Do you want to see a pyramid of Egypt? You hesitate between all? You want to know which one is the most interesting, which one is worth it? The answer is simple: Visit all the memphites pyramids at once, it's possible!
Tourist at Giza Plateau
Tourist at Giza Plateau
Tourist at Giza Plateau
Visiting the pyramids of Egypt is a good idea, so there is a gap between the impression that one has when one is on the spot and the one that can be obtained by discovering photos or films. Never can an image reflect the strength of a pyramid, no matter how small. As for the giant pyramids of Giza, they will forever mark the spirit of visitors, whether for a few hours or several days.
The touristic places
Classically, tourist visits focus on Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur. There are no peculiarities of one compared to the others, touristically speaking. There is the same kind of services, there is just the way that changes.
Whatever you want to visit, you have to leave Cairo, the capital. it is a sprawling city of 15 million people that is constantly growing, and the urbanism has long since reached the site of Giza, which means that to get there, you will only make the city . For other sites, such as Dahshour or Saqqara, it will take a means of locomotion a little more suitable.
Visit in a day or several days?
Yes, it is quite possible to visit the main sights of Cairo's pyramids in one day. Of course, it will be a bit of a tiring day, especially if it's hot (and it's often the case here!), But it's worth it if you do not want to spend more than a day exploring the pyramids. But if you have the opportunity to stay a little longer, you will enjoy these majestic monuments in a much more pleasant and quieter way.
The main failure to visit the pyramids in one day is of course the low time you will have to visit. You will only make the classic visit, that of going to see the site, go around and get inside the pyramids if it is possible.
Visit the pyramids of Egypt in several days is much better, you will have much more time on each site to deepen what there is to see. The advantage is really important, but you have to be able to do it.
Order of visit
In either case, we advise you to visit the necropolises in the following order:
Tourists on the Giza Plateau
Tourists on the Giza Plateau
Tourists on the Giza Plateau
This order is not insignificant, it has several advantages, the main one will be to avoid the early morning crowd on the Giza site, by far the most popular. Of course, it is more pleasant to visit Giza in the early morning, but even if it's hot the rest of the day, enjoy the coolness in a place that is not crowded. Then there is a logic to this order because it is the order in which the ancient Egyptians built their necropolis, you will visit from the oldest to the most recent. It will show you the architectural evolution of the pyramids but also the mastabas, and it is by far the most interesting argument for this order of visit. Finally you will end the visit near Cairo, where are the majority of tourist accommodation, and it is a great advantage not to do tens of kilometers at the end of the day to return to rest. And believe us, in a country as hot as Egypt, it is a nice advantage. Finally those who want to witness the magnificent "sound and light" of the pyramids will have to be in the evening in Giza, so for them, this order is even more important than for the others!
Distance between the necropolises
The good news is that there is not much distance between the tourist sites of the pyramids. It is the site of Giza which is the closest to Cairo since the city has reached the archaeological site, so it can be said that it is in the city. Between Giza and Saqqara there are about fifteen kilometers, Saqqara is south-east of the Egyptian capital. Between Saqqara and Dahshur, there are ten kilometers. As a result, there is about 25 km between Dahshur and Cairo, Dahshur being even further south.
When to go to Egypt?
What is the best time to go to visit the pyramids of Egypt?
The answer is simple, all the months of the year are pleasant, except in summer. Avoid June, July, August and September, when the temperatures (see below) are really high, especially on archaeological sites where there are very few shadows.
In January it is sometimes a little cold. But no matter when you go there, plan warm clothes if you intend to stay in the evening: The night temperature drops very quickly. This is especially true if you want to see the sound and light show of Giza.
Temperatures in the Cairo region
Here are the average temperatures in Cairo, month of the year after month of the year. From May to September, it's really hot, it's rather months to avoid.
| Months | Max average temp (°C) | Min average temp (°C) |
| January | 19° | 10° |
| February | 21° | 11° |
| March | 24° | 13° |
| April | 29° | 16° |
| May | 33° | 19° |
| June | 35° | 22° |
| July | 35° | 23° |
| August | 35° | 24° |
| September | 34° | 22° |
| October | 30° | 20° |
| November | 25° | 15° |
| December | 21° | 11° |
Various investigations
Like any self-respecting tourist site, the sights of Giza and Saqqara are the subject of various tourist queries. The main sources of boredom are caused by local touts who will offer various services at prohibitive rates. Dromedary tours, private taxis, discounted shops, everything is done to make you spend. And if you did not agree before the performance, it's bamboo and without having the means to discuss. So, be careful, and never accept any free benefit (it will turn into a paid service), do not start something that you think pays (it will be), do not agree to follow someone in a shop on a "good advice" (it will turn into a scam)
That said, there are also honest people who only want to work. They identify easily, they are the ones who do not chase you to take you to a particular place, they are not urgent, they respect you if you refuse nicely. In general, trust the official guides and ban all proposals "off the official circuit".
Visits to be made
All necropolises are similar, as far as one finds the same type of service. However, each one has its own specificities, of course.
The necropolis of Saqqara is the oldest, it is also the most spread, by far. It is so big that you should not visit it on foot, you would spend your time walking. To move on site, use a taxi, there are some everywhere, but most importantly, you can keep "yours", a taxi that you book for the day. What is interesting in Saqqara is above all the famous pyramid of Djoser. It is the very first pyramid of the ancient Egyptians, and of all the humanity of elsewhere. It is a step pyramid, that is, it forms a sort of ladder to the sky. It is, initially, the fruit of a stack of two mastabas to which one added 4 degrees, then 6, a little later. This pyramid was built by the famous Imhotep, doctor, high priest and architect of Pharaoh Djoser. His visit is a real curiosity, but the Saqqara plateau has many burials from many eras, and that's what makes it so strong. On site there are many pyramids, sometimes destroyed, the 5th and 6th dynasty, some temples and the famous Serapeum, to see on the spot. There is also an interesting museum, quite small, a room reserved for Mr Lauer who spent his life studying the necropolis.
Learn more about the Saqqara plateau.
The necropolis of Giza is the best known of all the Egyptian necropolis, it is the one on which stands the famous pyramids of Khufu, Khafra and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. The visit of the Giza site is done on foot, it is not that big, even if it is better to provide good walking shoes. The interest of this necropolis is to be able to approach the pyramids to judge on the spot of their sizes, to go around the Sphinx, to enter the temples, especially that of Khafra. But if you wish, you can also enter the pyramids, and even we advise you. Not that there are beautiful scenery - the pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty are devoid of it - but for the impression of walking in the footsteps of people who lived 4700 years ago. Otherwise the necropolis will explain what was a funerary complex at the time, you will see a magnificent solar boat, enjoy the view on dromedaries, etc.
Learn more about the Giza plateau.
The necropolis of Dahshur contains five pyramids, two of which are particularly well-known because they are the attempts of a Pharaoh, Snefru, to make a smooth-faced pyramid, failed attempts ... One can to see them as links between the first Saqqara pyramids and the giant pyramids of Giza. The necropolis of Dahshur is quite large. Its two pyramids are the red pyramid and the rhomboidal, they are separated by 2Kms from each other. But they are visitable, and no extra, and just for that - and for the quiet of the site - it's really worth going to see them. The red pyramid leads down a long corridor that leads to a succession of three buried burial chambers. The rhomboidal, it is not visited, alas. The site of Dahshour is less frequented than the others, but it is nevertheless a very interesting site, not to be missed to understand the evolution of the pyramids of Egypt.
Learn more about the Dahshur plateau.
