National park · Egypt
Dahshurدهشور
Give Dahshur half a day on the same trip as Saqqara: enter the Red Pyramid (125 steps up, 63 m corridor down) and the Bent Pyramid, walk the 2.5 km between them by car in summer, and start at the ticket office by 8:00 to beat the Giza-style coach wave.Give Dahshur half a day on the same trip as Saqqara: enter the Red Pyramid (125 steps up, 63 m corridor down) and the Bent Pyramid, walk the 2.5 km between them by car in summer, and start at the ticket office by 8:00 AM to beat the Giza-style coach wave.Give Dahshur half a day on the same trip as Saqqara: enter the Red Pyramid (125 steps up, 63 m corridor down) and the Bent Pyramid, walk the 1.6 mi between them by car in summer, and start at the ticket office by 8:00 to beat the Giza-style coach wave.Give Dahshur half a day on the same trip as Saqqara: enter the Red Pyramid (125 steps up, 63 m corridor down) and the Bent Pyramid, walk the 1.6 mi between them by car in summer, and start at the ticket office by 8:00 AM to beat the Giza-style coach wave.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
12 km²5 sq mi
approximate
Established
1996
Best months
Oct–Mar
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Egypt ↗Check visa rules for your passport on the official Egypt e-visa portal before flying; visa on arrival availability depends on nationality and can change.
- Egypt ↗Drones need prior permission and are routinely confiscated on arrival; leave them at home.
- Egypt ↗Do not photograph military sites, police, bridges or government buildings; some museums and tombs charge for or ban photography.
- Egypt ↗During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants still serve.
At a glance
- Country
- Egypt
- Area
- 12 km²5 sq mi
- The fenced pyramid field runs about 3.5 km north to south; the figure is a rough working size (check).
- Established
- 1996
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Cairo
Dahshur is the quieter half of the Memphis pyramid fields: two complete Sneferu pyramids, the Bent Pyramid that changed angle mid-build and the Red Pyramid, Egypt's first true pyramid, both open to walk inside on one ticket. It sits about 10 km south of Saqqara and 35 km south of Cairo, so it works as the second stop of a Saqqara day rather than a destination on its own. The field is open desert with no shade and no marked trail network: the Red Pyramid is 2.5 km west of the ticket office and the Bent Pyramid another 2.5 km south, which is a pleasant walk from October to March and a car ride in summer. Only those two monuments are open; the Middle Kingdom pyramids and tombs of the central necropolis are viewable from outside only, and guards turn walkers away.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1979Part of the Memphis and its Necropolis listing, which covers the pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshur.
Size and age
12 km²5 sq mi · national park since 1996
The fenced pyramid field runs about 3.5 km north to south; the figure is a rough working size (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Cairo.
Why go
- Two complete Sneferu pyramids in one field: the Bent Pyramid, which changed angle mid-build, and the Red Pyramid, Egypt's first true pyramid.
- Far fewer people than Giza or Saqqara, and almost no hassle at the monuments themselves.
- You can go inside both pyramids on the same ticket, which is not possible at Giza.
- A short drive from Saqqara, so it fits into a single day out of Cairo.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool, clear; best walking
- FebMild; occasional wind and dust
- MarWarm by midday; khamsin dust possible
- AprHot after 11:00; start earlyHot after 11:00 AM; start early
- May35 °C+; no shade on the field95 °F+; no shade on the field
- JunVery hot; pyramid interiors stifling
- JulPeak heat; go only at opening
- AugPeak heat; interiors humid
- SepStill hot; mornings only
- OctHeat breaks; long comfortable days
- NovDry and mild; best all-round
- DecCool; bring a jacket for the morning
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert birds and lizards on the open fieldMar–May, Oct–Nov · Nothing to plan around; the site is archaeology, not nature. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Stray dogs and feral cats around the gate and villageAll year · Do not feed them; keep food closed. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Cairo
Hired car or taxi south on the ring road and the Fayoum desert road, about 35 km; the usual loop adds Saqqara and Memphis.Hired car or taxi south on the ring road and the Fayoum desert road, about 22 mi; the usual loop adds Saqqara and Memphis.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Saqqara
Direct road south past the Memphis open-air museum.
20–30 min
From Giza
Taxi or tour coach; most operators run Dahshur as the second stop of a Saqqara day.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Helwan
Metro to Helwan, then a tuk-tuk to the gate; tuk-tuks stop outside and the walk in is 30 min with no shade.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Al-Marazik
Local train from Ramses toward Fayoum, get off at Al-Marazik, then a tuk-tuk to the gate.
1.5–2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pyramid field | The Red Pyramid, its mortuary area and the road in from the ticket office. | Open with a ticket; interior open. |
| Bent Pyramid enclosure | The Bent Pyramid, its satellite pyramid and the attached chapel remains. | Open with a ticket; interior open when conservation allows. |
| Central necropolis | The 12th and 13th dynasty tombs of royal women, the Forgotten Temple and the Black Pyramid. | Viewable from outside only; no trail and guards stop walkers. |
| South field | The ruined White Pyramid of Amenemhat II and the Pyramid of Senusret III, about 1.5 km northeast of the Red Pyramid.The ruined White Pyramid of Amenemhat II and the Pyramid of Senusret III, about 0.9 mi northeast of the Red Pyramid. | Distant views; not set up for visitors. |
Sketch map
- 1Ticket office and gate · Gate≈29.808, 31.226Approximate; the entrance is off the Fayoum desert road.Map ↗
- 2Red Pyramid · Summit≈29.809, 31.206Map ↗
- 3Bent Pyramid · Summit≈29.790, 31.209Map ↗
- 4Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III · Viewpoint≈29.792, 31.224Map ↗
- 5Forgotten Temple · Cave≈29.795, 31.217Map ↗
- 6Tombs of the royal women · Trail≈29.802, 31.216Map ↗
- 7Dahshur village · Village≈29.800, 31.240Approximate.Map ↗
- 8Al-Marazik railway station · Ranger station≈29.808, 31.271Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dahshur site ticket (Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid) | EGP 200–300 | person | 2026 estimate; foreign-adult rate. Egyptian and Arab nationals pay less (check). |
| Red Pyramid interior | Free | person | Included in the site ticket; the man at the tunnel may ask for baksheesh, you can decline. |
| Bent Pyramid interior | Free | person | Included in the site ticket; sometimes closed for conservation (check). |
| Private taxi, half day from Cairo with Saqqara and Memphis | EGP 3,000–4,000 | car | 2026 estimate; fuel and waiting included, tickets extra. |
| Saqqara combined ticket | EGP 300–450 | person | 2026 estimate; separate ticket, bought at Saqqara. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Site ticket permit or guide
Vehicle entry no permit
Photography no permit
Park rules
- Stay off closed monuments
- Only the Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid are open; guards stop anyone walking to the Black Pyramid, the tombs or the Forgotten Temple.
- No climbing on masonry
- Do not climb the pyramid casing or the tomb structures; the limestone is fragile.
- Ticket checks
- Guards at both pyramids ask for the ticket, including if you walk in from Dahshur village.
- Baksheesh
- The attendant at the Red Pyramid tunnel may ask for a tip; entry is already covered by your ticket and you can refuse.
- Litter and drones
- Take all rubbish out; drones need permission from the antiquities authority (check).
Where to stay
Near the park
Cairo or Giza
The practical base; 1–1.5 h each way, and the reason most people do Dahshur as a day trip.
Near the park
Saqqara and Memphis area guesthouses
A few small places on the Saqqara road shorten the morning drive.
In the park
Dahshur village
Basic local accommodation only; no tourist hotels inside the field.
Safety
Heat and no shade high
Pyramid interiors medium
Traffic on the access road medium
Touts and unofficial guides low
Accessibility
- The ticket office, the road and the ground around both pyramids are flat and reachable by car.
- The interiors of both pyramids are reached by steep steps and narrow corridors; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- No shaded seating or accessible toilets on the field; the nearest facilities are at the gate and in the village.
Visiting lightly
- Dahshur is promoted as an alternative to Giza to spread visitor pressure; keep to the open monuments so closed ones stay protected.
- Carry out all water bottles and wrappers; there are few bins.
- Hire one car for the Saqqara–Dahshur loop instead of separate trips, and share it where you can.
- Buy from the village shops rather than only at the gate.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Dahshur?
The 2026 estimate for the site ticket is EGP 200–300 for a foreign adult, and it covers both the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid, including going inside. Egyptian and Arab nationals pay less. A private half-day car from Cairo with Saqqara and Memphis runs about EGP 3000–4000, tickets extra.
What are the best hikes in Dahshur?
There is no marked trail network. The standard walk is the 2.5 km open-desert road from the Red Pyramid to the Bent Pyramid, about 1–1.5 h one way with no shade. A longer 3–4 h loop adds the Forgotten Temple and the Black Pyramid, but guards stop walkers at closed monuments, so treat it as a viewpoint route rather than a hike.
When is the best time to visit Dahshur?
October to March. November and December are the most comfortable, with mild days and clear light. April and September are workable if you start at opening. From May to August the field is 35 °C or more with no shade, and the pyramid interiors are stifling.
Can I go inside the pyramids at Dahshur?
Yes, both. The Red Pyramid means 125 steps up the face and a 63 m sloping corridor down to three chambers. The Bent Pyramid has a wooden stair and a passage into the upper chambers. Both are included in the site ticket, and both need reasonable fitness.
Do I need a guide for Dahshur?
No. The site is small and the two open pyramids are signed. A guide helps with the Middle Kingdom tombs and the Black Pyramid, which you can only see from outside, and most people get that context from a Saqqara day tour.
Is Dahshur worth it compared with Giza?
Yes if you want the interiors and quiet. You can enter two complete Sneferu pyramids here, which you cannot do at Giza, and there are far fewer people. Giza still wins on scale and the Sphinx; most travellers do both.
How do I get to Dahshur without a car?
Take the local train from Ramses toward Fayoum and get off at Al-Marazik, or metro to Helwan, then a tuk-tuk to the gate. Tuk-tuks cannot enter the site, so you face a 30 min walk to the Red Pyramid and another 20 min to the Bent Pyramid with no shade.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go