Giza: Pyramids, Sphinx and History

Giza is more than the image of its three great pyramids. Temples, cemeteries and a workers’ settlement add further dimensions to the site’s history. The contrasts between monumental royal tombs, finely crafted wall reliefs and traces of life around the pyramids offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Pyramids and Special Finds

The Great Pyramid is the tomb of King Khufu and the oldest and largest of the three great pyramids of Giza. In the wider Giza travel area, the three pyramids were built for Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. The Pyramid of Khufu is also considered the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. The Pyramid of Menkaure offers a different comparison in scale: it is the smallest of the three great pyramids.

Finds at the monuments are also part of the plateau’s history. Two large boats were discovered in pits on the south side of the Great Pyramid. They draw attention to further archaeological evidence at the site, alongside the structure itself.

Sphinx, Temples and Cemeteries

The Great Sphinx of Giza was carved directly from the bedrock during the 4th Dynasty. It and the Sphinx Temple are located right beside Khafre’s Valley Temple. This is one of the best-preserved temples of the Old Kingdom. Their close proximity links the Sphinx to a specific part of the Khafre complex.

The East and West Cemeteries contain tombs of members of the royal family and high-ranking nobles. In the wider Giza travel area, most tombs in the East Cemetery were intended for the pharaohs’ closest relatives. The West Cemetery was reserved for high-ranking nobles, including Hemiunu. The Giza Plateau also includes pyramids of queens.

The mastaba of Queen Meresankh III offers a special combination of location and funerary art. It lies in the shadow of the Great Pyramid. Meresankh III was Khafre’s wife and Khufu’s granddaughter; her mastaba contains the best-preserved wall reliefs in the East Cemetery. Alongside the pyramids, the tombs and their reliefs therefore represent the site’s historical diversity.

The People Behind the Pyramids

Heit al-Ghurab was a settlement where workers who built the pyramid complexes of Khafre and Menkaure lived. This broadens the focus beyond kings and nobles: the workers’ way of life is also part of the history of the Giza Plateau. In the wider Giza travel area, the plateau also includes the workers’ settlement and tombs.

The Wider Giza Travel Area

For geographical context: the pyramids stand on the Giza Plateau in Giza Governorate, on the west bank of the Nile. The history of the wider destination also includes Memphis. During the Old Kingdom, Memphis was Egypt’s principal administrative capital; the Temple of Ptah is located in Mit Rahina.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is near the Giza pyramids, at El Remayah Square on the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road. It is part of the ancient site of Memphis and its necropolis, a World Heritage Site. Check current visitor access in advance. Camel rides and horse-drawn carriage rides around the site are also offered on the Giza Plateau. As availability may change, it is worth checking for your planned visit date.

When looking for a holiday rental in Giza, you can consider whether your trip will focus mainly on the plateau’s monuments and cemeteries or also include the destination’s broader historical themes. This helps you choose a destination that suits the interests of your travel group.

Discover more destinations: Bawīti, Bani Salamah, Mandishah, Madinat as-Sadis min Uktubar, Kerdasah, Bani Majdul, Atati, Al Doqi.

Back to the wider travel overview: Giza.