Ready for a wild climb up ancient history?
The largest pyramids in the world aren’t just giant triangular buildings; they’re massive monuments crammed with mysteries, legends, and the kind of jaw-dropping size that makes even selfie sticks shiver. Whether old pharaohs, dancing llamas, or modern mega-shops, these giants rise far above “boring” and into the land of pure fun and wonder.
If pyramid schemes ever built motivation, these monuments did it first, without a single annoying sales pitch. Let’s race into the blocks, bricks, and magic that make the largest pyramids in the world true show-offs.
Top 15 Largest Pyramids in the World (2025)
Below is a curated list of fifteen of the largest pyramids in the world, ordered roughly by volume or recognized significance. For each, I include the location, height, volume (where available), built era, open/close status or visiting hours, plus key notes.
| Rank | Pyramid | Location (City, Country) |
| 1 | Great Pyramid of Cholula (Tlachihualtepetl) | Cholula, Puebla, Mexico |
| 2 | La Danta | El Mirador region, Petén, Guatemala |
| 3 | Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu / Cheops) | Giza, Egypt |
| 4 | Pyramid of Khafre | Giza, Egypt |
| 5 | Pyramid of the Sun | Teotihuacan, Mexico |
| 6 | The Red Pyramid (North Pyramid) | Dahshur, Egypt |
| 7 | Bent Pyramid | Dahshur, Egypt |
| 8 | Toniná Pyramid | Toniná, Chiapas, Mexico |
| 9 | Memphis Pyramid | Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| 10 | La Venta Great Pyramid | Tabasco, Mexico |
| 11 | Pyramid of Meidum | Lower Egypt |
| 12 | Pyramid of Djoser (Step Pyramid) | Saqqara, Egypt |
| 13 | Pyramid of Neferirkare | Abusir, Egypt |
| 14 | Pyramid of Amenemhat I | Lisht, Egypt |
| 15 | Pyramid of Khentkaus II / smaller pyramids of the Giza area | Giza/Saqqara, Egypt |
1. Great Pyramid of Cholula (Tlachihualtepetl)
- Height: ~ 25 m above the local plain (some claims up to ~ 54 m)
- Volume: ~ 3.3 million m³ (Guinness record)
- Constructed: Multi-stage build from ~ 3rd century BC through ~ 9th century AD (Preclassic to Postclassic)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Typically open daily in daylight hours; tunnels (about 800 m) are partially open to the public.
They call it “Tlachihualtepetl,” which in Nahuatl means “artificial mountain.” Over centuries, different cultures layered new structures upon older ones, slowly swelling this pyramid’s bulk. What looks like a grassy hill today conceals immense tunnels, hidden chambers, murals, sacrificial burials, and offerings. Archaeologists have explored about eight kilometers of passageways, though only around 800 meters are open to visitors. From a distance, locals once thought it was a natural hill with a church on top; indeed, the Spanish built Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios atop it in the 16th century, merging Christian and ancient reverence in one site.
2. La Danta (El Mirador)
- Height: ~ 72 m from the forest floor
- Volume: ~ 2,800,000 m³ (approx)
- Constructed: Classic Maya period (approx 200 BC to AD centuries)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Access limited; guided jungle treks needed; seasonal constraints due to rainforest and protection measures
Deep in Guatemala’s dense jungle, La Danta looms as a testament to Maya ambition. It’s said to rest on a gigantic artificial platform many hectares wide, pushing total mass to nearly 2.8 million cubic meters. Archaeologists and explorers must brave swamps, thick forests, heat, and insects to even reach its base. Atop, the view is a sea of treetops hiding other buried pyramids. The pyramid’s sheer size makes it one of the largest ever built in Mesoamerica. Preservation challenges, tropical weather, vegetation, and looting make full exploration difficult. The region is under protection but still threatened by deforestation.
3. Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu / Cheops)
- Height: ~ 138.5 m (current) (original ~ 146.6 m)
- Volume: ~ 2,600,000 m³
- Constructed: ca. 2560 BC (Fourth Dynasty, Old Kingdom)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Open daily (daylight hours). Entry to internal chambers via a ticket with restrictions.
When you look at a photo of the Giza plateau, the Great Pyramid tends to dominate your view. Built for Pharaoh Khufu, it stood for thousands of years as the tallest human-made structure on Earth. Its core was built of limestone blocks, its chambers lined with granite, its faces once sheathed in polished casing stones that reflected light like beacons. Inside lie passageways, the King’s Chamber, the Queen’s Chamber, and mysteries that still puzzle Egyptologists. Over millennia, casing stones were removed, weather and human interference altered its shape, but it still strikes modern visitors with how precisely it was laid out on the cardinal directions.
4. Pyramid of Khafre
- Height: ~ 136.4 m
- Volume: ~ 2,211,096 m³ (approx)
- Constructed: ca. 2550 BC (Fourth Dynasty)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Open as part of the Giza pyramid complex; interior access is limited.
Khafre’s pyramid appears slightly smaller, but it retains a fragment of its original polished casing near its apex, making its summit look nearer to its original form. It sits on higher ground, so sometimes it appears taller than the Khufu pyramid is the largest pyramids in the world from certain vantage points. It forms part of a complex with the Sphinx and accompanying temples. Its construction followed rigorous planning: quarries, ramps, alignments, and enormous human effort. Over time, scholars debate methods of building and how workers fed, housed, and organized themselves. The remaining casing stone is a rare window to its original appearance.
5. Pyramid of the Sun
- Height: ~ 65.5 m
- Volume: ~ 1,184,828 m³
- Constructed: ~ 200 AD
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Open to visitors; portions climbable (subject to site rules)
In the heart of the Teotihuacan city, the Pyramid of the Sun towers over broad plazas and avenues. It was built around 200 AD and remains one of the most powerful and visible monuments and the largest pyramids in the world in ancient Mesoamerica. The builders aligned it with astronomical events. Over time, parts have been restored to permit safe climbing by modern tourists. Beneath it lie hidden tunnels and chambers. It’s central to the mystical layout of Teotihuacan: corridors, avenues, plazas, all arranged in harmony. As one climbs, one sees the Avenue of the Dead stretch away, flanked by smaller structures and the Pyramid of the Moon.
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6. The Red Pyramid (North Pyramid)
- Height: ~ 105 m
- Volume: (Not precisely known)
- Constructed: ca. 2600 BC (Fourth Dynasty)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Exterior open; some internal parts closed for safety
The Red Pyramid earns its name from the reddish hue of its limestone core stones. Built by Pharaoh Sneferu, it marks a major development in pyramid evolution: it has smooth, straight sides (a “true” pyramid), rather than steps or multiple changes in slope. Though many internal corridors exist, only the safer parts are open now. Its state is comparatively good, and visitors can walk around its base and gaze up at its impressive incline.
7. Bent Pyramid
- Height: ~ 104.7 m
- Volume: (Not precisely known)
- Constructed: ca. 2600 BC (Fourth Dynasty)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Exterior visible; interior access often restricted
This pyramid stands out because of its “bent” shape: the lower portion rises at one steep angle, then shifts to a gentler slope above. Scholars believe the builders changed plans mid-construction to avoid structural failure. It represents a learning moment in ancient Egyptian engineering. The upper sections may have been unstable, prompting the angle change. Today, you can walk around its base and inspect the change of slope, though venturing inside is typically prohibited for safety.
8. Toniná Pyramid
- Height: ~ 74 m
- Volume: (Not well documented)
- Constructed: Classic Maya era
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Archaeological park; open to visitors in daylight hours
Toniná was a powerful Maya city, and its pyramid dominates its hilltop setting in Chiapas. It’s known for steep stairways, defensive walls, and a series of quality carvings and reliefs. Unlike many sites merged in the lowland, Toniná is more dramatic because of its verticality and remote location. Climbing it brings a sense of altitude and solitude. The stepped levels host relief sculptures that depict rulers, rituals, the capture of enemies, and cosmological symbols.
9. Memphis Pyramid
- Height: ~ 98 m
- Volume: (Modern structure; volume not typically cited in pyramid lists)
- Constructed: 20th century (modern era)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Functions as a museum, arena, tourist site; open per local schedule
This is a modern take on the pyramid form: a sports and exhibition venue shaped like a large pyramid. Though not ancient, it’s often included in “largest pyramids in the world” discussions due to its scale. Its inclusion shows how the pyramid shape still fascinates us. People visit it for concerts, museum exhibits, and as a novelty: a big pyramid in the middle of Tennessee.
10. La Venta Great Pyramid (Olmec mound/pyramid complex)
- Height: modest (exact height low)
- Volume: large earth/stone mounds (not precisely measured)
- Constructed: Olmec period, ca. 900-600 BC
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Archeological park; open daylight hours
La Venta was a major Olmec center, and its pyramid complexes were among the earliest in Mesoamerica. The “pyramid” is not slender and tall but heavy, broad, and earthen. It includes large mounds, massive platforms, sculptures (Colossal Heads), and ceremonial plazas. Over time, nature has reclaimed much, but the site is protected. Visitors walk paths over the mounds and past museums displaying their art.
11. Pyramid of Meidum
- Height: Originally ~ 91.65 m (now collapsed to ~ 65 m)
- Volume: (Not well documented)
- Constructed: ca. 2600 BC (Fourth Dynasty)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Exterior viewing; interior closed
Meidum is a transitional pyramid: it started as a step pyramid, then the outer casing was added to make it smooth. But much of its outer casing collapsed, leaving a tiered, broken appearance. From a distance, it looks like a giant stone tower missing its top. Archaeologists study it for clues to the evolution from stepped to true pyramids.
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12. Pyramid of Djoser (Step Pyramid)
- Height: ~ 62.5 m
- Volume: (Not precisely documented)
- Constructed: ca. 2648 BC (Third Dynasty)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Exterior open; interior chamber access sometimes allowed when safe
This is one of the earliest large stone monuments in Egyptian history. Designed by the architect Imhotep for Pharaoh Djoser, it began as a mastaba and then extended upward in several stacked layers, forming a step pyramid. It wasn’t smooth but comprised stepped terraces. It signified a revolution: using stone to build tall monuments. Many later pyramids borrowed their layout ideas. Visitors to Saqqara can stroll around its base and see the surrounding tombs and structures.
13. Pyramid of Neferirkare
- Height: ~ 72.8 m (if intact)
- Volume: ~ 257,250 m³
- Constructed: ca. 25th century BC (Fifth Dynasty)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Ruined state; site visits allowed in daylight.
This pyramid was originally built as a step design and later smoothed. Over time, its outer cladding was lost, leaving bare core blocks. It lies amid numerous lesser pyramids in Abusir, forming a “pyramid cemetery” for royalty. It helps scholars compare construction techniques, material usage, and economic shifts in Old Kingdom Egypt. Walking among these ruins, you see the raw blocks and the work left incomplete.
14. Pyramid of Amenemhat I
- Height: ~ 59 m
- Volume: ~ 129,360 m³
- Constructed: ca. 1991-1778 BC (Twelfth Dynasty)
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Archeological site; parts accessible under supervision
During the Middle Kingdom, Amenemhat I built his pyramid at Lisht, marking a shift in royal burial sites. It’s smaller and less grand than Old Kingdom pyramids, but significant in the development of fortress-style complexes and symbolic architecture. Some of its internal chambers and passages are explored by archaeologists; visitors may see its remains and surrounding structures.
15. Pyramid of Khentkaus II / Smaller pyramids of the Giza area
- Height: ~ 50-60 m (varies)
- Volume: smaller compared to giants
- Constructed: Old to Middle Kingdom era
- Open / Close / Visiting Notes: Mostly closed; visible as ruins in the site
Khentkaus II was a royal figure whose pyramid is modest compared to the giants. Her tomb and pyramid lie in the shadow of the great Giza and Saqqara complexes. While its scale is low, it preserves insight into royal burial customs, dynastic transitions, and architectural experimentation. Visitors can see its exterior remains, often overshadowed but still meaningful in the full story of pyramid building.
Interesting Facts & Stats about the Largest Pyramids in the World
- The Great Pyramid of Cholula holds the official Guinness World Record for the Largest Pyramids in the World by volume (~ 3.3 million m³).
- La Danta in Guatemala is one of the biggest Mesoamerican pyramids by volume, estimated at 2.8 million m³.
- The Great Pyramid of Giza is the tallest among classical Egyptian pyramids still standing, and its original height (146.6 m) made it the tallest human-made structure for millennia.
- The pyramid building spanned millennia: Djoser’s step pyramid (Third Dynasty) marks one of the earliest monumental stone structures in Egypt.
- Many pyramids suffer from erosion, theft of casing stones, collapse, or partial ruin, making original heights and volumes uncertain.
- Visiting conditions vary: sites like Cholula and Teotihuacan allow climbs; Egyptian pyramid interiors often require special permits or are closed for preservation.
- Modern pyramids (e.g. Memphis Pyramid in the USA) show the cultural influence of the pyramid form even in recent architecture.
Conclusion
Who knew the largest pyramids in the world could be so playful, powerful, and persistent?
From jungle giants to mega-malls and ancient kings, these super-sized triangles outlast trends, inspire selfies, and keep everyone wondering what’s inside. Just like the tallest dreams and the oldest jokes, the largest pyramids in the world prove that rising high is always in fashion, no matter the century, the culture, or how many tourists are snapping photos.
FAQs
Q) What is the oldest pyramid in the world?
The Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara (Third Dynasty, around 2648 BC) is often considered the oldest large stone pyramid.
Q) What is the biggest pyramid in Egypt?
The Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu / Cheops) is the largest Egyptian pyramid by volume and size among Egyptian pyramids.
Q) What is the largest pyramids in the world by volume?
The Great Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico holds the title for the largest pyramid in the world by volume.
