Every evening after dark, the Giza Plateau hosts a Sound and Light Show in which the Sphinx narrates the history of the pyramids while the three monuments are lit in changing colours. The show runs for about an hour from the open-air theatre east of the Sphinx. It is unabashedly theatrical — the narration is dramatic, the music stirring, and the whole thing is rather camp — but sitting in the desert night facing illuminated monuments that are 4,500 years old is genuinely memorable.
Shows run in multiple languages (Arabic, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese — check the schedule) at different time slots throughout the evening. The English show usually runs first. Ticket prices are reasonable; the chairs are basic. Bring a light jacket — desert nights get cold even in summer — and arrive early for a good seat. Photography is welcome and the colour-shifting light on the pyramids produces striking images.