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Great Sphinx
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The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most famous monuments on Earth, a colossal limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh, crouching for over 4,500 years on the Giza Plateau beside the Pyramids. At 73 metres long and 20 metres high, carved from a single ridge of bedrock, it has gazed eastward across the desert toward Cairo since the time of the Old Kingdom, its missing nose and weathered features only adding to its mystique.
It stands within the Giza Pyramids complex, so a visit naturally combines the Sphinx with the Great Pyramid of Khufu and its neighbours, the defining sight of any trip to Egypt. There's a dedicated viewing area in front of the Sphinz, and an evening sound-and-light show dramatises the plateau's history.
Don't miss
- The colossal 4,500-year-old lion-bodied, pharaoh-headed statue
- Its setting within the Giza Pyramids complex
- The dedicated viewing terrace facing the Sphinx
- Combining it with the Great Pyramid of Khufu
- The evening sound-and-light show
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Great Sphinx
You can visit on your own (paid entry to the giza plateau (with extra fees to enter the pyramids themselves). a guide is highly recommended). A tour adds transport and a guide, or combines nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inPrivate Giza Pyramids, Sphinx Full Tour inside pyramids & tomb5★ · 603 travelers4–5 hoursFree cancellationFrom$8 per personSee dates →
Most bookedHalf Day Tour Giza Pyramids& Great Sphinx with Private Tour Guide4.9★ · 2,490 travelers4–5 hoursFree cancellationFrom$30 per personSee dates →
Private & flexiblePrivate Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx Tour Lunch No Hidden Fees5★ · 25 travelers4–5 hoursFree cancellationFrom$25 per personSee dates →Good for
How travelers rate it
Know before you go
- Go at opening, early morning means cooler air, fewer crowds, and clearer views.
- A reputable licensed guide greatly improves the visit and helps deflect persistent touts.
- Combine the Sphinx with the pyramids; it's all one plateau complex.
- Carry water, sun protection, and be firm but polite with vendors and camel-ride touts.
A bit of history
Most Egyptologists date the Great Sphinx to the reign of Pharaoh Khafre, around 2500 BC, during the Old Kingdom, likely depicting the king himself as a guardian of his pyramid complex. It is the largest monolithic statue from antiquity and has been excavated from encroaching sand many times over millennia.
Common questions
Is the Sphinx near the Pyramids?
Yes, the Great Sphinx sits within the Giza Pyramids complex, so a single visit covers both the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Khufu and its neighbours.
Can I touch or climb it?
No, you view it from a dedicated terrace and the surrounding plateau; climbing on the monument isn't permitted.
When should I visit?
Right at opening in the morning, cooler, less crowded, and clearer. An evening sound-and-light show is an alternative experience.
Do I need a guide?
Highly recommended, a licensed guide adds historical context and helps navigate the site and the many touts.
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