Path to pyramids

The travel experts share the top five places to see pyramids.

26 February 2025

Alright, pack your cutest sandals and biggest sunglasses, because we’re off on a fabulous pyramid adventure!

Giza, Egypt

If pyramids had a Hollywood, this would be it, big, bold, and slightly overexposed. The Great Pyramid, built for Pharaoh Khufu – who must’ve had quite the ego – is basically the Beyoncé of ancient monuments.

Originally standing at a whopping 146.5 metres (481 feet), it’s the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, which is pretty impressive considering it’s around 4,500 years old – talk about skincare goals!

Why you’ll love it

Aside from wondering how on earth they moved those 80-ton blocks without even a hint of machinery, it’s a magical, chaotic place.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid and served as the tomb of pharaoh Khufu.

The Sphinx and museums are on the doorstep of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Chichén Itzá is a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people.

Chichen-Itza is one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán.

Teotihuacán, the most important and largest city of pre-Aztec central Mexico, located about 30 miles (50 km) northeast of modern Mexico City.

Chichen Itza, Mexico

Imagine you’re deep in the Mexican jungle, the sun is blazing, and there, like something from a dream, is El Castillo, the Mayan pyramid that’s both a calendar and an engineering marvel. Built between 800 and 1200 CE, it’s got exactly 365 steps, one for each day of the year. If only modern planners had that sort of accuracy!

Why you’ll love it

At the equinoxes, shadows create a serpent slithering down the pyramid steps, which frankly sounds like magic. Add in nearby cenotes for swimming, a massive ball court – ancient sports were intense, people! – and just a hint of creepy tales about human sacrifice, and you’ve got yourself quite the adventure.

Touristy? Sure, but worth it.

Teotihuacan, Mexico

Just a skip and a jump from Mexico City, Teotihuacan isn’t just one pyramid, oh no, it’s a whole ancient city of them. The Pyramid of the Sun is the biggie, third-largest in the world at 66 metres (216 feet) tall, and no one has a clue who built it. Mysteries galore!

Why you’ll love it

Climbing to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun is not for the faint-hearted or those with dodgy knees, but my word, the views are something else. Plus, it’s a bit less crowded than Chichen Itza, so you’ll have space to wonder about the mysterious builders who vanished leaving no forwarding address. The place feels genuinely ancient, sprawling and strangely peaceful.

Ṣaqqārah is part of the necropolis of the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis, 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Cairo.

The Island of Meroe is the heartland of the Kingdom of Kush, a major power in the ancient world from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE.

Saqqara, Egypt

If Giza is the showstopper, Saqqara is its quirky older cousin who knew pyramids before they were cool. Home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser (circa 2630 BCE), this is the very first stone pyramid ever. Designed by Imhotep, the ancient Egyptian Leonardo da Vinci, it’s basically a bunch of mastabas stacked like a cake. A bit rustic, but utterly charming.

Why you’ll love it

It’s quieter, sandier, and feels oddly intimate. You can almost imagine Imhotep himself wandering about, nodding approvingly at his handiwork. Plus, archaeologists are still finding treasures here, which means it feels excitingly active.

You’re literally walking through history in real time.

Meroë, Sudan

And finally, for the true adventurers among us, let’s head to Sudan’s forgotten gems, the Nubian pyramids of Meroë. Over 200 of these rugged beauties, built by the Kushite kingdom, pepper the desert, smaller and steeper than their Egyptian counterparts. Many have tops sliced off by 19th-century treasure hunters, poor things, but it gives them a wonderfully scarred, resilient charm.

Why you’ll love it

Fewer tourists mean you’re practically alone with history, red sand blowing around stark black stone. The whole place is windswept, haunting, and beautifully desolate. Perfect if you’re after something different, something quieter, something that whispers secrets of an ancient past.

The Verdict?

Giza and Chichen Itza might be the rock stars of the pyramid world, but don’t overlook Teotihuacan’s sprawling mystery, Saqqara’s pioneering charm, or Meroë’s rugged authenticity. Whichever you choose, you’re in for a spellbinding experience.

So, pack your SPF, your sense of wonder, and let’s go pyramid-hopping.

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