Grand Egyptian Museum and Saqqara: One Day or Two?
Saqqara's Step Pyramid is older than anything at Giza. Here's how to fit it around the Grand Egyptian Museum, and why most people need two days.
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Entry with all-inclusive option On Viator
Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis and Grand Egyptian Museum in one day
All four sites in one long day, with a licensed guide and lunch; entry fees optional.
- 8 hrs
- Hotel pickup
- Lunch
- Free cancellation
Live guide: English, Arabic
From US$50 per person · Oct 2026
Check dates — Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis and Grand Egyptian Museum in one day, Viator (opens in a new tab)
Entry ticket included On Viator
Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis full-day tour
Day two of a Cairo stay: the pyramids, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and Memphis, with entry tickets and an Egyptologist.
- 8 hrs
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation
Live guide: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
From US$52 per person · Oct 2026
Check dates — Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis full-day tour, Viator (opens in a new tab)
Our pick Entry with all-inclusive option On GetYourGuide
Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis tour with lunch
The classic second day: Giza, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and Memphis, with entry fees and lunch.
- 8 hrs
- Hotel pickup
- Lunch
- Skip the line
From US$60 per person · Oct 2026
Check dates — Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis tour with lunch, GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
Entry with all-inclusive option On GetYourGuide
Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur pyramids
A shorter half-day south of Giza: Memphis, Saqqara and the Dahshur pyramids, basic area entry included.
- 5 hrs
- Hotel pickup
- Skip the line
From US$60 per person · Oct 2026
Check dates — Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur pyramids, GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
Entry with all-inclusive option On GetYourGuide
Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis tour
Egyptologist, hotel pickup and entry tickets with the matching option; includes free time.
- 8 hrs
- Hotel pickup
From US$73 per person · Oct 2026
Check dates — Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis tour, GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Sorted by price, lowest first. Prices from the booking platform; the price at checkout is the one that counts.
You can see the Grand Egyptian Museum and Saqqara in one day, but most visitors are better off with two. Saqqara is open 08:00–16:00, and the museum alone deserves at least 3–4 hours. Here are both plans, the tickets you need, and the tours that fit.
In short
- Saqqara area ticket: EGP 600 per foreign adult; open 08:00–16:00 (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, 2026).
- Museum ticket: EGP 1,830 from 1 Nov 2026.
- One day is possible but tight; two days is the relaxed plan.
- Most Saqqara tours also cover Memphis, and often Giza or Dahshur.
Why add Saqqara?
Saqqara is the great necropolis south of Giza, home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Nearby Memphis was Egypt’s ancient capital. Together they show where pyramid-building began, which makes a perfect companion to the treasures in the museum.
One day or two?
Two days (recommended). Day one: the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Giza pyramids, which are about 10–15 minutes from Giza hotels or the pyramids area apart. Day two: Saqqara and Memphis, often with Dahshur. You get time inside the museum and daylight at every site.
One day. One tour we found combines Giza, Saqqara, Memphis and the GEM in about 8 hours. It’s a lot: the open-air sites close at 16:00 (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities), so the museum gets what’s left of the day. Our 2–3 day Cairo itinerary shows the two-day version in full.
What do the tickets cost?
All are separate tickets. Prices for foreign visitors, from the official Ministry pages and Egypt Independent:
| Site (foreign adult) | Price |
|---|---|
| Grand Egyptian Museum (from 1 Nov 2026) | EGP 1,830 |
| Giza plateau area | EGP 700 |
| Saqqara area | EGP 600 |
| Inside the Pyramid of Djoser (extra) | EGP 280 |
Students pay EGP 300 for the Saqqara area. Check which of these each tour includes: the cards above say whether entry is included or only in an option.
Which tours fit?
The Book this visit section at the top lists the Saqqara tours we checked, sorted by price. We left out two popular Saqqara tours whose itineraries include a papyrus gallery, an oils factory or a “shopping tour”. Some of the tours we list include free time for shopping; that’s free time, not a shop visit, and you can skip it.
Sources and fact-check
Every fact on this page was checked against these sources on 22 October 2026. Prices and hours change; the official website has the final word.
- Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, “Saqqara” (tickets and opening hours) (link). Checked 22 Oct 2026.
- Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, “Giza Plateau” (link). Checked 22 Oct 2026.
- Egypt Independent, “Grand Egyptian Museum ticket prices to increase starting November 1”, 18 October 2026 (link). Checked 22 Oct 2026.
- Viator partner data and GetYourGuide listings (Saqqara tours). Checked 22 Oct 2026.
Questions people ask
Can you visit the Grand Egyptian Museum and Saqqara in one day?
It's possible but rushed. Saqqara closes at 08:00–16:00, and the museum deserves at least 3–4 hours. One tour we found combines Giza, Saqqara, Memphis and the GEM in about 8 hours; most visitors split them over two days.
How much is the Saqqara ticket?
The Saqqara area ticket costs EGP 600 for foreign adults and EGP 300 for foreign students. Some tombs and the inside of the Pyramid of Djoser cost extra (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities).
What are the opening hours of Saqqara?
Saqqara is open 08:00–16:00, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.