Directly east of the Great Pyramid stand three small pyramids, each about a fifth of its height, built for the women of Khufu’s family — probably his mother Hetepheres and his queens Meritites and Henutsen. Around them is the Eastern Cemetery, a planned city of the dead where Khufu’s sons, daughters and officials were buried in rows of flat-topped mastaba tombs.
This is the part of the plateau most tours rush past, and it rewards an extra half hour. Here are the boat pits that once held dismantled ships for the king’s afterlife, the black basalt pavement of his mortuary temple, and the mouth of the shaft where the intact burial furniture of Queen Hetepheres was discovered in 1925.
What to see and do at Queens’ Pyramids & Eastern Cemetery
Enter a queen’s pyramid
One of the three is sometimes open at no extra charge: a short, steep ramp leads to a tiny burial chamber. It is an easy taster of a pyramid interior, though it is not always unlocked.
Find the boat pits
Long, boat-shaped trenches cut in the rock lie beside the queens’ pyramids and the remains of the mortuary temple. Two sealed pits on the south side of the Great Pyramid held the cedar ships now in the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Visit the tombs of Qar and Idu
These two small Sixth Dynasty tombs near the queens’ pyramids, when open, have rows of statues of the owners carved from the rock, including Idu emerging waist-high from his false door with hands outstretched for offerings.
Continue to the tomb of Meresankh III
The finest painted tomb at Giza is a few minutes’ walk further east — see our page on the tomb of Meresankh III.
How to get to Queens’ Pyramids & Eastern Cemetery
- On foot: walk round the Great Pyramid from the bus stop on its north side to the east face — about five minutes.
- Onward: a path leads downhill from here towards the Sphinx.
Insider tips
- Which small tombs are unlocked changes from day to day. A guardian may offer to open one; a small tip is expected.
- There is no signage to speak of, so this area is much more rewarding with a guide.
- The ground is rough, with open shafts off the paths. Stay on the worn tracks and keep an eye on children.
Best tours & tickets for Queens’ Pyramids & Eastern Cemetery
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Queens’ Pyramids & Eastern Cemetery:
Walking tour from €37 Giza Pyramids Walking Tour: Skip-the-Line, Sphinx & Views
A compact guided walk that starts at the plateau itself, so you are not paying for a car across Cairo. Good value if you are staying in a nearby guesthouse and simply want an expert to explain what you are looking at.
- Meet your guide at the site
- Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure plus the panoramic views
- Finish at the Great Sphinx
Private tour from €48 Cairo: Pyramids & Great Sphinx Private Tour with Camel Ride
The most-reviewed Giza tour on GetYourGuide, and deservedly. A private guide collects you from your hotel, walks you through the plateau at your own pace, sorts out the camel ride and keeps the vendors at bay. Longer options add extra sights.
- Your own Egyptologist guide and air-conditioned car
- The three pyramids, the panoramic viewpoint and the Sphinx
- Short camel ride arranged for you
Entry ticket from €15 Cairo: Giza Pyramids QR Code Entry Ticket
The general admission ticket for the plateau, delivered as a QR code so you can go straight to the gate. It does not include going inside any pyramid — buy that on site if you want it.
- General admission to the Giza Pyramids area
- QR code sent to your phone
- No waiting at the ticket windows
