khafre. It is about 73 metres long and 20 metres high. You reach it through Khafre’s Valley Temple, built from huge granite blocks, where the king’s body is thought to have been prepared before burial. Stand at the terrace in front of the Sphinx for the view of its face with Khafre’s pyramid behind.
Going inside is an extra ticket, bought at the gate. The passage to the King’s Chamber is steep, narrow and hot, and you climb part of it bent over, so skip it if you have knee or back problems or don’t like tight spaces. The chamber itself is a plain granite room with the empty sarcophagus. Most visitors go in for the experience rather than the view. If you want to try a smaller and quieter one, ask your guide about the other pyramids that are open on the day.
The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square opened in 1902 and is still one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian art in the world. Its rooms are packed in the old style, so a guide makes a big difference: in about two hours you focus on the pieces that tell the story of the pharaohs you saw in the morning.
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) sits about 2 km from the pyramids and now holds the Tutankhamun treasures, including the golden mask, and Khufu’s solar boat. The royal mummies are at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The museum in Tahrir is calmer, less expensive and full of pieces you won’t see anywhere else, which is why it fits this tour.
If Tutankhamun is the main reason for your trip, message us on WhatsApp and we will arrange the Giza Pyramids with the Grand Egyptian Museum instead.
The tour runs every day. From October to April the days are mild and the plateau is pleasant until early afternoon. From May to September it gets very hot by midday, which is why we visit the pyramids first and spend the hottest hours inside the museum. Fridays, Saturdays and Egyptian holidays are busier with local visitors, so a weekday morning is the quietest time.
It is a good first day in Cairo for first-time visitors, couples, families with children and solo travellers who want a guide and transport sorted. Walking is moderate, mostly on sand and uneven ground at Giza and on flat floors at the museum. If you have more time, add Saqqara and the Step Pyramid or Islamic Cairo on another day, and read our advice for first-time travellers in Egypt.
Price per person in US dollars. Car and driver is the vehicle only; each option adds more. For 7 or more people, ask us on WhatsApp for a group price.
| 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 6 people | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car and driver | $60 | $30 | $20 | $15 |
| Car and guide | $115 | $60 | $40 | $25 |
| Car, guide and tickets | $150 | $90 | $75 | $60 |
| All inclusive: guide, tickets, lunch and Wi-Fi | $165 | $105 | $85 | $75 |
Prices start from $30 per person for 2 people with a car and driver. With a guide, entry tickets, lunch and Wi-Fi it is $105 per person. See the full price table on this page.
From your hotel or any address in Cairo or Giza. Send us the address when you book.
Yes. The inside ticket is not included; you buy it at the gate on the day and your guide will show you where.
Not on this tour. The mask and most of the Tutankhamun treasures are now at the Grand Egyptian Museum. Ask us about a Giza Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum day instead.
About 8 hours, depending on traffic in Cairo.
The tour runs every day with a guide and an air-conditioned car. Message us on WhatsApp if you want a private tour for your group only.
Local guides and hotel pickup on every tour.
