Giza- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Directly across the Nile from central Cairo, Giza forms an integral part of Egypt's sprawling capital region, distinguished as the nation's third-largest city by area. Its position places it immediately south of the location where the ancient capital of Memphis flourished over five millennia ago as the seat of power for pharaohs like Narmer, founder of the First Dynasty around 3100 BC. This proximity to the Old Kingdom's political heart profoundly shaped Giza's destiny. Giza's global recognition stems overwhelmingly from the Giza Plateau, a UNESCO World Heritage site functioning as the primary royal burial ground, or necropolis, for pharaohs of the Fourth Dynasty (circa 2613–2494 BC). Dominating this plateau are three colossal pyramid complexes constructed for Kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. Khufu's Great Pyramid remains the sole survivor of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and held the record as the tallest human-made structure for nearly 4,000 years. Alongside them stands the monumental Great Sphinx, a limestone sculpture with a lion's body and a pharaoh's head, believed to depict Khafre, silently guarding the sacred landscape. Beyond the iconic plateau, Giza offers other distinct landmarks rooted in more recent history. The Giza Zoo, opened in 1891, holds the distinction of being the first zoological garden established on the African continent, featuring heritage architecture and botanical collections. Nearby, Orman Park ("Forest Park" in Turkish), created in the 1870s, provides significant green space with diverse plant species, reflecting a different era of the city's development alongside its ancient wonders.