Memphis: Day Trips and Tours from Cairo

Discover Memphis, the ancient capital of Lower Egypt, on a day trip from Cairo. Wander around the ancient ruins and learn about Egypt's old history.

Leave the busy Cairo on a day tour to discover more of the history.

Where is Memphis and how do I get there from Cairo?

The archeological site of Memphis is located about 30 kilometers south of Cairo, along the Nile river. The site is close to the archeological site of Saqqarah.

• By car: You can drive south from the city center of Cairo, following the road N75 and then taking south toward Memphis.
• By taxi: Hire a cab to avoid driving in the traffic of Cairo. The price will be in the order of US$5 each way.
• By tour: Memphis is an archeological site and you will see mainly ruins. An excellent way to understand what you will see and its history is to book a guided tour to Memphis from Cairo. You will avoid the hassle of arranging transportation and buying tickets and you will learn more about the site with the explanation of an Egyptologist.

How much do entrance tickets to Memphis cost?

There is an entrance ticket to visit the archeological site. The price is 30E£, about US$2 or €1.5.

The entrance is rather cheap, but it includes only the admission to the Open-air Museum of Memphis. Nearby, there are other archeological sites, such as Saqqarah's pyramids (Sakkara), which you visit as well.

What is the typical itinerary of day tours to Memphis from Cairo?

Most day tours to Memphis from Cairo are comprehensive excursions visiting 3 sites: Giza Pyramids, Sakkara and Memphis. The tours last about 6 - 8 hours, covering one full day and allowing you to visit all the pyramids around Cairo in one single trip.

The tours start in the morning with a pick-up at your hotel. First, you will reach Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, where you will spend a couple of hours. Later, the tour will move south, in the direction of Memphis and Sakkara. You will spend the second half of the day, visiting the open-air museum of Memphis and the archeological site of Sakkara, including Dashur Pyramids.

You will return to your hotel by the end of the afternoon, full of memories and beautiful pictures.

Some tours do not cover Giza Pyramids. Therefore, they are shorter and last for about 3 hours. You will visit only Memphis and Saqqara.

What are the best day trips to Memphis from Cairo?

There are 4 options to visit Memphis on a day trip from Cairo.

• Group tours including Memphis and Sakkara: These tours are operated in groups. Usually, the groups are small, up to 8 or 15 people. You will visit Memphis and Sakkara, led by an expert Egyptologist, who will teach you the history of the two sites.
• Private tours to Memphis and Sakkara: Private tours are more suitable for families or couples who want more intimate experience and better flexibility. You will be led by an expert archaeologist who will clarify all your doubts.
• Group tours to Giza Pyramids, Memphis and Sakkara: This tour option includes the visit to the three archeological sites, together with a group of people.
• Private tours to Giza Pyramids, Memphis and Sakkara: Enjoy a fully private experience with private visits to the Pyramids of Giza and the archeological sites of Memphis and Sakkara.

How much do Memphis tours from Cairo cost?

The price of tours to Memphis from Cairo varies widely. Most of the tours are private tours, and their prices depend widely on your group's size: more people you are with, cheaper the price per person is.

In general, the price of the private tours to Memphis from Cairo range between US$20 and US$100. The cheapest options are available for numerous groups, while the higher limit represents the option of a single visitor.

Remember to check each specific tour's details to see what is included in the itinerary and compare the prices based on the actual availability.

What will you see and do in Memphis?

Memphis was the capital of ancient Egypt. The history of the city is extraordinary long, covering the Old, Middle and New Kingdom.

Memphis was a strategical city because it was located between the Upper and Lowest Egypt, which was once divided. Currently, you can see several ruins of temples in the archeological site of Memphis.

The Great Temple of Ptah was the most important temple in the city. It has mainly been destroyed over the centuries. Its ruins are shown in the open-air museum nearby the statue of Rameses II.

The ruins of other temples such as the Temple of Ptah of Rameses II, the Temple of Ptah and Sekhmet of Rameses II, the Temple of Ptah of Merneptah, and the Temple of Hathor are shown in the open-air museum of Memphis.

Some archeological pieces of the temples of Memphis are stored and displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

When is the best time to visit Memphis?

Memphis is an open-air site. Due to Egypt's hot weather, it is probably a good idea to avoid the hottest days of the year or the hottest hours of the day. Try to visit the sites early in the morning to avoid the heat.

In wintertime, instead, the visit can be quite pleasant since the weather in Egypt is warm during the winter as well.

Are there any tours to Memphis from other cities in Egypt?

Yes, other tours are visiting the site of Memphis, departing from the city of Alexandria. Check our page of day tours to Memphis from Alexandria for more information.

Travel tips

• Memphis and the other archeological sites that you will visit with the tour are open-air sites. Remember to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and enough water.
• Wear comfortable shoes for the day.
• Make sure to have arranged your pick-up point with your tour guide.
• Bring some cash in local currency to be able to pay food and water that you may need.
• Bring your camera or phone to take beautiful pictures for your Instagram profile!