When travelers come to Egypt, Cairo is often their first stop. Everyone knows one of the main sights to see in Cairo—the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx. However, Egypt has over 100 pyramids that remain from the ancient Pharaohs, and one of those pyramid complexes is almost as impressive as the Giza Plateau and gets a fraction of visitors, meaning you can see an ancient Egyptian pyramid (and go inside) and have the place to yourself. This complex is just an hour and a half drive outside central Cairo and is called Dahshur, and this blog post will tell you all you need to know about experiencing the pyramids there.

The Basics

Dahshur is the name of a small village that is about 25 miles away from central Cairo, and the pyramid complex on the desert side of the village has the same name. The only way to reach this village is by private car, private bus, or Uber (although we would not recommend taking an Uber as your driver will need to wait for you at each pyramid, which Uber drivers do not like to do). Here’s what you need to know:

-Hire a driver who knows the route and is familiar with this site. You can waste a lot of time asking for directions if you use a driver who has never been to Dahshur

-Bring lots of water, sunscreen, and food (if you get hungry in between meals) because there are not services inside the pyramid complex, and it’s easier to bring your own necessities than trying to buy them in the village

-If you want to tip the pyramid attendants, bring some change (5 or 10 LE bills are adequate), otherwise be prepared to politely refuse to tip when asked (the attendants will probably ask)

-Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. There is not a lot of walking required for Dahshur (your driver can bring you very close to each pyramid), but if you want to go inside the pyramids you will need to crouch down, walk up and down lots of stairs, and will get dusty

How to get there

If you use a driver who knows the route, you can sit back and relax, since they should be able to get you to the site, no problem. If your driver does not seem to know the way, or if you are wary of letting them be fully in charge of the route, feel free to put the location in your GPS and follow along. Here is the entrance to the complex. Note that some routes and roads may be closed due to construction, so your driver may need to adjust the route accordingly. If you end up getting lost, don’t fret—when our driver tried taking a way that was closed and had to backtrack, we got these amazing views of the Dahshur complex from a different angle.

At the entrance of the complex you will buy tickets (60LE per adult at the time of writing, that included access to the site and allowed visitors inside the Red and Bent pyramids). Your driver will be questioned for their license, and will be asked what hotel you are staying at and what your itinerary for the day is. Police will ask the driver these questions in Arabic, and then may ask travelers the same questions in English to be sure their answers match.

Once through the police checkpoint, and with ticket in hand, your driver will go first to the Red Pyramid.

The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid is my favorite in all of Egypt. It is the first “true” pyramid ever built, and it’s reddish hue (where it gets its name) makes it a unique beauty.

The Red Pyramid’s inside is similar to the pyramids in Giza—just a few passageways and chambers, no inscriptions, and nothing much to see. If you are claustrophobic (I used to have dreams about getting trapped in small spaces as a kid, and do not enjoy going inside pyramids), then you may not want to go inside. Or if you try going inside, and start to panic, simply turn around and ascend, or if you continue to the bottom you will be able to stand up completely in the burial chamber (this always helps me calm down, knowing when I reach the bottom I can stand up). The Red Pyramid is much easier and less cramped than the Bent Pyramid, so for folks who are worried about tight spaces but want to give one pyramid a try, the Red Pyramid is a great option. There are also way fewer people going down than at the Giza Pyramids, so there will be more grace if one needs to change course or take a break during the ascent/descent.

The Black Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid

Once you finish at the Red Pyramid, head back to your driver, and they will bring you around the west side of the pyramid along a paved roadway toward the Bent Pyramid. While you drive over, check out the mound of dark rubble off in the distance to the east (back toward the Nile River), to see the Black Pyramid. This pyramid is just a mound of rubble, and tourists are not allowed to approach it, so taking a picture or video from far away is the best you can do.

The Bent Pyramid is an archaeological wonder—its bent shape is an example of the architectural experimentation the ancient Egyptians went through in order to build the later Red Pyramid, the Pyramids at Giza, and many others. The Pharaoh Sneferu commissioned the building of the Bent Pyramid, and wanted a pyramid that had a true pyramid shape, unlike Djoser’s earlier Step Pyramid at Saqqara. When architects noticed that the pyramid was structurally unsound midway through building, they had to adjust the angle to be less steep in order to stabilize it. The later Red Pyramid and the Pyramids at Giza were then built using the same, more gradual, angle.

The Bent Pyramid is the most interesting pyramid I have ever been inside (aside from the Pyramid of Teti in Saqqara which contains the amazing coffin texts). It has several large chambers, low winding passageways, a long descent, and an enclave of bats inside. Take note though—all of these additions make the Bent Pyramid much more difficult to get inside and get around. If someone does not like tight spaces, or is not able to do large amounts of stairs, just admiring the Bent Pyramid from outside is a good idea.

Extension ideas

The Dahshur complex is not the only thing that can be done in this area. Here are some other ideas for nearby sights to see:

-There is a pleasant picnic area next to the Dahshur complex that visitors can have their driver head to either before or after seeing the pyramids in order to stop, have a bite to eat, and capture the pyramids from a different angle. Here is the location of the area.

-Memphis (Mit Rahina) is a great site to visit either before or after Dahshur, since it is very close, and only takes a half hour maximum to take in the numerous statues and ruins strewn throughout the ancient capital city.

-If travelers have more time, a visit to Saqqara either before or after Dahshur is a must. Saqqara is an amazing funerary complex that has yielded numerous findings in recent years—don’t miss it.

We hope that you can experience the amazing pyramids of Dahshur when you come to Egypt on your own Egypt adventure! Remember, Egypt is open, ready for travelers, and when you are ready, Egypt Adventures Travel is here to help you make your dream trip to Egypt come true.