Saqqara Necropolis and the Step Pyramid

What is Saqqara and why is it important?

Saqqara is the necropolis of Memphis, Egypt's first capital, and the place where pyramid building began. Kings, queens, officials and sacred animals were buried along this stretch of desert plateau from the First Dynasty, around 3000 BC, through to the Greek and Roman periods. The site covers several kilometres and much of it is still being excavated; major discoveries of tombs, coffins and animal mummies are announced most years.

Its most famous monument, the Step Pyramid, was built for King Djoser of the Third Dynasty around 2650 BC by his architect Imhotep, later revered as a god of wisdom and medicine. Stacking six mastaba-like platforms one on top of another, to a height of about 62 metres, it was the first time anyone had built on this scale in cut stone. Every later pyramid, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, follows from this experiment. The pyramid reopened in 2020 after a long restoration.

What should you see at Saqqara?

The essentials are Djoser's Step Pyramid complex, the Pyramid of Unas, at least two of the decorated noble tombs such as those of Ti or Mereruka, and, if open, the Serapeum.

• Djoser's Step Pyramid complex: you enter through a narrow gateway into a colonnade of 40 stone columns carved to imitate bundled reeds, then emerge into the great south court. Look for the Heb-Sed court, where the king's jubilee was celebrated, and the serdab on the pyramid's north side, a sealed chamber with a peephole through which you can see a replica of Djoser's seated statue.
• The Pyramid of Unas: from the outside it looks like a heap of rubble, but Unas, last king of the Fifth Dynasty (around 2350 BC), was the first to have the Pyramid Texts carved inside his burial chamber: the oldest surviving religious writing of this kind, spells to help the king reach the afterlife. Interior access has varied over the years, so ask before you go.
• The Mastaba of Ti: a Fifth Dynasty official whose tomb shows boat building, cattle crossing a river and a hippopotamus hunt in the marshes, carved in fine detail.
• The Mastaba of Mereruka: the tomb of a Sixth Dynasty vizier with more than 30 rooms, including scenes of dancers, craftsmen and animals being fed.
• The Serapeum: long underground galleries where the sacred Apis bulls were buried in more than 20 enormous stone sarcophagi, many weighing tens of tonnes. Rediscovered by Auguste Mariette in 1850, it is one of the most atmospheric places in Egypt.
• The Imhotep Museum: near the entrance, a small museum with finds from the site and a good introduction before you head out.

How long do you need at Saqqara?

Allow three to four hours for Saqqara alone, or a full day if you add Memphis and Dahshur, which is how most visitors do it. The site is spread out, so you will drive between the main areas: the Step Pyramid and Unas group, the Teti pyramid area with Mereruka's tomb, and the Serapeum to the north-west.

A classic day leaves Giza or central Cairo at about 7.30am, spends the morning at Saqqara, stops at the open-air museum at Memphis (Mit Rahina) to see the colossal limestone statue of Ramesses II, and finishes at Dahshur for the Bent and Red Pyramids, where you can usually climb down inside the Red Pyramid with few other people around. You are back in Cairo by mid to late afternoon. Our Cairo and Pyramids stopover follows this pattern.

When is the best time to visit Saqqara?

Arrive at opening time, especially from April to October; there is almost no shade on the plateau and the heat builds quickly. From November to February mornings are cool and clear, often perfect for walking, though a fine-weather day can still feel warm by noon. In March and April the khamsin, a hot, dusty wind from the desert, can blow up haze and sand for a day or two at a time.

Saqqara is much quieter than Giza at any time of year, but tour groups doing the Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur circuit tend to arrive mid-morning. Being first at the Step Pyramid means you can photograph the colonnade and south court with almost nobody in shot. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and closed shoes: the ground is sandy and uneven, and some tomb entrances involve steep, low steps. See our what to wear in Egypt guide.

How do tickets work at Saqqara?

A main Saqqara ticket covers the core of the site, and some special tombs or the Serapeum have at times required an additional ticket; prices and combinations change, so check before you go. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities periodically opens newly restored tombs, closes others for conservation and adjusts which monuments sit on which ticket. At the time of writing, the official place to check current prices and buy many tickets online is egymonuments.gov.eg.

On a guided tour, your Egyptologist will know which tombs are open on the day and can choose the best ones for your interests. Keep small Egyptian pound notes for tomb guardians, who may offer to show you a hidden detail with a torch in exchange for a tip.

How does Saqqara fit into a Cairo itinerary?

Give Saqqara its own day, combined with Memphis and Dahshur, rather than squeezing it onto your Giza or museum day. With at least three full days in Cairo, a good order is: Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum on one day, Saqqara and Dahshur on the next, then Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili.

Seeing Saqqara after Giza works well because you can then trace pyramid building from its beginning (Djoser), through Sneferu's experiments at Dahshur, to the perfection of Khufu's Great Pyramid. Read our Pyramids of Giza guide for the other half of the story.