Saqqara is the largest and longest-used royal necropolis in Egypt, the burial ground that served the ancient capital of Memphis for more than 2,600 years. The site stretches 8 kilometres along the desert plateau west of the Nile, 30 kilometres south of central Cairo, and contains 11 royal pyramids, hundreds of mastaba tombs of nobles and officials, the underground Serapeum catacombs of the sacred Apis bulls, and the world’s oldest surviving stone building, the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Burials at Saqqara span Egypt’s First Dynasty (c. 2950 BCE) through to the Greco-Roman period (343 BCE). Most visitors see Saqqara as part of a Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur day tour that pairs the necropolis with the Memphis open-air museum east of the site and the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dahshur south of it.
Saqqara takes its name from the local god Sokar, an Old Kingdom funerary deity associated with the Memphite necropolis. The site was chosen as the burial ground for the kings of unified Egypt’s First Dynasty (c. 2950-2775 BCE) because of its proximity to the new capital at Memphis and the high desert plateau that gave the tombs protection from the annual Nile flood.
The Third Dynasty pharaoh Djoser (c. 2670 BCE) revolutionised royal burial when his architect Imhotep designed and built the Step Pyramid: the world’s first monumental stone structure, the world’s oldest surviving stone building, and the prototype for every later Egyptian pyramid including those at Giza. The Djoser complex covered 15 hectares and included not just the pyramid but a mortuary temple, ritual courtyard, southern tomb, and an enclosure wall of polished white limestone faithfully imitating older mud-brick palace architecture.
Saqqara remained the active royal cemetery throughout the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BCE), with pyramids built for Userkaf (5th Dynasty), Djedkare Isesi, Unas (whose pyramid contains the earliest Pyramid Texts), Teti, Pepi I, Merenre, and Pepi II. The Pyramid Texts at Unas are the oldest religious writings in the world.
Burials continued through the Middle and New Kingdoms as a non-royal necropolis for nobles and officials. The mastaba tombs of viziers, priests, and senior administrators preserve the daily-life painted scenes that are among the masterpieces of Egyptian art: the tomb of Ti, the tomb of Mereruka, the tomb of Kagemni.
The Late Period (664-332 BCE) saw a major revival of activity, especially around the Serapeum catacombs where the sacred Apis bulls were buried in massive black granite sarcophagi, each weighing up to 80 tonnes. The Serapeum was rediscovered by Auguste Mariette in 1851 CE after he followed an avenue of partially buried sphinxes to its entrance.
Saqqara was inscribed as part of the “Memphis and its Necropolis” UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Excavation continues today, and the site routinely produces major finds: in 2020-2021 alone, missions led by Egyptian archaeologist Mostafa Waziri unveiled more than 250 sealed coffins from a Late Period cache, a temple to Queen Naert (wife of Teti), and a complete Old Kingdom funerary temple buried for 4,000 years.
The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the headline monument. The 60-metre tiered pyramid, the world’s oldest standing stone building, sits at the centre of a 15-hectare funerary complex with a polished limestone enclosure wall, the Heb-Sed courtyard, the southern tomb, and the mortuary temple. See the dedicated Step Pyramid of Djoser KB page for the full visitor breakdown.
The Serapeum of Saqqara is the underground catacomb where the sacred Apis bulls were buried. Visitors descend 12 metres into corridors lined with chambers containing 24 monumental black granite sarcophagi, each carved from a single block and weighing 65 to 80 tonnes. The Serapeum is open to visitors after a 2010s conservation closure and is the most impressive underground space at Saqqara.
The Pyramid of Unas at the south-east corner of the Djoser complex looks unimpressive from outside (a low mound of rubble) but contains the oldest religious writings in the world. The interior chamber walls are completely covered with the Pyramid Texts: hieroglyphic spells from the Coffin Texts tradition that became the basis for the later Book of the Dead. Entry is via a low passage and the interior is small but extraordinary.
The mastaba tombs of Ti, Mereruka, and Kagemni north of the Step Pyramid are among the finest examples of Old Kingdom relief art. The painted limestone walls preserve agricultural scenes, hunting in the marshes, market activity, animal husbandry, and elaborate funerary procession reliefs. Several chambers are open and feel like walking into a 4,400-year-old illustrated manual of daily life.
The Pyramid of Teti at the north-east edge of the site is the second-oldest pyramid containing Pyramid Texts. Smaller than Unas but with more legible inscriptions in places.
The Imhotep Museum at the Saqqara site entrance displays the finest finds from the necropolis: the statue of Djoser, fragments of polished limestone casing from the Step Pyramid, painted reliefs from the mastabas, and recent discoveries from the ongoing Egyptian missions.
Saqqara sits 30 km south of central Cairo and 6 km west of Memphis. Most visitors combine Saqqara with Memphis and Dahshur as a single full-day archaeological outing. From central Cairo allow 60 to 75 minutes by car; from Giza 30 to 45 minutes; from Cairo International Airport 75 to 90 minutes.
Opening hours: 08:00 to 17:00 daily (October to April); 07:00 to 19:00 (May to September). The site is large; arrive in the morning for the cooler weather and full visit time.
Entrance fee (2026, subject to change): the standard Saqqara ticket of approximately 650 EGP (around $13 USD) for foreign-adult entry covers the Step Pyramid of Djoser complex, the Pyramid of Unas with Pyramid Texts, the Imhotep Museum, and selected mastaba tombs. The Serapeum is a separate supplemental ticket of around 240 EGP. Memphis (24 km east) is sometimes bundled into a combo ticket. Egyptian nationals and students with international ID receive significant discounts.
Best time of day: first thing at opening for cool weather, soft light on the Step Pyramid, and uncrowded mastaba tombs. By 11:00 the site is hot and crowded with Cairo school groups and tour buses. The Serapeum, being underground, is comfortable any hour but lit only by overhead bulbs.
How long to allow: 2.5 to 3 hours for a thorough Saqqara visit covering the Step Pyramid complex, the Serapeum, the Pyramid of Unas, and at least two mastaba tombs. As part of a Memphis-Saqqara-Dahshur day this is the longest stop at about half the total touring time.
Photography: permitted throughout the exterior areas. Photography inside the Pyramid of Unas chamber is restricted (the Pyramid Texts are light-sensitive). The Serapeum allows phone photography but no flash; tripods require a separate permit.
Accessibility: Saqqara is a large site with significant walking between monuments. The main paths are flat and partially wheelchair-accessible. The Serapeum has a long descending ramp followed by uneven catacomb floors; not wheelchair-accessible. Several mastaba tomb entrances have step thresholds.
Pair Saqqara with Memphis and Dahshur in one day. All three sites are on the same west-bank corridor and the three-site combination is the standard archaeological day from Cairo. Standalone Saqqara visits skip too much of the Memphite story.
Enter the Pyramid of Unas even though the outside is dull. The Pyramid Texts inside are the oldest religious writings in the world. The interior chamber is small but the walls covered floor to ceiling in 4,300-year-old hieroglyphic spells are unforgettable. Many tour buses skip this monument because the exterior is unimpressive; do not be one of them.
The Serapeum is worth the extra ticket. The 80-tonne black granite sarcophagi in the underground chambers are among the most impressive engineering objects in Egypt. The supplement is small relative to the experience.
Bring a torch for the mastaba interiors. Several mastaba tombs are lit only by ambient daylight from the doorway. The painted reliefs deep inside the chambers are best appreciated with a strong handheld torch (the phone flashlight works fine).
Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat. Saqqara is windblown sand over rocky bedrock with very little shade. From April through October the midday heat is intense and sunstroke is a real risk.
Saqqara features in our Saqqara-Memphis-Dahshur day tours and most longer Cairo combination trips. The three best options:
Every Egypt Day Tours visit to Saqqara includes private air-conditioned transport, all site entry tickets including the Serapeum supplement, a licensed Egyptologist guide, and bottled water.
Saqqara is the underrated highlight of any Cairo trip. The mastaba tomb of Ti has painted reliefs that make Giza feel one-dimensional. We spent 3 hours and could have done another two.
The Serapeum is the wildest thing in Egypt. Descending into the underground chambers and standing next to an 80-tonne sarcophagus carved from a single block of granite is unlike anything else.
Standing in the Pyramid of Unas surrounded by 4,300-year-old hieroglyphic spells was the moment Egypt clicked for me. Our Egyptologist translated some of the Texts in real time.
Saqqara sits on the high desert plateau west of the Nile, 30 kilometres south of central Cairo and 6 kilometres west of the Memphis site at Mit Rahina village. The necropolis stretches 8 kilometres along the plateau and is reached by private car in 60 to 75 minutes from downtown Cairo, 30 to 45 minutes from the Giza Plateau, and 75 to 90 minutes from Cairo International Airport.
Saqqara is the largest and longest-used royal necropolis in Egypt. It contains the world’s oldest surviving stone building (the Step Pyramid of Djoser, c. 2670 BCE), the oldest religious writings in the world (the Pyramid Texts in the Pyramid of Unas), the Serapeum catacombs of the sacred Apis bulls, and some of the finest Old Kingdom mastaba tombs with painted daily-life reliefs. Burials at Saqqara span 2,600 years of continuous royal and noble use.
The Serapeum is the underground catacomb at Saqqara where the sacred Apis bulls were buried. The Apis bulls were considered living incarnations of the god Ptah; at death each bull was given an elaborate state funeral and buried in a massive black granite sarcophagus weighing 65 to 80 tonnes. Visitors descend 12 metres into corridors lined with chambers containing 24 of these sarcophagi. The Serapeum was rediscovered in 1851 CE by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette.
Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for a thorough visit covering the Step Pyramid of Djoser complex, the Pyramid of Unas with its Pyramid Texts, the Serapeum, the Imhotep Museum, and at least two mastaba tombs. As part of a Memphis-Saqqara-Dahshur day from Cairo, Saqqara is the longest stop and usually takes about half the total touring time.
Yes, the Step Pyramid of Djoser (interior recently reopened after restoration) and the Pyramid of Unas (with the oldest Pyramid Texts in the world) are both open to visitors with separate interior tickets. The other Saqqara pyramids (Teti, Pepi I, Pepi II, Userkaf) are sometimes open and sometimes closed for conservation; confirm at the site entrance.
Yes, most often as part of a Memphis-Saqqara-Dahshur combination day or paired with the Giza pyramids on longer day trips. Saqqara is usually the morning’s main stop in the necropolis arc and the longest single-site visit of the day.