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Voykit pocket guide · Egypt
Lisht
Skip Lisht unless you are an Egyptology specialist. The two Middle Kingdom pyramids are heavily ruined, and there is no visitor infrastructure. A half-day stop from Cairo is possible but unrewarding for most travellers.
Lisht is the site of the 12th-Dynasty pyramids of Amenemhat I and Senusret I, close to the lost capital Itj-Tawy. Both pyramids are badly damaged — the first is a 20 m mound, the second a hillock — and groundwater has blocked all interior access. There are no ticket office, toilets or café. Only travellers with a deep interest in Middle Kingdom archaeology should consider the 35 km drive south of Saqqara.
- Country
- Egypt
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EGP
- Money
- Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E). Hotels, cruise boats and larger restaurants take cards; taxis, markets, small cafés, tips and toilet attendants are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget EGP 0 (no entry fee; transport from Cairo extra) · Mid EGP 0 · High EGP 0 (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.
- Emergency
- Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Tourist police 126
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European round-pin sockets.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).; Guide, full day: US$10–20 per person.; Driver, full day: US$5–10.; Cruise crew: About US$5–10 per person per day in the envelope.; Toilet, porter, small help: EGP 10–30.
- Water
- Tap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Private taxi from Cairo (round trip, wait time) | EGP 800–1,500 |
| Baksheesh for guardian | EGP 50–100 |
| Bottled water (1.5 L) | EGP 10–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CAI · Cairo International Airport
- About 80 km (50 mi) north; 1.5–2 h by carAbout 50 mi (80 km) north; 1.5–2 h by car
Typical fares
- Cairo → Lisht by taxi
- EGP 400–750 one way, about 1 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A private car or taxi is the only practical way. The site has no public transport, no marked paths and no shade.
See and do
Known for
- Pyramid of Amenemhat I
- Pyramid of Senusret I
- Middle Kingdom royal necropolis
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saqqara | Car, about 35 km (22 mi) northCar, about 22 mi (35 km) north | About 40 min |
| Dahshur | Car, about 26 km (16 mi) northCar, about 16 mi (26 km) north | About 30 min |
| Cairo and Giza | Car, about 60 km (37 mi) northCar, about 37 mi (60 km) north | About 1–1.5 h |
| Fayum | Car, about 50 km (31 mi) southwestCar, about 31 mi (50 km) southwest | About 1 h |
Sleep
- No accommodation in Lisht
- Base yourself in Cairo or Saqqara and visit as a day trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | السلام عليكمas-salamu alaykum |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much? | بكام؟bi-kam? |
| Too expensive | غالي أويghali awi |
| Where is the entrance? | المدخل فين؟al-madkhal fayn? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Salam alaykum', handshake; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging strangers
- Eating: Right hand; accept tea; avoid: Refusing hospitality flatly
- Bargaining: Humour and patience; avoid: Anger
- Dress: Shoulders and knees covered in cities; avoid: Beachwear outside resorts
- Baksheesh: Keep small notes ready; avoid: Showing a thick wallet
- Photos: Ask; pay if agreed; avoid: Photographing police or military
Scams and watch-outs
- No facilities: bring water, sun protection and a hat.
- Groundwater has flooded the pyramid interiors; no entry possible.
- The site is unstaffed — you may need to find a local guardian to open a gate (baksheesh expected).
The site is remote and unpatrolled. The main risk is heatstroke and dehydration. Bring a local guide or driver who knows the area.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lisht yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pyramid of Amenemhat I
- Pyramid of Senusret I
- Middle Kingdom royal necropolis
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Lisht, revision 4054086 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4054086
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/lisht). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.