Hidden gem

Saqqara

Saqqara, Egypt

Saqqara (سقارة)

Djoser's Step Pyramid, the first pyramid, and painted tombs without the Giza crowds.

Checked 7 October 2026

The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara

Saqqara was the burial ground of ancient Memphis: here Imhotep built the Step Pyramid of Djoser, and around it lie royal pyramids and painted tombs of officials spread over several kilometres of desert. The main ticket (EGP 600 for foreign adults) covers the Step Pyramid complex, the Unas and Teti pyramids and a set of tombs, but the Step Pyramid's interior, the Serapeum and the best tombs cost extra, and there is no public transport, so plan your driver and your add-ons before you go.

Saqqara is the vast cemetery of Memphis, the first capital of a united Egypt, on the desert edge about 30 km south of Cairo. For some three thousand years kings, officials and sacred animals were buried here, so the site holds pyramids, mastaba tombs, catacombs and temples from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history. Together with Giza and Dahshur it forms the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Memphis and its Necropolis" (1979).

Its centrepiece is the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, built in the 27th century BC by his architect Imhotep. Six stacked mastaba-like levels made it the first pyramid and the oldest large stone building complex in the world: everything at Dahshur and Giza grew out of this experiment. The surrounding enclosure, with its colonnaded entrance and festival court, was also carved in stone for the first time.

Saqqara's other treasures are smaller and more personal. The Pyramid of Unas holds the oldest Pyramid Texts, columns of carved spells to guide the king in the afterlife, and the tombs of Old Kingdom officials such as Mereruka and Kagemni are covered with lively reliefs of farming, fishing, butchers, dancers and animals. Underground, the Serapeum's long galleries hold the huge granite boxes made for the sacred Apis bulls.

Excavation never stops here: Egyptian and foreign missions keep finding tombs, coffins and animal mummies, and new tombs open to visitors from time to time. It is the place where you can see Egyptian architecture being invented, with a fraction of the visitors of Giza.

What to see

  1. Step Pyramid of Djoser

    The world's first pyramid and its walled complex, entered through the original stone colonnade. Walking around it is included in the main ticket; going inside costs EGP 280 extra. The interior reopened in March 2020 after a 14-year restoration.

  2. Pyramid of Unas

    A plain-looking, half-ruined pyramid, but its burial chamber walls are covered in the oldest Pyramid Texts, carved spells for the king's afterlife. Listed in the main ticket. Recent visitors suggest using your phone torch to see the blue-filled hieroglyphs.

  3. Serapeum

    Long rock-cut galleries where the sacred Apis bulls were buried, lined with enormous stone sarcophagi. Separate ticket, EGP 340. Recent visitors who had already seen Giza often call it the highlight of Saqqara.

  4. Tomb of Mereruka

    The large double tomb of a vizier and his wife, with room after room of daily-life reliefs: farming, fishing, crafts and animals. Separate ticket, EGP 200, right next to the Pyramid of Teti (in the main ticket).

  5. Noble tombs in the main ticket

    The 2024 Ministry list puts the tombs of Kagemni, Ankhmahor, Ptahhotep, Idut and others in the main ticket. Which ones are open rotates, so ask at the ticket office and visit tombs early: some close around midday.

  6. New Kingdom tombs and the Southern Tomb

    The New Kingdom cemetery south of the causeway (tombs of high officials of Tutankhamun's time) costs EGP 400; Djoser's Southern Tomb, with its blue-tiled chambers, EGP 300. Worth it if you have seen the main sights and still have energy.

  7. Imhotep Museum

    Small museum at the site entrance, opened in 2006 and named after the architect of the Step Pyramid. Gives context before you walk out to the pyramid; tour operators visit it with the main ticket.

Restored walls and columns of the Djoser funerary complex
Restored walls and columns of the Djoser funerary complex

Saqqara tickets: which to buy and where

Buy the EGP 600 Saqqara ticket from the Ministry's site, egymonuments.com, or at the site, then choose your extras: the Serapeum (EGP 340) and the Step Pyramid interior (EGP 280) are the most popular. The official FAQ says Visa and Mastercard are accepted on every channel, including the counters; reports differ on whether cash is still taken for entry tickets (a July 2026 visitor found it refused), so plan to pay by card and keep cash for tips.

The official ticket site

Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (EgyMonuments e-ticketing)

The Ministry's own ticket platform, run with e-finance; the same tickets are sold in the Experience Egypt app, at the site's counters and at self-service card machines. Look for "Copyright of Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities" in the footer. The .com sells tickets; the Ministry's information site egymonuments.gov.eg does not. Tickets are dated and non-refundable.

Go to the official site

  • Saqqara entry ticket

    EGP 600 adult; EGP 300 student (valid ID, up to 24); under 6 free

    (€10 · €5)

    Official ticketsSkips some lines

    Includes
    Step Pyramid complex (outside), Pyramids of Unas and Teti, and the tombs of Kagemni, Nikauisesi, Ankhmahor, Neferseshemptah, Ptahhotep, Idut, Unasankh and Iynefert (2024 list; which tombs are open varies)
    Best for
    Everyone; it is the base ticket for every extra
    Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • Pyramid of Djoser interior (add-on)

    EGP 280 adult; EGP 140 student

    (€5 · €2)

    Official ticketsSkips some lines

    Includes
    The restored passages and burial shaft of the Step Pyramid, entered from the south side; main ticket needed as well
    Best for
    Visitors who want to go inside the first pyramid
    Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • Serapeum (add-on)

    EGP 340 adult; EGP 170 student

    (€6 · €3)

    Official ticketsSkips some lines

    Includes
    The underground galleries of the Apis bull burials
    Best for
    Most visitors; the most distinctive extra
    Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • Tomb of Mereruka (add-on)

    EGP 200 adult; EGP 100 student

    (€3 · €2)

    Official ticketsSkips some lines

    Includes
    The large multi-room tomb of Mereruka next to Teti's pyramid
    Best for
    Visitors who want the best Old Kingdom reliefs
    Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • New Tombs and South Tombs (add-ons)

    New Tombs EGP 400 (student EGP 200); South Tombs EGP 300 (student EGP 150)

    (€7 · €3 · €5)

    Official ticketsSkips some lines

    Includes
    New Tombs: New Kingdom noblemen's tombs in the Horemheb/Bubasteum area. South Tombs: Djoser's Southern Tomb (names from the Ministry's 2024 list)
    Best for
    Enthusiasts with time for a second round
    Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • All-inclusive Saqqara add-on

    EGP 1,400 adult; EGP 700 student

    (€24 · €12)

    Official ticketsSkips some lines

    Includes
    Listed on the booking page next to the add-ons and priced just under the five extras bought separately (EGP 1,520), which suggests it covers all of them, but the page does not say what it includes or whether the EGP 600 entry is part of it. The Ministry's 2024 list had a "ticket for all Saqqara tombs" at EGP 1,000
    Best for
    Visitors who want the Serapeum, Djoser's interior and all the tomb groups; ask at the counter what it covers before you buy
    Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket →

How to buy

  1. Go to egymonuments.com, open Saqqara Monuments and choose "Other Nationality". Add the entry ticket and any extras, pick the date and pay by Visa or Mastercard; the ticket comes by email.
  2. Or buy at the site: by August 2026 self-service card machines and more electronic gates had been installed at Saqqara (Khaleej Times), and the official FAQ says the counters take Visa and Mastercard. Bring your student card if you claim the student price.
  3. If you drive yourself or come by taxi, the car park ticket is EGP 25 per car. Dahshur (EGP 200) and Memphis (EGP 200) are sold separately on the same site and can go in the same basket.

Look-alike sites

The only official online seller is egymonuments.com (also the Experience Egypt app); the Ministry's other site, egymonuments.gov.eg, gives information but does not sell. Prices on the official site are in Egyptian pounds and match the Ministry's list (EGP 600 for Saqqara). Pages that sell "Saqqara tickets" in dollars or euros are tour companies or resellers; check whether a tour price includes entry fees at all.

We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.

Guided tours of Saqqara

Saqqara is easy to walk on your own, but the hard part is transport, so most visitors either hire a driver or book a private day trip that adds Dahshur and Memphis. A guide is worth it for the tombs, whose reliefs mean far more when someone reads them for you, and keeps tip-seeking guards at a distance. Check what a tour includes: many cheap tours exclude entry fees, and guides do not go into the pyramids with you.

  • Private guided day trip

    Cairo: Sakkara, Memphis & Dahshur Pyramids Trip

    Egypt Nile Felucca (via GetYourGuide)

    Hotel pickup at 08:00 in Cairo or Giza, private air-conditioned car, guide in English, Spanish or Arabic; about 2 hours at Saqqara. The listing names entry fees, lunch and tipping among its items, so check which your option includes. Some reviews mention shop stops.

    from €74

    Duration: 5 hours

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

  • Private tour with driver and audio or live guide

    Cairo Day Tour to Memphis Sakkara & Dahshur Pyramids

    Emo Tours Egypt (via Viator)

    Door-to-door private transport, snacks and drinks; entrance fees not included. The audio-guide option is essentially a car and driver for the day, and one 2026 review says the driver speaks no English.

    from €10.86 with audio guide; from €27.15 with live guide

    Duration: 5 hours

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

  • Private guided half-day tour

    Private Tour to Saqqara and Memphis

    Egypt Tailor Made (Cairo operator)

    Licensed Egyptologist, private air-conditioned car, main entry tickets to Saqqara and Memphis and water included; extra tickets (Mereruka, Serapeum) and meals are not. Visits the Step Pyramid, Unas complex, officials' tombs and the Imhotep Museum.

    from $60

    Duration: About 4 hours

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

  • Small-group day trip

    Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara & Memphis: Guided Tour from Cairo + Lunch

    Kemet Egypt Travel (via Tiqets)

    Maximum 15 people, English-speaking Egyptologist, hotel pickup and lunch. Giza in the morning, then the Step Pyramid and Memphis; little time for Saqqara's tombs or extras.

    about €47–49, plus $26 entry fees

    Duration: 7.5 hours

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.

Saqqara deals and discounts

The bottom line

The official tickets are the best buy, and Saqqara is cheaper than Giza (EGP 600 against EGP 700). The real savings are the student rate, free entry for under-6s, choosing your extras rather than buying all of them, and possibly the Cairo Pass if you visit many Cairo sites in five days.

  • Half price for students up to 24

    Students pay EGP 300 for Saqqara and half price for every extra (Serapeum EGP 170, Djoser interior EGP 140). You need a valid student card, and the Ministry's rules say your age must not exceed 24.

    egymonuments.com · as of October 2026

  • Free for children under 6

    Children under 6 enter Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis free, and photos with a mobile phone are free of charge at all three.

    egymonuments.com · as of October 2026

  • Pyramid interiors included at Dahshur

    The EGP 200 Dahshur ticket includes going inside the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid, compared with EGP 280 for Djoser's interior here and EGP 1,500 for Khufu's at Giza. If you only want one pyramid interior, Dahshur is the cheapest.

    egymonuments.com · as of October 2026

  • All-inclusive add-on

    EGP 1,400 (students EGP 700) on the booking page, against EGP 1,520 for all five extras bought separately. The official page does not list what it covers, so ask at the counter first. Only worth it if you really want the Serapeum, Djoser's interior and the tomb groups; most visitors are happy with the entry ticket plus the Serapeum.

    egymonuments.com · as of October 2026

  • Cairo Pass (check the price before you count on it)

    The Ministry's five-day Cairo Pass covers its archaeological sites and museums in Greater Cairo, except the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization; a December 2025 Earth Trekkers guide reports that this includes Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis. The Ministry last published its price in 2023 ($130, students $70), sold at the Egyptian Museum, Giza and Citadel counters with a passport copy and photo, and the December 2025 guide still gives $130. No 2026 price is published, so ask at a Ministry ticket counter for the current price before you buy.

    mota.gov.eg · as of December 2025

Best time to visit Saqqara

Arrive at the 08:00 opening. The site is open desert with very little shade, and by midday the heat makes walking between the pyramid, the Unas causeway and the tombs tiring. Some tombs close around midday, so see them first.

October to April is the comfortable season; in summer, go first thing and be done by late morning. Last entry is at 16:00 (15:30 in Ramadan), and you need an hour at least.

Saqqara is far quieter than Giza at any time of day. If you combine it with Dahshur and Memphis, start at whichever site your driver reaches first at 08:00, see Saqqara's tombs before midday, and keep Memphis, the shortest stop, for last or for the middle of the day.

Tips and tricks

Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.

  1. Book a driver who waits

    Getting there by Uber is easy; getting back is not, as few cars wait at Saqqara and the mobile signal is patchy. Agree that the driver waits, or comes back at a fixed time, before you set off.

    From Travel the World Pages, Saqqara without a tour, July 2026

  2. Pay by card, tip in cash

    The official FAQ says Visa and Mastercard are taken at the counters and machines, and a July 2026 visitor found cash refused for entry tickets; reports differ, so plan on a card. Carry small notes for tips to guards and attendants.

    From Travel the World Pages, July 2026; EgyMonuments FAQ

  3. Go inside Unas

    If you only enter one pyramid at Saqqara, recent visitors pick the Pyramid of Unas for its carved Pyramid Texts; it is in the main ticket. A phone torch helps.

    From GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor reviews, 2026

  4. Make the Serapeum your one extra

    Visitors who had already seen Giza repeatedly name the Serapeum and the noble tombs, not the Step Pyramid, as the highlight of Saqqara.

    From TripAdvisor Saqqara reviews, December 2025

  5. See the tombs before noon

    Several tombs shut around midday, and which ones are open rotates. Ask at the ticket office which are open today and plan your loop around them.

    From TripAdvisor Saqqara reviews, February 2026

  6. Start at the Imhotep Museum

    The small museum at the entrance explains Djoser, Imhotep and the site before you walk out to the pyramid, which helps a lot if you visit without a guide.

    From Travel the World Pages, July 2026

  7. Wear proper shoes

    The ground is sand and loose rock, distances between monuments are long, and tomb and pyramid entrances have steep steps. Closed shoes, water and sun protection are essential.

    From Travel the World Pages, July 2026

  8. Do Dahshur and Memphis in the same trip

    Dahshur is 1–1.5 hours with both pyramid interiors, Memphis 45 minutes to an hour, and the three sites are a short drive apart. Allow 5–6 hours from Cairo or Giza including driving.

    From Earth Trekkers, Dahshur, Memphis and Saqqara guide, December 2025

A carved relief of a man holding a staff
A carved relief of a man holding a staff

How to get to Saqqara

  • There is no useful public transport. From Giza it is about 20 km (30–40 minutes by car); from central Cairo about 30 km (45–60 minutes, depending on traffic).
  • Uber or Careem: the easiest way there, with a fixed fare. For the return, arrange for the driver to wait (extra cost) or to come back at a set time, because few cars wait at the site.
  • Driver for the day: the usual way to combine Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis. Reported prices differ widely: EGP 500–750 for a taxi for the day (Earth Trekkers, December 2025) against EGP 3,000–4,500 for a private air-conditioned car (TripAdvisor review, December 2025). Agree the total, the sites, the waiting time and the return point before leaving.
  • Parking at the site costs EGP 25 per car, EGP 50 for a minibus. The metro to Giza plus a taxi is possible but saves little and adds hassle.

Scams and problems to watch for

  • Guards who "show you" things

    Guards at tomb entrances offer to point out details, hold a torch or lead you into a corner, then expect baksheesh, and recent visitors describe some as pushy because there are fewer tourists to work on. A firm "la shukran" (no, thank you) works; tip only if you accepted help.

  • Paying a guard to open a closed tomb

    A guard offers to unlock a tomb that is closed, or one that should already be open on your ticket, for cash. If the tomb is on your ticket, ask at the ticket office; money handed to a guard is not a ticket and you have no recourse if the visit is cut short.

  • Unofficial guides at the gate

    Men without official ID attach themselves to you at the entrance or the car park and start a tour you did not ask for, then demand payment. Licensed guides carry an official ID and are booked in advance, not picked up at the gate.

  • Papyrus, perfume and carpet stops

    Drivers and some tours add a stop at a "government" papyrus institute, perfume or carpet school on the way back from Saqqara. These are commission stops with inflated prices. Say before you leave that you want no shops.

  • "Saqqara is closed today"

    A driver or stranger says the site is closed and offers somewhere else, usually a shop. Saqqara is open every day from 08:00; check the official page yourself.

Accessibility

Saqqara is not built for wheelchairs. The site is open desert with sand, loose stones and long distances between monuments, and the interiors of the Step Pyramid, the Pyramid of Unas, the Serapeum and the tombs are reached by stairs or low sloping passages. With a car you can drive between the main areas, but you still walk on uneven ground at each stop. At Dahshur, the passages into the Red and Bent Pyramids are long, low and steep and are hard work even for fit visitors. The Ministry offers free entry for Egyptians with special needs; the official page lists no reduced rate for foreign disabled visitors. Tour platforms list day trips here as not wheelchair accessible.

Combine it with

  • Dahshur (Red and Bent Pyramids)

    A short drive south: Sneferu's two great pyramids, both of which you can enter on the EGP 200 ticket, in open desert with very few visitors. Daily from 08:00, last entry 16:00.

  • Memphis (Mit Rahina)

    Open-air museum on the site of the old capital, with the colossal fallen statue of Ramesses II and the alabaster sphinx. EGP 200 (students EGP 100), 45 minutes to an hour, between Saqqara and Dahshur.

  • Pyramids of Giza

    On Sightsale

    About 30–40 minutes north. Many visitors do Giza in the morning and Saqqara after, but a full day for both is tiring; Saqqara first and Giza in the afternoon also works.

  • Grand Egyptian Museum

    On Sightsale

    Next to the Giza plateau, with Tutankhamun's treasures and the partner of the Ramesses II colossus you see at Memphis. A good second half of a day that starts at Saqqara.

Smaller pyramids along a paved path in the necropolis
Smaller pyramids along a paved path in the necropolis

Questions people ask about visiting Saqqara

How much is the Saqqara ticket?

In October 2026 the Saqqara entry ticket costs EGP 600 for foreign adults and EGP 300 for students up to 24; under-6s are free. Extras cost more: Step Pyramid interior EGP 280, Serapeum EGP 340, Tomb of Mereruka EGP 200, New Tombs EGP 400, South Tombs EGP 300.

Can you go inside the Step Pyramid of Djoser?

Yes. The interior reopened in 2020 after restoration and needs an EGP 280 add-on ticket (students EGP 140) on top of the main ticket. The Pyramid of Unas, with its carved Pyramid Texts, is included in the main ticket.

Is the Serapeum included in the Saqqara ticket?

No. The Serapeum needs a separate EGP 340 ticket (students EGP 170, October 2026). Buy it with the main ticket online or at the site.

How do I get to Saqqara from Cairo?

By car: there is no practical public transport. Uber or Careem takes 30–40 minutes from Giza and 45–60 from central Cairo; arrange for the driver to wait or return, as few cars wait at the site. Most people hire a driver or a private tour for Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis together.

How long do you need at Saqqara?

About two to three hours for the Step Pyramid, Unas, a few tombs and the Serapeum. With Dahshur and Memphis, plan five to six hours from Cairo or Giza, starting by 08:00.

Can I pay cash at Saqqara?

Plan to pay by card. The Ministry's FAQ says Visa and Mastercard are accepted at counters and machines; reports differ on cash, and a July 2026 visitor found it was no longer accepted for entry tickets. Carry small cash for tips.

Is Saqqara worth it if I have seen Giza?

Yes, for most visitors: it shows how pyramids began, the Pyramid of Unas and the officials' tombs have decoration you do not see at Giza, and the Serapeum is unlike anything else. It is also much quieter.

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