Egypt scams at the pyramids: common tricks and how to stop them

What government travel advice says about scams

We read the travel advice of five governments on 2 November 2026. Each one warns about scams, overcharging or theft.

• United States. The advice tells tourists to beware of overcharging and scams in tourist areas.
• United Kingdom. The advice says that scammers and touts sometimes target foreign visitors in tourist areas.
• Canada. The advice says that pickpocketing and purse snatching occur most often in tourist locations and on the metro. It tells visitors to hire drivers from reputable travel agencies.
• Australia. The advice says that scams and overcharging occur in taxis, particularly taxis hailed on the street.
• Ireland. The advice tells visitors to be careful of scammers and "tour guides" in tourist areas. It tells visitors to book recommended guides or tours in advance and to use only official ticket offices.

For the full safety advice, see Is it safe to visit the pyramids?.

Tricks that visitors report at the pyramids

The government advice does not list specific tricks at Giza. The tricks below come from visitor posts on Reddit in 2026. They are reports from visitors, not official data.

In one report from April 2026, a visitor said that a friend paid a tour price that included tickets. At the pyramids, a different guide asked for more money for the tickets.

How to say no

Say "No, thank you" one time, in a calm voice. Then continue to walk. Do not stop to discuss the price of a service that you do not want.

These steps are the same for camel offers, photo offers and sellers. For the full list, see how to say no to offers.

Before you arrive, decide what you want to do on the plateau. Then you can say no quickly to all other offers.

Buy your ticket only from an official seller

The official ticket site of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities names three ways to buy a ticket:

• egymonuments.com, the official ticket site
• the Experience Egypt app
• the ticket office at the site

The plateau ticket costs EGP 700 for a foreign adult. The official site says that all channels accept Visa and Mastercard. You do not need to give cash to a person who offers to get a ticket for you.

The official site also says that tickets are non-refundable. It does not replace a lost or stolen ticket. Keep your ticket safe until you leave the plateau.

For all ticket prices, including the tickets to go inside the pyramids, see Pyramids of Giza tickets.

What a guide does about hustlers

On Reddit, visitors often give one main fix for hustlers: go with a guide or a tour company. The Irish government also tells visitors to book recommended guides or tours in advance. A guide can do these things for you:

• Speak for you, in Arabic, when sellers come near your group.
• Take you to the correct gate and the official ticket office.
• Plan the route on the plateau, so that you do not need help from strangers.

A guide cannot stop all offers. Sellers can still come near you.

Egypt's tour guide law, Law 121 of 1983, sets rules for guides. It says that a guide must have a license from the Ministry of Tourism. Today, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities gives these licenses. The law says that a guide must show the license when the persons concerned ask for it. It also says that a guide must not accept a commission from shops.

Before the day of the tour, ask the tour company these questions:

1. What is the name of the guide who meets you?
2. Does the guide stay with you on the plateau?
3. Does the tour stop at shops?

For the tour types, see Private tours.

Taxis and drivers

The Australian advice tells visitors to use only licensed taxis with a meter, or a reputable ride app. Make sure that the meter is on.

If you have a problem

Call the tourist police on 126. The UK advice says to report a crime before you leave Egypt. After you leave, it is difficult to prosecute.

For the tour options and the stops on the plateau, see Pyramids of Giza tours.