Saqqara and Memphis: Djoser's Step Pyramid, tickets and day trip
Saqqara, about thirty kilometres south of Cairo, holds Djoser's Step Pyramid (around 2650 BC), the oldest large structure of cut stone, and tombs with colourful reliefs. Memphis, a few kilometres away, keeps a reclining colossus of Ramesses II. The simplest way is a 5- to 6-hour tour from Cairo, added to the Giza pyramids: see the Giza pyramids from Hurghada and Cairo by plane from Hurghada. From Hurghada, count a flight or 5 to 6 hours by road to Cairo, then this tour: better to spend a night in Cairo.
Highlights
Djoser's Step Pyramid
Six tiers, Egypt's first great pyramid, designed by the architect Imhotep. You can go inside with a separate ticket.
Memphis and the colossus of Ramesses II
The open-air museum at Mit Rahina keeps the reclining colossus of Ramesses II and a few statues.
Practical info
Tips
- Tickets vary by source: about 360 EGP for Saqqara in 2026 (outdoor pyramid, tombs of Ti and Mereruka, Serapeum), other sources say 450 to 600 EGP, and the interior of the pyramid is a separate ticket (150 to 280 EGP depending on the source); Memphis would be 200 EGP and Dahshur 60 EGP. Confirm with your guide. Among tours, the private Saqqara-Memphis-Dahshur trip with lunch is rated 4.7 from 367 reviews (about 53 US dollars); some reviews find it rushed at Memphis.
How to get there
Saqqara is 30 km south of Giza, about 45 minutes by car: public transport is not practical, take a tour or a car with driver. From Hurghada, see Hurghada to Cairo: bus or transfer.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
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