Dahshur Administrative Seat

Address: Dahshur necropolis, Al Badrashin, Giza Governorate, Egypt

Dahshur is an ancient royal necropolis on the desert plain south of Saqqara and part of the Memphite burial landscape. It is best known for the 4th Dynasty pyramids built by Pharaoh Sneferu, notably the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid.

The Bent Pyramid demonstrates an early experiment in slope that changes partway up the monument and retains much of its original casing stone. The Red Pyramid is widely regarded as humanity’s first successful true smooth-sided pyramid and has internal passageways and chambers accessible to visitors. The complex also contains later and less intact pyramids and tombs.

These monuments date to the Old Kingdom, around the 26th century BCE, and illustrate the rapid development of royal tomb architecture during Sneferu’s reign. Dahshur forms part of the broader necropolis system that served the ancient capital region of Memphis.

Dahshur lies on the west bank of the Nile valley in Giza Governorate, roughly south of the Giza plateau and within driving distance of Cairo and Saqqara, making it a frequent stop on archaeological tours of the Memphite plain.

• Sneferu pyramids: The site contains two major 4th Dynasty pyramids by Sneferu: the Bent Pyramid with its dual angles and the Red Pyramid, which marked a technical advance to true smooth sides.
• Visitor access: The Red Pyramid is generally open to visitors who can enter its internal chambers, while the Bent Pyramid’s exterior is a key study site for early pyramid engineering.

What to See#

• Red Pyramid: Red Pyramid - built by Pharaoh Sneferu and considered the first successful smooth-sided pyramid; interior chambers are accessible to visitors.
• Bent Pyramid: Bent Pyramid - an earlier Sneferu project notable for its change of angle partway up, showing the development of pyramid construction techniques.
• Other pyramids and tombs: Black Pyramid and other smaller tombs and ruins scattered across the Dahshur necropolis representing later and Middle Kingdom activity.

Dahshur is on the desert plateau in Giza Governorate south of Cairo. Visitors usually go by car or organised day tour from Cairo, driving on the desert roads toward the Dahshur/Saqqara archaeological area; the pyramids are reached from the small town of Dahshur where parking and short walks lead to the various pyramid sites.

• Arrive just after opening for cooler temperatures and to avoid the larger guided groups that concentrate on Giza and Saqqara later in the day.
• Use the site's main entrance near the Bent and Red Pyramids and head to the Red Pyramid first-it often receives far fewer visitors than Giza and you can still enter its interior chambers when open.
• Combine Dahshur with Saqqara on the same day to compare funerary architecture developments and to see the Bent Pyramid's unusual angle changes that many people miss when only visiting Giza.