Best things to do in Saqqara

Saqqara: Where Egypt Buried Absolutely Everyone (and Their Sacred Pets!) - Your Hilariously Honest Travel Guide to a Sandy Spectacle!

Alright, history hounds and tomb raiders (the polite kind!), listen up! We're venturing into the heart of Egypt's Western Desert, just south of the Cairo chaos, to a place that makes other ancient sites look like a tiny sandbox. We're talking about Saqqara, the undisputed heavyweight champion of Egyptian archaeological sites. Seriously, this place is HUGE – a sprawling necropolis that was buzzing with burial activity for over 3,000 years! That's longer than your grandma's stories about the good old days.

If Egypt is a treasure chest overflowing with ancient wonders, then Saqqara is like that secret compartment you didn't know existed, crammed with even more incredible stuff. For millennia, this sandy expanse served as the final resting place for pretty much everyone who was anyone (and a whole lot of not-so-famous folks too) in the Old Kingdom. We're talking pharaohs, top-notch civil servants, military bigwigs, regular Joes and Janes, and, get this, their sacred animals! Apparently, even ancient Egyptians had a soft spot for their furry (or feathery, or scaly) companions.

Now, here's a fun fact for your next pub quiz: until the 19th century, most of Saqqara was playing hide-and-seek under a mountain of sand. The only clue to the buried treasure was the impressive Step Pyramid, which, as the name suggests, looks like a giant staircase to the sky and holds the bragging rights of being the first pyramid ever built! Talk about being ahead of the curve (or should we say, the slope?).

But thanks to some determined archaeologists with shovels (and probably a lot of sunscreen), Saqqara has been revealed as Egypt's ultimate hidden gem. Today, lucky visitors like you can explore an astonishing array of vibrantly frescoed tombs that look like they were painted yesterday (okay, maybe a few yesterdays ago), the mind-bogglingly vast underground Serapeum, where they mummified holy bulls the size of small cars (seriously!), and the utterly awe-inspiring funerary complex surrounding that pioneering Step Pyramid.

So, if you're looking for places to visit in Egypt that go beyond the usual pyramid selfies, our hilarious (and historically accurate!) travel guide is here to steer you towards the incredible things to do and top attractions of Saqqara. Get ready for some serious sightseeing that will make you feel like a real-life Indiana Jones (minus the rolling boulders, hopefully!).

Top Attractions in Saqqara: Prepare to Have Your Ancient Mind Blown!

Saqqara is brimming with incredible sights, each telling a fascinating story of ancient Egyptian life and death. Here are some of the absolute top attractions you won't want to miss:

The Step Pyramid of Djoser: The OG Pyramid (and Still Looking Pretty Good for Its Age!)

This architectural trailblazer, built for Pharaoh Djoser around 27th century BC, is the star of the show. Designed by the brilliant architect Imhotep (who was basically the ancient Egyptian equivalent of a rockstar engineer), the Step Pyramid is a series of stacked mastabas (rectangular tombs) that paved the way for the smooth-sided pyramids we know and love. Climbing up (though not usually allowed inside) and gazing at this ancient marvel is a quintessential Saqqara sightseeing experience.

The Serapeum: Where Holy Bulls Got the VIP Mummification Treatment (No Ordinary Cow Burials Here!)

Prepare to be amazed by the sheer scale of the Serapeum, a vast underground complex that housed the mummified remains of the sacred Apis bulls. These weren't just any cows; they were considered living deities! The massive granite sarcophagi that housed their remains are mind-boggling in their size and precision. Exploring this subterranean wonder is one of the most unique things to do in Saqqara.

The Tomb of Ti: A VIP's Final Resting Place with Seriously Impressive Artwork

Step inside the beautifully preserved Tomb of Ti, a high-ranking official from the Fifth Dynasty. The vibrant frescoes adorning the walls depict scenes of daily life in ancient Egypt, from farming and fishing to hunting and feasting. It's like stepping into a time capsule and getting a colorful glimpse into the past. This is a prime example of the incredible sightseeing opportunities Saqqara offers.

The Tomb of Mereruka: A Family Affair with Lots of Lively Scenes

Another must-see tomb is that of Mereruka, a vizier (think prime minister) during the Sixth Dynasty. This massive tomb complex contains multiple chambers decorated with incredibly detailed scenes of Mereruka, his wife, and his children. The artwork is remarkably well-preserved and offers a fascinating look into the life of a powerful ancient Egyptian family.

The Pyramid of Unas Causeway: A Glimpse into Royal Funerary Practices (and Some Ancient Graffiti!)

Explore the remains of the causeway that once connected the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Unas to his pyramid. While the pyramid itself is now more of a rubble pile, the causeway still features some fascinating inscriptions, including the Pyramid Texts – some of the oldest religious texts in the world. Keep an eye out for some ancient graffiti too – even back then, people liked to leave their mark!

Things to Do Beyond Tomb Raiding (The Polite Kind, Remember!):

While exploring the ancient tombs and pyramids is the main draw, our travel guide suggests a few other things to do in and around Saqqara:

• Visit the Saqqara Museum: This small but informative museum houses artifacts unearthed from the Saqqara site, providing valuable context to your sightseeing.
• Take a Camel or Horse Ride: Embrace the desert setting with a ride through the sands surrounding Saqqara. It's a fun way to take in the vastness of the site and imagine what it must have looked like millennia ago.
• Enjoy the Desert Scenery: Saqqara's location in the Western Desert offers a unique and starkly beautiful landscape. Take a moment to appreciate the silence and the endless expanse of sand.

So, if you're ready to delve deep into the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt and explore a site that's both historically significant and surprisingly uncrowded compared to some of the more famous spots, then Saqqara is calling your name. Get ready for an unforgettable sightseeing adventure through one of the most important places to visit in Egypt. Just remember to bring your walking shoes, plenty of water, and your best "I'm an intrepid explorer" face!