Great Sphinx of Giza
A lion's body, a king's head and a gaze fixed on the rising sun: the Great Sphinx of Giza has puzzled travellers for millennia. Carved straight from the limestone bedrock around 2500 BC, it measures 73 metres long and 20 metres high – the largest monolithic statue in the world and the most enigmatic of Egypt tourist attractions. Most Egyptologists believe the face is that of the pharaoh Khafre.
The Sphinx was shaped from a knoll of rock left behind when stone was quarried for the pyramids. Its body was carved from softer layers that have eroded over the centuries, while the harder head has survived better. The nose, about a metre wide, has been missing for at least six hundred years, and fragments of a stone beard are now held in museums in Cairo and London.
Why visit the Great Sphinx?
The Sphinx has guarded the Pyramids of Giza for over four and a half thousand years. Between its paws stands the Dream Stele of Thutmose IV, who, legend says, became king after clearing away the sand that buried it.
For much of its history the Sphinx lay buried up to its shoulders in drifting sand, and it was only fully excavated in the 20th century. Ancient Egyptians later worshipped it as Horemakhet, "Horus in the horizon", and a small temple was built in front of it. Seeing it in person, with the pyramids rising behind, gives a sense of how this monument has inspired legends and travellers from Herodotus to Napoleon.
Getting there and around
It sits at the eastern foot of the plateau, reached through the Sphinx entrance or by walking down the causeway from the pyramids. A terrace in front of Khafre's Valley Temple gives the closest views. Most visitors see it with the pyramids on a guided morning such as the Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx half-day tour.
Visitors cannot walk around the body itself; the enclosure is viewed from the terraces and the Valley Temple. The general Giza ticket gives access, and the walk down from the Pyramid of Khafre along the ancient causeway takes about ten minutes.
Highlights not to miss
- Valley Temple of Khafre: Colossal granite blocks used for royal funeral rites, some weighing dozens of tonnes.
- Viewing terrace: The Sphinx framed against the pyramids – the classic shot.
- Dream Stele: The granite slab between the paws, telling the story of Thutmose IV's dream.
- Sound and light show: The Sphinx "narrates" Giza's history after dark, with the monuments lit in colour.
Practical tips
Entry is covered by the general Giza ticket. Expect persistent vendors at the Sphinx gate – a private guide, as on the private Giza Pyramids and Sphinx half-day tour from Cairo, keeps them at bay.
The terrace becomes crowded around midday, so aim for the first hour after opening or late afternoon. The ground is uneven and sandy, so wear comfortable shoes, and bring a hat, as there is little shade.
Best time to visit
Late afternoon light warms the weathered face; come back in the evening for the show.
The Sphinx faces almost due east, so it is lit directly in the morning and silhouetted against the pyramids later in the day. Winter, from November to February, offers the most comfortable temperatures, while summer visits are best kept to the early morning.
Accommodation and food
Rooftop restaurants opposite the Sphinx gate make an unforgettable setting for dinner.
Small hotels and guesthouses in Nazlet el-Semman look straight onto the Sphinx and the pyramids, an ideal base for early starts. Larger hotels with pools lie along the road to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
How does it compare to other Egypt tourist attractions?
Far larger than the Sphinx of Memphis, it is the defining image of ancient Egypt, best seen together with the Great Pyramid.
Hundreds of smaller sphinxes line temple avenues across Egypt, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor, but none comes close to the scale and mystery of the guardian of Giza.
In summary
Stand face to face with the world's most famous statue – and ask yourself the riddle that has outlasted every empire since. The short Giza Pyramids and Sphinx tour fits it into even a tight schedule.
