Stand at the right spot on the Giza plateau and Khafre’s pyramid looks taller than the Great Pyramid beside it. It is not. Khufu’s pyramid, described in our guide to the Great Pyramid, is larger by every measure. But Khafre’s pyramid stands on bedrock about 10 meters higher and rises at a steeper angle, roughly 53°10′ against 51°50′ for Khufu’s, which closes the gap to the eye.
It is also the only one of the three main Giza pyramids that still wears a cap of its original polished casing near the summit. This article covers its dimensions, interior, temples and practical visiting details; for the whole plateau, see the Giza plateau overview.
Who built Khafre’s pyramid and when?
Khafre was a son of Khufu and reigned in the Fourth Dynasty, in the mid-26th century BC, after the short reign of his brother Djedefre. He built his complex southwest of his father’s, on the same plateau.
His own son Menkaure would later build the third and noticeably smaller pyramid; see the guide to the Pyramid of Menkaure. Khafre’s pyramid, by contrast, was only slightly smaller than his father’s.
Is Khafre’s pyramid taller than Khufu’s?
No. Originally Khafre’s pyramid reached about 143.5 meters against 146.6 meters for Khufu’s; today the figures are about 136.4 meters and 138.5 meters. Khafre’s base measures about 215 meters per side, smaller than Khufu’s roughly 230 meters.
The illusion comes from three things working together: higher ground, a steeper slope and an intact summit. Builders cut away bedrock at the northwest corner to level the foundation, which is still visible there.
See Khafre's Pyramid Up Close
From the ground, the difference between Khufu's pyramid and Khafre's is easy to miss unless someone points it out — the elevated bedrock, the steeper angle, the band of smooth casing stone still clinging to the summit. These Egypt Sun Travel tours include a licensed Egyptologist who makes sure you see the details that explain why Khafre's pyramid looks, from certain angles, like the larger of the two.
Why does the summit still have casing stones?
Every Giza pyramid was originally covered in polished white Tura limestone. After antiquity most of it was quarried for building in medieval Cairo, leaving the rougher core blocks visible today.
On Khafre’s pyramid a band of original casing survives near the apex, where it was harder to reach. Sources describe it as covering roughly the top fifth to third of the pyramid. The lowest course of the casing was pink granite; the rest was Tura limestone.
Can you go inside the Pyramid of Khafre?
Yes, in principle. The pyramid has two entrances on the north face: one about 11.5 meters up the face and one at the base. Giovanni Belzoni found the upper entrance on 2 March 1818 and entered the burial chamber, where he found an empty granite sarcophagus and its broken lid.
The chamber is about 14 by 5 meters and oriented east to west, with the sarcophagus partly sunk into the floor. There are no wall decorations. The passages are narrow and low.
Interior access is sold as a separate ticket from the plateau ticket and is not always available, so confirm at the ticket office on the day.
What are the mortuary temple, causeway and valley temple?
On the east side stand the remains of the mortuary temple, reduced mostly to massive limestone and granite foundations. It once held more than 50 statues of Khafre, according to common estimates, although these were removed in antiquity.
A causeway of about 494 meters runs down to the valley temple. The valley temple is better preserved, built of limestone blocks faced with red granite. Its famous diorite statue of Khafre is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo; the museum collections are covered in the guide to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
How is Khafre’s pyramid connected to the Sphinx?
The Sphinx lies beside the causeway, close to the valley temple, and the Sphinx Temple stands in front of it. Most Egyptologists connect it to Khafre’s reign, although some have argued for Khufu or Djedefre.
The full story of the monument is in our history of the Great Sphinx. The small satellite pyramid on the south side of Khafre’s pyramid is discussed alongside the other subsidiary pyramids in the queens’ pyramids guide.
How to visit Khafre’s pyramid
Go early in the morning, when the light brings out the casing stones from the north and east sides and the crowds are thinner. The mortuary temple behind the pyramid receives far fewer visitors than the pyramid itself.
The workers who built these monuments lived nearby; see the guide to the pyramid builders’ village. Wear closed shoes, carry water, and confirm hours and interior ticket availability before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Khafre’s pyramid taller than Khufu’s?
No. Khufu’s pyramid is taller (about 138.5 m today against about 136.4 m for Khafre’s). Khafre’s looks as tall or taller because it stands on higher ground and has a steeper slope.
Can you go inside the Pyramid of Khafre?
Yes, when it is open. It has two entrances on the north face, and the passages lead to a simple burial chamber with a granite sarcophagus. Interior access is ticketed separately from the plateau, and the pyramid is sometimes closed, so ask at the ticket office.
Which Giza pyramid still has its casing stones?
Khafre’s pyramid keeps a cap of original Tura limestone casing near the summit; sources describe it as roughly the top fifth to third of the monument. Khufu’s pyramid retains only a few casing blocks at the base.
Who built the Pyramid of Khafre?
Khafre, a Fourth Dynasty king and son of Khufu, who reigned in the mid-26th century BC. His mortuary and valley temples and the nearby Sphinx belong to the same complex.
Where is the Sphinx in relation to it?
The Sphinx lies beside Khafre’s causeway, east of the pyramid, close to the valley temple. Most scholars attribute it to Khafre’s reign.
