Dahshur — Bent & Red Pyramids

The Bent Pyramid changes angle halfway up, from 54 to 43 degrees, because the internal chambers began cracking during construction. It also keeps most of its original polished casing, which almost nothing else in Egypt does. A kilometre north, the Red Pyramid was Sneferu's successful attempt — the world's first true smooth-sided pyramid, and one you can walk down into with hardly anyone else present.

Dahshur was closed to visitors until 1996 because of a military presence and still sees a fraction of Giza's numbers.

Both were built for Sneferu, father of Khufu, around 2600 BC. Between Meidum, the Bent and the Red, Sneferu moved more stone than his son did at Giza.