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Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur

Giza · Egypt

Background

World Heritage since
1979
Type of site
Cultural
Capital of Egypt
Old Kingdom

Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, and its burial grounds: rock tombs, ornate mastabas, temples and pyramids stretching from Giza to Dahshur. In ancient times the pyramids were counted among the Seven Wonders of the World.

The site runs from the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx on the Giza plateau, at the edge of modern Cairo, south to the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dahshur.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. Old KingdomMemphis is Egypt's capital; the pyramids are built
  2. AntiquityCounted among the Seven Wonders
  3. 1979Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Great Pyramid of Giza
    The largest pyramid on the Giza plateau.
  2. 2
    The Great Sphinx
    Near the exit at the bottom of the plateau.
  3. 3
    Step Pyramid of Djoser
    The first pyramid, at Saqqara.
  4. 4
    Memphis Open-Air Museum
    What remains of the old capital.
  5. 5
    Bent and Red Pyramids
    The pyramids of Dahshur.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Go at Opening
Crowds build soon after, and the pyramid interiors need an early start.
Carry Small Cash
Agree any camel price before you start, says the GoGo Cairo guide.
No Climbing
Climbing the pyramids is dangerous and illegal.
Saqqara by Car
Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur are a separate day by car.
Busier on Fridays
Crowds are bigger on Fridays, when many Egyptians visit.

A Morning at Giza

From the GoGo Cairo guide, which gives Saqqara and Dahshur a second day · Open the Cairo Guide ›

  1. 08:00
    Great Pyramid of Giza3 hrs
    The pyramids at opening time.
  2. 11:15
    The Great Sphinx45 min
    The Sphinx below the plateau.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Nov–Mar. Very hot (highs 34°C+) in Jun–Sep.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Nov (17 mm), driest May (0 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Historic Cairo is 17 km away, so the pyramids and the medieval city fill two days from one base.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 86 · Wikivoyage: Cairo/Giza (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Cairo guide · UNESCO listing