Giza

When I first got a computer, one of the favourite games to play was the Tomb Raider series and exploring various ruins, including many set in Egypt. Since then, I have been fascinated with Egyptian monuments and finally, I had the chance to explore some of them in Giza. I was busy with work, but I begged my colleagues to let me off for one day to visit these ancient monuments.

Giza is the third-largest city in Egypt by area and population, and is also the eighteenth-largest city in Africa by population. It is located on the west bank of the Nile opposite central Cairo, and is a part of the Greater Cairo metropolis. It is also the starting point for most tourists while exploring the country.

All images on this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license. Original authors are credited where applicable, and any modifications are indicated.

I took an Uber from New Cairo to the Giza and got my first glimpse of real Egypt with decrepit buildings lining the elevated highway on both sides.

Grand Egyptian Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum is a must-visit for anyone who comes to Egypt. From first sight, the building awes you. Tickets should be purchased online in advance, to avoid the long tourist queues. It is probably also the poshest and most well-maintained buildings in Egypt.

The insides are no less impressive. You enter the Grand Hall and need to take the Grand Staircase (or escalators or elevators) to go up to the main galleries.

The main galleries themselves are on either side of the staircase and contain ancient Egyptian artefacts, the ones which have not been stolen by the West, that is.

The statue of Rameses II in the main hall and the Hanging Obelisk outside are a sight to behold.

Giza Pyramid Complex

After the museum, I headed for the Giza Pyramid Complex. Also, tickets should be purchased online in advance to avoid queues. The tickets are modular, along with the main ticket, you can choose which other places you want to visit inside. There are hop-on/hop-off buses which take you through the complex. Ignore the touts who ask you to ride the camels (Unless you actually want to ride a camel, of course).

The heat is intense and the sun is blazing all year round. Sunglasses and sun block are a must, though not sufficient. I came back with a bad sunburn.

To explore the whole complex, you need to go every day for at least a week. Most Egyptians themselves have not seen everything this place has to offer. Since I only had half a day from work, I chose to visit all the touristy places.

Believe me when I say that, no matter how many photos of the pyramids you have already seen, nothing prepares you for the sheer scale and grandeur of looking at them in person. I was completely overwhelmed for a few minutes, unable to move.

You can actually go inside many of the tombs, my favourite was the Tomb of Meresankh III. Not many people go there and to find it, you have to wander through ruins. Soon, you will hear only the sound of the wind. At the tomb itself, there was no one except an official to check the tickets. It was extremely peaceful and soothing.

Of course, you can’t miss The Great Sphinx himself.

You can exit the complex near the Sphinx and just outside, you find the hustle and bustle of daily Egyptian life.

Going to Giza, alone, made my difficult trip worth it.