Ancient site · Giza
Saqqara
The vast desert necropolis of ancient Memphis and home of Djoser's Step Pyramid, roughly 25 to 30 km south of Cairo.
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The story
Saqqara was the principal burial ground of Memphis, capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom. Its centrepiece is the Step Pyramid of Djoser from the Third Dynasty, which most Egyptologists credit to his vizier Imhotep and which is regarded as the first monumental structure in cut stone. Later Old Kingdom kings raised their own pyramids here, among them Unas and Teti, whose burial chambers are inscribed with the Pyramid Texts, while senior officials filled the plateau with decorated tombs. Saqqara is part of the Memphis necropolis inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1979.
Good to know
- Djoser's Step Pyramid rises in six tiers to roughly 60 metres.
- Imhotep, the architect linked to the pyramid, was later deified, and the Greeks equated him with Asclepius, god of healing.
- Inside the Pyramid of Unas are carved the Pyramid Texts, among the oldest large collections of religious writing from ancient Egypt.
- Sacred Apis bulls were buried in underground galleries at Saqqara, the best known of which is the Serapeum.
- Saqqara belongs to the Memphis pyramid fields, stretching from Giza to Dahshur, which UNESCO inscribed in 1979.
Visiting tips
The most comfortable season is October to March, and arriving when the site opens spares you the heat and the tour-bus crowds. Allow roughly two to three hours for Saqqara alone; it combines well with Memphis and Dahshur on a single day. Dress modestly with arms and legs covered, wear closed shoes with good grip because the ground is sandy and uneven, and bring water and a small torch for the tombs. Photography rules inside tombs may differ from the open grounds, so ask at the entrance, and check official hours and ticket prices before visiting as sources vary.