The Egyptian pyramids are among the most fascinating monuments in human history. While many tourists opt for guided tours, we opted for a more flexible adventure: With a rental car, we explored Giza, Saqqara, Dahshur, and the ancient Egyptian Museum at our own pace. This allowed us to experience the magic of these historic sites away from the crowds. But how practical is such an exploration really? What challenges and highlights awaited us? We share our experiences, tips, and valuable information in this article.
While many tourists visit Egypt’s pyramids with guided tours, we opted for the more flexible option and explored all the sites from our hotel, the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis, individually with our own rental car. This decision proved to be ideal, as it allowed us to set our own pace and enjoy some quiet moments. Although the road conditions varied—from well-maintained highways to adventurous paths through small villages—the overall journey was manageable.
Another pleasant detail of our trip: We were able to conveniently pay by card everywhere. Whether at the ticket offices for the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, or Dahshur, cash wasn't absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, we had withdrawn cash as a precaution—a decision that turned out to be unnecessary in retrospect. We assumed that only cash would be accepted, especially at smaller ticket offices or in remote areas.
Pyramids of Giza
Visiting the Pyramids of Giza was an absolutely awe-inspiring experience! We arrived in a rental car, as you can easily drive around the entire area yourself. Don't be put off by the many locals who will tell you that this isn't allowed – it's definitely allowed.
Our first stop was the Great Pyramid of Cheops. We went inside, which was quite exciting, even though it was very cramped, hot, and full of steps. It's impressive to be so immersed in history, but to be honest, it was also exhausting. We only looked at the outside of the Pyramid of Chephren, and that was more than enough. Everything you see inside is pretty similar. The Pyramid of Menkaure is also supposed to be accessible, but we decided not to visit it either – the external impressions were more than enough for us. At all three pyramids, there are vendors selling scarves, hats, and small Egyptian figurines. Tours by horse-drawn carriage and camel are also advertised. We found that a bit annoying, but everyone is very friendly and not too pushy.
What left us speechless, however, was the sight of the three giant pyramids together. The moment you stand before these colossal structures is indescribable. Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre lies the famous Sphinx. We'd often heard that it was smaller than expected—and yes, it was indeed even smaller than we thought. But it's still an iconic motif and fits perfectly into the overall image of this Wonder of the World.
For us, visiting the Pyramids of Giza was an incredible experience that we can recommend to everyone. It's definitely worth seeing this wonder of the world for yourself!
We found the entrance fees to be relatively high. Admission to the site costs 700 EGP (approximately 12.80 EUR) per person. Children 350 EGP (approximately 6.40 EUR). If you arrive by car, you pay a parking ticket of 25 EGP (approximately 0.50 EUR). The driver can drive the car through the entrance gate and will be checked there. All passengers must get out and go through a separate checkpoint at the entrance. Checks are similar to those at the airport.
Pyramids of Saqqara
After our impressive experience at the Pyramids of Giza, we were looking for a less crowded alternative and decided on the Pyramids of Saqqara. In contrast to Giza, this area was much quieter, and we were rarely approached by vendors or self-proclaimed guides. Nevertheless, we allowed ourselves to be persuaded by a local tour guide who offered to show us the site. In retrospect, this was an excellent decision, as without him we would have missed many fascinating details.
A highlight of our visit was the Imhotep Museum. Despite its modest size, we were impressed by its superbly curated exhibition. Particularly noteworthy was the presentation of the oldest known mummy.
The centerpiece of Saqqara is the famous Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, considered the oldest pyramid in Egypt and over 4,700 years old. Its construction differs significantly from the smooth pyramids at Giza, as it consists of several stacked steps. Admission to the interior costs extra, but apart from a few corridors and chambers, there wasn't much to see. A beautiful colonnade leads to the Step Pyramid, which opens onto a large square. This square is surrounded by ancient buildings and temples where preparations were made for the great games that took place in front of the pyramid.
We found the surrounding temples and burial chambers on the site particularly worth seeing, although they also required an additional entrance fee. The ornate reliefs and architecture of these complexes gave us a vivid picture of ancient Egyptian culture and history.
Visiting the pyramids of Saqqara was an enriching experience away from the tourist crowds, which we can recommend to every traveler to Egypt.
The entrance fees for Saqqara were cheaper than those at Giza; we paid 600 EGP (approx. 11.00 EUR) for an adult and 300 EGP (approx. 5.50 EUR) for a child. The rental car cost an extra 25 EGP (approx. 0.50 EUR).
Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid
After our visits to the famous pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, we headed to Dahshur to explore the less visited but equally impressive structures of the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. The journey there was an adventure: Our route took us through narrow villages and along roads in poor condition, which nevertheless underscored the authentic charm of rural Egypt. Even the direct access to the site looked more like a checkpoint than a museum entrance. You just have to embrace these conditions, even if it may seem very unusual to us Europeans.
Our first stop was the Red Pyramid, the largest of the pyramids at Dahshur. It got its name from the reddish limestone of its core. Access to the pyramid required a steep climb up the exterior facade to the entrance. Once inside, numerous narrow and steep steps led us down into the burial chambers. The air was stifling and the temperatures higher than in the previously visited pyramids, making the descent a physical challenge. Nevertheless, exploring the inner structure of this ancient tomb was an awe-inspiring experience.
Next, we wanted to visit the Bent Pyramid, which is notable for its unique bend in its structure. This is the result of a modification during construction, in which the angle of inclination was adjusted, presumably to ensure stability. Remarkably, this pyramid still retains parts of its original limestone exterior, giving a glimpse of what the pyramids might have once looked like. Unfortunately, a tour bus full of tourists arrived at the same time, so we decided not to enter the interior of the Bent Pyramid and instead enjoy the impressive exterior view.
Our trip to Dahshur offered us fascinating insights into the diversity of Egyptian pyramid architecture, off the beaten track. The combination of the adventurous journey, the impressive buildings, and the tranquility of the place made this day an unforgettable experience.
In Dahshur, we paid the lowest entrance fees: 200 EGP (approx. 3.70 EUR) for an adult and 100 EGP (approx. 1.80 EUR) for a child. The rental car cost nothing extra this time.
Ancient Egyptian Museum
Our visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo was an impressive experience. Although we arrived at a time when several tour buses were arriving, we barely had to wait in line to purchase our tickets. Security checks were thorough: Our bags were checked and we passed through scanners both upon entering the museum grounds and at the entrance to the building.
The museum building itself, opened in 1902, exudes a historic charm with its neoclassical architecture. Nevertheless, the presentation of the exhibits seemed somewhat improvised; many pieces appeared to have been simply placed in the aisles, often with only small labels. Nevertheless, the artifacts on display were extremely fascinating: from impressive statues and ornate stone doors to ancient burial chamber stones and delicate wooden figures.
A special highlight awaited us on the upper floor: the mummies and sarcophagi, which offered a deep insight into the burial rituals of ancient Egypt. However, some displays and showcases were empty, as many of the pieces were already on display in the newly built museum at the Pyramids of Giza. An absolute must-see was the special exhibition on Tutankhamun, which was accessible at no additional cost. Here, we admired the world-famous golden death mask of the young pharaoh – a sight that left us speechless and which we highly recommend to every visitor.
We paid 550 EGP (approx. 10.00 EUR) for an adult and 275 EGP (approx. 5.00 EUR) for a child.
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