Saqqara and Dahshur Pyramids: All you need to know

Saqqara and Dahshur Pyramids are UNESCO World Heritage Site and highly recommended to visit for the paintings and inscriptions inside the tomb of Ti and Kagemni (vizier of King Teti).
North of the area known as Saqqara lies Abusir; south lies Dahshur. The area running from Giza to Dahshur has been used as a necropolis by the inhabitants of Memphis at different times, and it was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.

Reaching Here: The Saqqara and Dahshur Pyramids are about 20minutes from the Pyramids of Giza. Finding an uber is an uphill task and even if you get lucky, you may have to wait for 20-30minutes before getting one both to and from Saqqara. You can see my post on whether to take a private day tour to Giza pyramids with a guide or venture to the pyramids by yourself, to know more.
It is not a very common route and a common tourist sight especially during the non touristy seasons. A lot of half day and private day tour to Giza Pyramids or full day tour to Giza Pyramids may not cover Saqqara and Dahsur Pyramids while I found the tombs here to be lot more insightful.

Best time to visit: Same as Cairo, I recommend Apr-May. You can take a look at this post on full day tour to Giza Pyramids, to know why.

Entry to the Pyramids of Saqqara and Dahshur:
There is no entry fee for the Saqqara and Dahshur pyramids. Your guide may tell you that photography inside the tomb is not allowed but ignore him as no one stopped me from taking the pictures. If you do feel that they may ask you for money for taking the pictures, you can ask him where does it state that taking photography is not allowed. To avoid altercation, just wait for the local guy in the tomb to move out before you take the pics.

What to see and do
If you have managed to include this in your private day tour of Giza Pyramids or the full day tour to Giza pyramids, well done you!
In these decorated tombs you have wonderful scenes of every aspect of life in ancient Egypt—so it’s not just about how Egyptians died but how they lived. Tomb art includes depictions of ancient farmers working their fields and tending livestock, fishing and fowling, carpentry, costumes, religious rituals, and burial practices.Inscriptions and texts also allow research into Egyptian grammar and language. “Almost any subject you want to study about Pharaonic civilization is available on the tomb walls at Giza.”

History:
At Saqqara, Djoser’s Step Pyramid, the oldest complete stone building complex known in history was built. This was followed by 16 more Egyptian pharaos making pyramids. A lot of these pyramids and tombs have not been preserved so well and are in stages of preservation.

The desert plateau above the modern village of Saqqara formed one of the main cemeteries of the ancient Egyptian capital city of Memphis for thousands of years. As such, it attracted a large number of royal and high prestige burials, the remains of which can be seen in pyramids and decorated tombs scattered across the area. The site of Saqqara is quite extensive, stretching 6 km north-south and 1.5 km across at its widest point.

Architecture
Built by Imhotep and thought to be the earliest major stone structure erected in Egypt. The form of the pyramid can be explained as a development of the large mastabas (mud-brick tombs) of the First and Second Dynasties; the six steps, each smaller than the one below, having been produced by the addition to the original mastaba of successive new layers of masonry, accompanied by the enlargement of the lower stages.

Be Prepared for…

There are practically no souvenir shops in Saqqara and since it is not a very touristy place, you wouldn’t find many hawkers etc too. Also, the entry to Seti’s tomb is a very steep downward walk in a low ceiling tunnel, so be prepared to bend and walk for about 1-2 minutes to reach the bottom where there is the tomb and inscriptions on the wall.