Memphis
Cairo, Egypt, 3753450
During Egypt’s Old Kingdom period, Memphis, outside Cairo, was home to the pharaohs who built the Pyramids of Giza. But domestic architecture didn’t last like the pyramids did, so most of what remains of Memphis today is within the Mit Rahina open-air sculpture museum. Highlights include the alabaster Sphinx of Memphis and a colossal statue of Ramses II.
The Basics
On the site of ancient Memphis, the Mit Rahina open-air museum is an impressive, if bewildering, jumble of ancient statues. Highlights include an alabaster sphinx and beds used to mummify sacred bulls for the Serapeum temple at Saqqara.
Some tours enable travelers to check off the Giza pyramids, Saqqara, Dahshur, and Memphis in a day, but most visitors prefer to spread out the sightseeing. To move at a more leisurely pace, choose a tour of Memphis, Saqqara, and Dahshur, and save the other sites for another day. Most tours provide round-trip transport from Cairo or Giza.
Things to Know Before You Go
Memphis is a must-see for fans of ancient Egypt.
The attractions at the Mit Rahina open-air museum are sculptures, not architectural remains of the former city.
Some pieces from Mit Rahina will move to Giza's Grand Egyptian Museum, slated to open in 2020.
Mit Rahina is flat but sandy, possibly challenging for travelers who use wheelchairs or strollers.
How to Get There
The Mit Rahina open-air museum sits around 18 miles (29 kilometers) south of downtown Cairo, 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Dahshur, and 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of Saqqara. Public transit can be difficult if you don’t speak Arabic. Most travelers visit on a full- or half-day tour from Cairo or Giza.
When to Get There
A compact site, the Mit Rahina museum feels crowded much more quickly than the vast expanses of Saqqara and Dahshur. It’s open every day, morning through afternoon, with reduced hours during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. To enjoy the sculptures in relative solitude, visit early in the day.
Key Ancient Egyptian Sites Near Cairo
While you’ll find ancient sites all over modern-day Egypt, they cluster around two areas: Cairo, the capital during the Old Kingdom period, and Luxor, the capital during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom periods. In Cairo, the three main royal burial grounds were at Giza, Saqqara, and Dahshur. The pharaohs who built the pyramids lived in Memphis.
Ways to explore
Like other UNESCO–listed Old Kingdom sites—notably the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, and Dahshur—travelers visit Memphis from Cairo or Giza nearby. Some tours go to all four locations in a day, but most visitors prefer to spread out the sightseeing. To move at a more leisurely pace, pair Memphis with nearby Saqqara and perhaps Dahshur, and save Giza for another day. Most tours provide round-trip transportation from Cairo or Giza, and a few include stops at one of Egypt’s archaeological museums, either the Egyptian Museum (Museum of Egyptian Antiquities) in Cairo or the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza.
Accessibility
Mit Rahina is flat but uneven, so it’s challenging for travelers who use wheelchairs.
Age limits
None
What to pack
Sunscreen and water are a must if you’re visiting Egypt in the summer.
What to wear
Loose, breathable clothing and comfortable shoes
Not allowed
Leave the short-shorts and tank tops for the beach resorts or face unwanted attention.
Amenities
Souvenirs, visitor center, restrooms
Address
The Mit Rahina open-air museum is around a 17-mile (27-kilometer) drive south of downtown Cairo, a 6-mile (9-kilometer) drive northeast of the Dahshur pyramids, and a 4-mile (7-kilometer) drive east of Saqqara.
Driving
Cairo’s driving conditions are not for the faint of heart, and taxi drivers can be tough negotiators. Join a tour or book a driver for the day.
Public transportation
Using public transit involves a series of buses and microbuses, which is time-consuming—and difficult if you don’t speak Arabic. Most travelers visit on a full- or half-day tour from Cairo or Giza.
Best times to visit
The site opens at 8am with the last entry at 4pm, except during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, when it opens an hour later and closes an hour earlier. To enjoy the sculptures in relative solitude, visit early in the day.
Best days to visit
Go any day that fits with your travel plans.
Best months to visit
April and May are great months for visiting Cairo, with mellow temperatures—and without the sandstorm risk of March or the October–December crowds.
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