Giza is home to the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. The pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx stand on the plateau at the edge of the city, and the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the treasures of Tutankhamun, is right next to them.
Staying in Giza puts you minutes from all of it. Many apartments and guesthouses around the plateau have roof terraces with a direct view of the pyramids, which is hard to beat at sunrise.
Where to stay in Giza
The streets around the plateau, near the Sphinx entrance, are the closest you can get: many guesthouses and apartments here have roof terraces facing the pyramids. It is a lively, local area, so expect street noise.
Around the Haram and Faisal areas and near the Grand Egyptian Museum you find more residential buildings and apartments, still a short taxi ride from the plateau.
What to do
Give the Giza plateau a full morning: the pyramids, the Sphinx and the view from the panoramic point. Spend another half day at the Grand Egyptian Museum. In the evening, the sound and light show is projected onto the pyramids.
Saqqara, with the Step Pyramid of Djoser, and Dahshur, with the Bent and Red pyramids, make an easy half-day trip south of Giza.
When to go
October to April is the most comfortable time for sightseeing. Summer is hot, so visit the plateau early in the morning. Arriving at opening time also means fewer crowds.
Getting there and getting around
Both Cairo International Airport and Sphinx International Airport, west of Giza, serve the area. Downtown Cairo is roughly 30 to 60 minutes away depending on traffic. Ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to get around.