Seeing the pyramids with your own eyes is such a dream that it makes a trip to Egypt worthwhile. But the pyramids of Egypt are so many and so diverse that it is difficult to even imagine them. Come, let us see together which pyramids of Egypt can be seen near the city of Cairo.
Funeral monuments which were initially reserved only for the Pharaohs, the Egyptian pyramids were depicted as the symbol of the souls of the Pharaohs and as symbols of those four gods towards Re, the Sun God. The Pyramid was a real ladder leading to heaven, which was believed in the ancient Egyptian cathedrals.
Pyramids near Cairo Many of the pyramids were built this way, and almost all of them have succeeded in standing firm on the test of time. Most of the pyramids were built during the ancient kingdom, on the western banks of the Nile, in the north of the country.
The place is close to Cairo, and specifically about three kilometers from the country’s ancient capital, Memphis. There are also sites like Giza, Saqqara, Dachour (the most famous and which we will discuss more in this article), as well as Meidum and Abusir.
Visiting the Memphis necropolis gives you the opportunity to see some of the best buildings, as well as the first stone mass of Egyptian architecture. And in this way, you get to see the whole journey of Rajaki Qabron: first the shape which was called “mastaba”, then the straight pyramid, and finally the journey to the pyramids with their huge faces found in Giza.
To prepare for your stay to see the pyramids of Egypt, I recommend you to read this article: Organize your trip to Egypt yourself. This will give you advance information about the country, which includes Egypt’s visa requirements, travel route, budget and all the organizations on site.
Pyramids of Giza
The Giza plateau is home to three of the most famous and successful pyramids in ancient Egypt. These pyramids were built in the 26th century and are still well protected and awe-inspiring.
Remember that millions of blocks of limestone and granite were used to build these pyramids. It took the hard work of thousands of people, including both permanent and seasonal workers. All of them lived with their families in a workers’ village near the Giza plateau.
The Great Pyramid of Cheops
is the most famous and the largest, whose height is 146 meters and base is 230 meters. It was built around 2560 BC, and it is one of the seven wonders of the world which has survived till date. For thousands of years it was the world’s tallest and heaviest building.
Today it is the symbol of Egypt. Such a masterpiece which is not only a symbol but also a source of light, which is seen, read and roamed again and again. But all its secrets are still not revealed, and the miracle of its construction still captivates scientists, historians and our imagination.
Know that this pyramid was previously covered with a shiny limestone coating, only the lower part of which is visible today. Inside it is a complex network of corridors and rooms, which can be visited (for 440 LE), including three burial chambers and the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Cheops kept in the “King’s Chamber”.
Pyramid of Khafre
who was the son of Cheops, built his pyramid close to his father’s pyramid. It is the second largest pyramid in Giza and is situated in the middle of a group of pyramids.
It appears to be higher than the Pyramid of Cheops as it is built on a tall rock. Its excellent protection and the limestone coating present on its summit make it very impressive.
A well preserved pink granite reception temple can also be seen here, which was brought from Aswan. It is believed that the famous Sphinx of Giza was a part of the funeral complex of this pyramid.
It is correct to say that the caretaker of the necropolis is Khafre in the picture and it was built during his reign. Keep in mind that Khafre was a great pharaoh of ancient Egypt, and he was the first who achieved the title of “Son of Re”.
Its burial chamber can be reached by a long corridor, which opens in a room where a sarcophagus buried in a rock can be seen (150 LE).
Pyramid of Mykerinos
which was built for the pharaoh of the same name, who was the grandson of Cheops. With a height of 63 meters, it is the smallest pyramid on the Giza plateau. But it has two temples connected by a causeway, and three small satellite pyramids known as the “pyramids of the queens”. Several funeral chambers can be seen here, one of which is decorated with frescoes.
Along the axis of the funeral complex of Mykerinos is the pyramid of Khentkaous I (a relative of the pharaoh), with a very wide door. Sometimes it is called the “4th pyramid of Giza”, and today it takes the form of a two-step monument built on a cliff. But it probably had the form of a large mosque in the past.
It is believed that the death of the sovereign coincided with the end of its construction, which is why it contains many incomplete signs. The Pyramid of Mykerinos was built in Giza during the 4th dynasty.
Practical Information:
Giza pyramids site is open every day from 7 am to 7 pm from April to September. And from October to March from 7 am to 5 pm. Entry fee is ₹240 per person. I would advise you to spend at least half a day at Giza pyramids site. Do take out time to explore these wonders.
At the site, don’t forget to climb the hills and see the beautiful views. There is an option for horse riding, but you can also go on foot (it’s not as far as it seems). Don’t forget to wash your head or take water, because the site is in complete sunlight. For more information read my article “What to do in Egypt?”
Pyramids of Saqqara
The Saqqara complex gives you the opportunity to see pyramids older than the ones at Giza. These pyramids are special because they allow you to understand the way the pyramids were built, including the first pyramids in Egypt. Archaeological excavations are still very active here, and new and surprising things are being discovered every day.
This site is the largest in the whole of Egypt, covering about 7 km². It contains dozens of pyramids and funeral temples scattered throughout, but tours are mostly limited to the Djoser complex and some adjoining temples and pyramids. The rest is a total ruin, due to a lack of better construction techniques (when Egypt’s economy was poor).
The Step Pyramid of Djoser
which can be seen in Saqqara, is believed to be Egypt’s first pyramid. And perhaps even the world’s first monumental stone construction (although this is debatable, as England’s Stonehenge was also built during this period, dating between 3000 and 2000 BC).
King Djoser (Djoser) ordered the high priest and architect Imhotep to build a monumental tomb that would stand tall over the austerity of the time (around 2650 BC). The tomb was initially a classic rectangular structure but was later transformed into a step pyramid with six separate levels, up to 60 meters high.
Recent archaeological breakthroughs have revealed a corridor about 5 km long beneath the pyramid of Djoser, where their remains were buried. Remember that a small part of it is open for viewing, for which an extra charge is made (150 LE).
But Djoser’s funeral complex is not limited to just this pyramid. In addition, there is a very large and well-guarded building at the entrance to the site, in front of which there is a large facade leading to the Hypostyle Hall. This is a corridor made of 40 stone pillars, which are laid like bundles of papyrus.
The Pyramid of Teti
can also be seen in Saqqara. Located in the northern part of the site, the face of this pyramid is hammered and it is the second pyramid in Egypt that contains texts. Its special feature is that its burial chamber is completely covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions with religious meaning.
Entry into the Pyramid of Teti is absolutely free, and there is no extra charge. In front of it, you will also find some very interesting and beautiful tombs, which you get a chance to see. These tombs are well-maintained and have colourful bas-reliefs and hieroglyphs. They also have a labyrinthine system of rooms that are a fun place to wander around.
Practical Information:
The Saqqara pyramids site is open every day from 8 am to 4 pm. Entry fee is 300 LE per person. You can book an Uber driver to get there (45-minute drive from Giza, for a few euros).
Talk to the driver and ask him to accompany you for the entire tour so that he can take you to different points of interest on the site (especially the Teti Pyramid) as the site is very large. I would advise you to spend at least 2 to 3 hours here so that you can enjoy it completely.
Pyramids of Dahshur
The site of Dahshur is not far from Cairo, about fifteen kilometres south of Saqqara. The pyramids here are the possessions of Pharaoh Snefru (father of Khufu, founder of the 4th dynasty). All of these pyramids were built around 2600 BC, and the pyramids at the Dahshur site are evidence of the architectural development of this city in Egypt.
The Dahshur pyramid project was a very important experience for Egyptian architects, as the construction site allowed them to develop basic techniques for building smooth-faced pyramids. Earlier pyramids were limited to the stage of a step pyramid, such as the Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara.
These achievements pave the way for the construction of the great pyramids of Giza, which are the most successful pyramids. By visiting the Dahshur site you can understand the process of the pyramids and better understand all the hard work it took to reach their final form.
The Bent Pyramid
which can be seen in Dahshur, is considered to be Snefru’s failed pyramid, because he wanted to build a smooth-faced pyramid, but he failed due to the wrong design of the base of the building (the base was too wide and the ground was too soft).
This mistake is clearly visible on almost two-thirds of the height of the pyramid, where the angles of its faces suddenly change. This is why it is named “Bent Pyramid”. Its current height is about 100 meters, while it should have been up to 128 meters. But Snefru did not wash his hands after this failure and he built the Red Pyramid. A walk inside a pyramid
The Red Pyramid
is the first successful smooth-faced pyramid. This pyramid is the result of all the research of Snefru and his architects. This beautiful pyramid is not only completely smooth-faced, but its height is up to 99 meters. This is the pyramid that was built a little before the pyramids of Giza.
It is possible to walk inside the Red Pyramid. Its door is on the north face at a height of 28 meters. A long corridor leads down to the teen burial chambers. There’s no sarcophagus or decoration here, just a mysterious atmosphere. But you don’t have to be claustrophobic to enter it, as it’s very tight.
Finally, know that Snefru also built a pyramid in Meidum. But it’s located about forty kilometers south of Dahshur. It was initially built with seven degrees, then extended to eight degrees. Snefru modified it along with the Red Pyramid, so that it too became a smooth-faced pyramid (but it fell down).
The pyramid of Meidum is also an important ancestor of the pyramids of Giza. To know more about the discovery of the pyramids of Egypt, I recommend you to read the article “First pyramids: a 5000 year old technical genius”.
Practical Information:
The Dahshur pyramids site is open every day from 8 am to 4 pm. Entry fee is 60 LE per person. You will need a driver to reach there (there is no public transport).
If you want to see both Dahshur and Saqqara in the same day, I would advise you to visit both in the same day, and start with Dahshur. If you have only one day and want to see the pyramids of Giza as well, visit Giza from 8 am and Saqqara in the afternoon (2 pm to 4 pm, when the site is closed).
Organization to see the Pyramids of Egypt
If you want to see all the pyramids mentioned in this article, then know that it is possible to do this in one or two days. You can plan it yourself, or you can book a tour through an agency.
Tour of Giza Pyramids
If you only want to see the great pyramids of the Giza plateau, then you need at least half a day. Try to reach there as soon as the site opens at 8 in the morning, so that you can enjoy the place freely. This is the best opportunity to take beautiful photos with the Sphinx and the pyramids.
If possible, rent a small hotel or Airbnb near Giza and stay there, and spend the whole day in Giza. This way, you can explore the site to your liking, without any time pressure. You will get ample opportunity to understand every detail, go inside one or more pyramids, and see the sites together and take legendary photos.
Tour of Dahshur and Saqqara Pyramids
You can see the pyramids of Giza along with Dahshur and Saqqara pyramids in one day, but you have to be quick for that. For example, visit Giza in the morning (from 8 am to 12 pm) and Dahshur and then Saqqara in the afternoon (from 1:30 pm to 4 pm, when the site closes).
Remember that it will take at least 1 hour to reach Dahshur from Giza Plateau (Cairo traffic is very heavy and chaotic). Then from Dahshur to Saqqara is a journey of 30 minutes. You can book a taxi (or driver through Uber) and ask them to accompany you to both sites. Prices quoted by drivers are often higher, so don’t forget to negotiate.
If you have more time and want to explore the Egyptian pyramids deeper, spend a day on the Giza Plateau and its surroundings, and take a leisurely tour to Dahshur and Saqqara the next day. You can extend your tour further by exploring parts of the ancient capital Memphis. But there is not much there except a large statue of Ramses II.
A tour of the pyramids of Egypt is a unique experience and a dream of many travelers! The Great Pyramids of Giza need no introduction, but I hope this article will make you curious to know more about other pyramids located close to Cairo, such as the Saqqara and Dahshur complexes.