Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur sit south of Giza and are usually visited together in one day from Cairo. Saqqara holds the Step Pyramid of Djoser and the tombs of Old Kingdom officials, Memphis was the first capital of unified Egypt, and Dahshur has the Bent and Red Pyramids. Foreign adults pay EGP 600 at Saqqara and EGP 200 each at Memphis and Dahshur.
Key Takeaways
- Saqqara general admission for a foreign adult is EGP 600; an inclusive ticket that adds the extra tombs costs EGP 1,400.
- Memphis (the open-air museum at Mit Rahina) and Dahshur cost EGP 200 each for a foreign adult.
- All three sites open at 8:00 am, with last entry at 4:00 pm; during Ramadan, Memphis and Dahshur open at 9:00 am and take the last visitors at 3:00 pm.
- The three sites belong to the UNESCO World Heritage property “Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur”, inscribed in 1979.
- Ticket prices are in Egyptian pounds (EGP), and students need a valid student ID and must be 24 or younger for the student rate.
Why visit Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur together
The three sites trace the early story of the pyramids in one line on the map. Saqqara shows the first step: Djoser’s pyramid, built as stacked platforms rather than smooth sides. Dahshur shows the experiments that followed under King Sneferu: the Bent Pyramid, whose angle changes halfway up, and the Red Pyramid, the first true smooth-sided pyramid. Memphis, the royal city these cemeteries served, connects them.
Seeing them in one day also avoids the crowds of the Giza Plateau. Most visitors combine them with a private driver and guide, because the sites are spread out and there is little public transport between them.
Ticket prices and opening hours
These are the official prices for foreign adults, as published by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Children under 6 enter free.
| Site or ticket | Foreign adult | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Saqqara, general admission | EGP 600 | 8:00 am, last entry 4:00 pm |
| Saqqara, inclusive ticket | EGP 1,400 | 8:00 am, last entry 4:00 pm |
| Saqqara, Noble Tombs + New Kingdom Tombs | EGP 400 | 8:00 am, last entry 4:00 pm |
| Saqqara, Tomb of Mereruka | EGP 200 | 8:00 am, last entry 4:00 pm |
| Saqqara, Southern Tomb in the Djoser complex | EGP 300 | 8:00 am, last entry 4:00 pm |
| Memphis (Mit Rahina) | EGP 200 | 8:00 am, last entry 4:00 pm |
| Dahshur | EGP 200 | 8:00 am, last entry 4:00 pm |
Two prices are not shown on purpose. The ministry’s own pages disagree about the ticket for entering the Pyramid of Djoser and the ticket for the Serapeum: the Saqqara page gives one figure and each monument’s page gives another. Check the price at the ticket office or on the official ticketing portal before you go.
During Ramadan, Saqqara keeps its 8:00 am opening but takes the last visitors at 3:30 pm, while Memphis and Dahshur open at 9:00 am with last entry at 3:00 pm. The ministry recommends arriving at least an hour before closing.
What to see at Saqqara
Saqqara was the main burial ground of Memphis for much of ancient Egyptian history, so it is large. Most day trips focus on four places:
- The Step Pyramid of Djoser. The architect Imhotep designed it as a series of mastabas (flat-roofed rectangular tombs) placed one on top of another. The enclosure around it, with its colonnaded entrance, is worth the walk.
- The Tomb of Mereruka. A mastaba of a senior official, with many decorated rooms showing daily life: fishing, farming, crafts and hunting. It has its own EGP 200 ticket.
- The Noble Tombs and New Kingdom Tombs. Painted and carved private tombs on the EGP 400 add-on ticket.
- The Serapeum. Underground galleries cut for the burials of the sacred Apis bulls, lined with huge stone sarcophagi. Its price is one of the two the official sources disagree on.
If you plan to enter several tombs, compare the inclusive ticket (EGP 1,400) with the sum of the single tickets you actually want.
What to see at Memphis
Little of the ancient city still stands, because the site lies under farmland and the village of Mit Rahina. What visitors see is an open-air museum built around a colossal statue of Ramesses II, shown lying down inside its own hall, and an alabaster sphinx in the garden. An hour is enough, which is why Memphis usually sits between Saqqara and Dahshur on the route.
What to see at Dahshur
Dahshur is the quietest of the three. The Bent Pyramid keeps much of its outer casing, so you can see how the builders changed the angle partway up. The Red Pyramid nearby takes its name from the reddish limestone and is usually open to visitors who want to climb down into its inner chambers through a long, low passage. Neither is suitable for anyone who dislikes tight spaces.
How to plan the day
| Stop | Typical time on site | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Saqqara | 2 to 3 hours | Start here at opening, before the sun is high |
| Memphis | About 1 hour | Mostly shaded around the Ramesses II hall |
| Dahshur | 1 to 1.5 hours | Leave time if you want to go inside the Red Pyramid |
Last entry is 4:00 pm at all three, so a full loop needs an early start. Wear shoes for sand and stone, carry water, and dress modestly, as you would in any rural area of Egypt. Photography with a mobile phone is free at the sites.
You can do the three sites on their own with our Memphis, Sakkara and Dahshur day tour, or pair Saqqara and Memphis with the Great Pyramids on the Giza Pyramids, Memphis and Sakkara tour. For other ideas, see all our Cairo day tours.
FAQ
Can you visit Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur in one day?
Yes. All three open at 8:00 am and take the last visitors at 4:00 pm, and they lie close together south of Giza. Starting at Saqqara at opening time leaves enough time for Memphis and Dahshur in the afternoon.
Is the Saqqara ticket enough to see everything?
No. The EGP 600 general ticket covers the site, but several tombs need their own ticket, such as the Tomb of Mereruka (EGP 200) and the Noble and New Kingdom Tombs (EGP 400). The EGP 1,400 inclusive ticket groups the extras.
Can I pay for tickets by card?
Prices are set in Egyptian pounds. Self-service machines at Giza accept bank cards; at smaller sites, carry Egyptian pounds as well in case card payment is not available.