The Giza Plateau is the limestone tableland that was levelled, cut, and built on by the pharaohs of the Fourth Dynasty around 2560–2490 BC. It holds not just the three famous pyramids but an entire complex: mortuary temples, valley temples, causeways, subsidiary pyramids, boat pits, a workers' village, and the cemeteries of the court officials who served the pyramid builders. The complex is denser and more varied than a first visit usually reveals.
The plateau is best explored on foot, moving between monuments in the morning before the heat becomes serious. The perimeter road that loops around the outer edge allows you to put distance between yourself and the crowds at the main entrance. The south-western corner, near Menkaure's pyramid, is consistently the quietest part of the site and offers the best full-length view of all three pyramids. Tickets are sold at the main north-eastern gate; separate tickets are required for pyramid interiors, the Solar Boat Museum, and the Sound and Light Show.