Nuts and Bolts: Travel Tips for Visiting Giza

Rand Blimes
Jun 4
9 min read

The Great Pyramid under a pale blue sky, with brick buildings and satellite dishes in the foreground, creating a tranquil urban-distant mood. — The view from my hotel room in Giza. Some people are surprised to find out how close the pyramids of Giza are to the city. As you can see in this image, the city of Giza comes right to the edge of the necropolis

Nuts and Bolts posts give you the practical information you need, but without stripping away the humor, mishaps, and little victories that make real travel what it is. These aren’t just guides. They’re how we actually did it—mistakes, triumphs, and all.

This page has some travel tips for visiting Giza to aid in planning your own trip. I travel mainly with my wife, and we love to simply wander and eat when we explore a new place. However, we were in Giza to see pyramids and tombs. We were in Giza in July, 2023 for four days. If your trip to Giza is significantly longer/shorter/with a different focus, you may have a very different experience.

My eyes strained at the horizon. Searching. Seeking. Scanning.

I was in the passenger seat of our Uber, riding from Alexandria to Giza. We were close enough to hit traffic. I was close. So close. Close to pyramids.

I’m not even sure how it happened. It’s not like we rounded a bend and there they were. One moment, nothing. And then—there. Obscured by haze, softened by smog, but unmistakable. Three triangles rising out of the urban clutter.

The pyramids of Giza.

After my first time walking along the Nile, I should have known I’d have a strong reaction. I’ve been obsessed with ancient Egypt for most of my life. The pyramids were the first place I remember truly wanting to visit. That desire—those beautiful piles of impossibly ancient stone—was what launched my travel lust in the first place.

My wife asked me a question.

I didn’t answer. I literally couldn’t. Let me explain something about me: I am very rarely at a loss for words. I speak for a living. I have the gift of gab. In fact, I often joke that this blog should be called Too Long Didn’t Read Travels.

But I couldn’t talk. I choked up.

My wife reached out and put a hand on my shoulder, concern on her face. She hadn’t noticed the pyramids yet and had no idea what had come over me. She thought maybe I’d gotten a message with bad news from home.

Oops.

The emotions only grew as we checked into our hotel and laid down to rest before heading out. But I couldn’t rest. Because as I lay there in bed, I could look out the window and see them—the pyramids. Still there. Waiting. A view that promised wonder, adventure, and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

Close-up of a pyramid's stone surface against a sky with a warm, orange hue. The texture and shadows emphasize the pyramid's form.

Travel Tips for Visiting Giza: Weather

When it comes to visiting Giza, the desert climate should shape your plans just as much as your bucket list does. Summers (May through September) are hot. Blisteringly hot. The kind of heat that makes the rocks radiate, the air shimmer, and your will to climb stairs shrink with every step. Daily highs regularly top 100°F (38°C), and shade is a rare luxury out on the plateau. If you're visiting in summer, aim for early morning entries, pack lots of water, and don’t skimp on the sunscreen or the wide-brimmed hat.

The best time to visit is late fall through early spring, roughly October through April. During these months, the weather is warm but manageable, with cooler evenings and occasional breezes that almost feel like nature's apology for July. November through February are the most popular months thanks to the pleasant daytime temperatures, but that means bigger crowds, especially around the holiday season.

Rain is rare in Giza—so rare you might forget what clouds look like. But the desert haze is real. Even on "clear" days, visibility can be reduced, and the sunlight can be harsh. That early morning light? It's not just better for photos—it’s your golden window before the glare and heat settle in for the day.

Getting to Giza

Let’s clear something up right away: Giza is not just a quick hop from downtown Cairo. On the map, the two might look cozily adjacent—just across the river, barely a few dozen kilometers. But in practice, getting to Giza from Cairo can feel like a slow-motion obstacle course of Cairo’s infamous traffic, random detours, and sudden swerves from tuk-tuks, donkey carts, and mopeds carrying pharaoh-sized mattresses.

Woman in a sun hat and sunglasses smiles in front of the pyramids under a clear sky, capturing a warm, sunny day in the desert.

Depending on where you’re staying in Cairo, it can take an hour or more to reach the Giza Plateau—even longer during peak hours. And that's just one way. So while it’s possible to visit Giza as a day trip from Cairo, we wouldn’t recommend it unless you have no other choice.

If the pyramids are a centerpiece of your trip (and honestly, how could they not be?), do yourself a favor and stay in Giza itself. There are hotels and apartment rentals within walking distance—or even within sight—of the pyramids. Waking up to a sunrise over the Great Pyramid is an experience you can’t replicate from a taxi on the Ring Road.

In short: getting to Giza takes time. Don’t treat it like a side quest. It deserves its own chapter.

Close-up of the Sphinx's weathered stone face against a textured stone wall. The sunlight highlights its ancient, serene expression.

Getting Around Giza

Giza isn’t just pyramids—it’s a lively urban district with a surprising number of hotels, restaurants, juice shops, and markets all packed into the neighborhoods just east of the Giza Plateau. If you stay on that side (and you should), you’ll be within easy walking distance of most of what you’ll need: dinner, bottled water, and even rooftop views of the pyramids. There’s something surreal about grabbing a shawarma wrap or a falafel sandwich while watching the sun set behind one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

But when it comes to actually visiting the pyramids, walking won't cut it. The Giza necropolis is far too large to explore on foot alone, especially if you want to see multiple pyramids, viewpoints, temples, and the Sphinx in one visit. You’ll need to hire a driver—either for the day or for a few hours. This can usually be arranged easily through your hotel or through booking platforms like Get Your Guide.

If you’re planning to visit other pyramid sites to the south (Saqqara, Dashur, Memphis), you’ll also need to hire a car and driver. Again, your hotel can help arrange this—or you can line up transportation yourself online ahead of time.

You’ll likely be offered rides on horses or horse-drawn carriages within the site. While it might sound picturesque, the reality is often troubling—many of the animals are poorly treated, and there’s little oversight. I’d recommend skipping that part of the “authentic experience.”

Camel rides are also everywhere. The moment you enter the site, someone will try to sell you one. If you’ve never ridden a camel before, this can be a memorable (if slightly awkward) experience. I had already ridden a camel elsewhere, so I passed—but if it’s your first time, go for it if you want. Just agree on the price up front and keep small bills handy.

For getting around the general area, Uber works fairly well in Giza. It’s usually more convenient than flagging down a taxi, especially if you don’t want to negotiate prices every time you go somewhere. With Uber, a few taps on your phone gets you where you need to go—no haggling, no surprises.

Sleeping in Giza for the Budget Conscious Traveler

Giza offers a surprising range of accommodations—from $10 hostels with shared bathrooms and backpacker vibes to full-blown luxury resorts with spas, fine dining, and sweeping pyramid views. Whether you're a budget-conscious traveler or someone looking to splurge on comfort, you'll find something that fits.

Location is everything here. If your priority is easy access to the pyramids, look for a hotel or apartment east of the Giza Plateau. That area is packed with hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and shops. Many hotels even offer rooftop cafes where you can sip juice or have breakfast with a front-row seat to the Great Pyramid.

Person relaxing on a bed with feet crossed, near a window showing a view of a pyramid. Soft curtains and sunlight create a serene mood. — It is hard to calm down enough to take a nap when you can literally see the pyramids for your bed

We stayed at the Sahara Pyramids Inn, which offers very affordable rooms and a fantastic rooftop view of the pyramids and the nightly light show. We could also see the pyramids from our actual room, which felt a bit surreal.

However—there was a downside. When we asked the hotel staff to arrange a driver for an early morning visit to the pyramids, they insisted the site didn’t open until 9am. We were pretty sure it opened at 7. They told us flat-out we were wrong. After pushing, we convinced them to have the driver come at 8, thinking it would still give us a head start. But nope—the pyramids opened at 7am, and by the time we arrived, the best morning light and lowest crowds were already fading.

To this day, I can’t tell if the staff were incompetent or gaming us somehow, but it left a sour taste. So while the views and pricing were great, I wouldn’t recommend Sahara Pyramids Inn. There are plenty of other well-reviewed options nearby—and if you want the morning light on the pyramids, trust your research.

What to eat in Giza

Let’s get this out of the way first: you should eat at Pizza Hut.

No, seriously.

There’s a Pizza Hut directly across the street from the Pyramids of Giza, and while the food is exactly what you’d expect from a global pizza chain, the experience is anything but ordinary. Walk in under the red sign, place your order downstairs (it may be quiet—you might have to find someone), then head upstairs. And then up again. The rooftop view is what makes this place iconic. You’ll sit down with your pan crust and Pepsi and gaze at the actual Pyramids of Giza—glowing in the warm light of evening.

A woman photographs pyramids at sunset, standing on a rooftop overlooking a cityscape. The sky is orange, and the setting is serene. — The view from our table . . . at Pizza Hut

Stick around after dark for the nightly Sound and Light Show, projected right onto the pyramids themselves. It is, without question, one of the cheesiest spectacles on the planet. The narration hasn’t been updated since the 70s. But from the Pizza Hut roof? It’s oddly enchanting. And hilariously surreal. Travel magic through global capitalism and melted cheese.

Two pyramids at dusk, one glowing orange, the other in shadow. Deep blue sky creates a serene, mystical atmosphere. — The light show from the Pizza Hut roof

Now, once you’ve checked “pyramids and pizza” off your list, go local.

For breakfast, look for something simple and satisfying: fūl (mashed fava beans), tangy pickled vegetables, fresh flatbread, and maybe some olives. This is the traditional Egyptian way to start the day, and it’s hearty, cheap, and full of flavor.

For other meals, you’ve got a few good bets:

Pyramids Restaurant – cozy, welcoming, and offers a decent menu of Egyptian classics.
El Dar Darak – a popular local spot with generous portions and a view of the pyramids if you grab a good seat.
Koshary Hekaya – if you haven’t yet discovered the chaotic delight that is koshary (a mix of lentils, pasta, rice, tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fried onions), this is your chance.

Finally, for the high-rollers or the curious, there’s Khufu’s, located inside the Giza Plateau. It’s been called one of the best restaurants in Egypt, and its claim to fame is being set within the shadow of the pyramids themselves. We didn’t go—because in our experience, the first rule of good eating is to avoid gimmicks. Unless the gimmick is the reason you’re there (hello again, Pizza Hut). But if you're feeling lucky or want a truly unique dining experience, Khufu’s might just be worth a try.

Black and white image of a large pyramid under a clear sky. The pyramid's textured stones are highlighted, creating a timeless, majestic feel.

What To Do in Giza

You’ll want at least two full days in Giza. On day one, take a day trip south to explore Saqqara, Dahshur, and Memphis—the “older-than-old” pyramid sites that show the evolution of pyramid construction. On day two, dedicate yourself fully to the Giza Necropolis. That means slow walks, iconic views, and time to take in the scale of what you’re seeing.

Could you cram it all into one whirlwind day? Sure. If you hate yourself. But please don’t. You deserve better than that.

(For more details, check out our full post on pyramid hopping through Giza, Saqqara, and Dahshur.)

Camel resting on sandy desert foreground with distant pyramid in hazy background. Sunlit landscape with muted earth tones. Silent and serene. — The Red Pyramid, Dahshur

Giza isn’t just a place—it’s a moment. A moment when you suddenly see ancient geometry slicing through the haze of the modern world from your Uber. A moment when a slice of Pizza Hut becomes oddly profound under the shadow of the pyramids. A moment when dust, wonder, and chaos all converge in the space between a camel ride and a rooftop view. Because travel to Giza has a way of pulling your childhood fascinations into the present tense and dares you to keep up.