Memphis was the first capital of a unified Egypt — founded around 3100 BC by Pharaoh Menes (Narmer), who unified Upper and Lower Egypt and chose this strategic point at the Nile Delta apex as the administrative centre of his new kingdom. For over 2,000 years, Memphis was the most important city in the ancient world: seat of the Old Kingdom pharaohs, home to the god Ptah, centre of art, architecture, and engineering. The pyramids at Saqqara, Dahshur, Abusir and Giza were all built to serve as royal tombs for Memphis’s rulers. Today, the ancient city is largely buried under the modern village of Mit Rahina — but the Memphis Open Air Museum preserves its most extraordinary surviving artefacts, including one of the finest statues ever carved in ancient Egypt.
Memphis Open Air Museum 2026 — Complete Visitor Guide
Quick Facts
| Location | Mit Rahina village — 24km south of Cairo · 10km from Giza Pyramids · 6km from Saqqara |
| Entrance Fee 2026 | ~200 EGP (~$4) adults · ~100 EGP students |
| Opening Hours | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily |
| Time Needed | 30–45 minutes — compact but highly worthwhile |
| Best Combination | Giza Pyramids + Memphis + Saqqara in one day — covered by Egypt For Travel Tour $60 |
What to See at Memphis
The Colossus of Ramesses II — The Star Attraction
The undisputed centrepiece of Memphis is the Colossus of Ramesses II — a magnificent 10-metre (33-foot) limestone statue of Egypt’s most prolific builder, found lying where it fell centuries ago and now housed in a purpose-built museum hall that allows visitors to view it from above on a walkway. When standing, this colossus would have been extraordinary. Lying on its back in protective shade, it is still one of the finest royal statues in Egypt: the face serene and idealised, the cartouches of Ramesses II carved across the chest and belt, the proportions perfectly calculated to convey divine authority at monumental scale. This statue was carved approximately 3,200 years ago and has survived intact — every detail of the face, the nemes headdress and the crossed arms visible with exceptional clarity.
The Alabaster Sphinx
Beside the Colossus stands the Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis — 4.25 metres long, 2.5 metres high, carved from a single piece of translucent alabaster (calcite). Unlike the familiar limestone or granite sphinxes found throughout Egypt, the Memphis sphinx’s white alabaster catches light differently, giving it a ghostly luminosity. The face is unidentified (the cartouche was removed in antiquity) but is believed to be a Ptolemaic-era work. It is one of the few large-scale alabaster statues to survive from ancient Egypt.
The Open-Air Sculpture Garden
Beyond the Colossus and Sphinx, the open garden of the Memphis Museum contains additional statues, stelae (inscribed stone slabs), and architectural fragments from the great temples and palaces that once stood in the ancient city. A colossal statue of Ramesses II that originally stood outside Luxor Temple was moved to Memphis and stands outside the museum entrance. Additional pieces include Hathor-headed columns, relief-carved blocks from various Memphite temples, and a series of statues representing Middle and New Kingdom pharaohs. For a $2 entrance fee, this is one of the most extraordinary value-for-money archaeological experiences in Egypt.
Memphis, Saqqara and Giza — The Perfect Day
The most efficient way to experience the complete evolution of pyramid-era Egypt in a single day: Giza Pyramids in the morning (7:00–11:00 AM) → Memphis Open Air Museum (11:30 AM–12:30 PM) → Saqqara (1:00–4:00 PM). The three sites form a continuous story: at Giza, you see Egypt’s most famous pyramids (the endpoint of pyramid evolution). At Memphis, you see the artefacts of the city whose kings built them all. At Saqqara, you see the world’s first pyramid — the origin of the entire tradition.
Egypt For Travel’s Tour to Pyramids, Memphis and Saqqara ($60 per person) covers all three sites in a single private guided day from Cairo, with a licensed Egyptologist guide, private air-conditioned vehicle, and all entrance fees included. It is the single best-value Cairo day tour available.
Memphis as Part of a Longer Egypt Itinerary
Memphis and Saqqara are included in every Egypt For Travel multi-day Cairo program as a core Day 2 or Day 3 experience — not as an add-on, but as an essential part of understanding why the Pyramids of Giza were built where they were and for whom. Your licensed Egyptologist guide connects the three sites — Memphis, Saqqara and Giza — into a continuous 3,000-year story of the city that once ruled the ancient world. All entrance fees included in every program below.
| Program | Includes Memphis | From |
|---|---|---|
| Day Tour: Pyramids, Memphis & Saqqara | ✅ All 3 sites in one day | $60 |
| Cairo 3 Days Vacation | ✅ Memphis + Saqqara Day 2 | $349 |
| 5 Days Cairo & Luxor | ✅ Memphis + Saqqara Day 3 | $749 |
| 7-Night Egypt from USA | ✅ Memphis + Saqqara Day 3 | $1,599 |
| Egypt Vacation Package | ✅ Memphis + Saqqara + full Nile | $1,549 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Memphis Egypt worth visiting?
Yes — especially as part of the combined Giza + Memphis + Saqqara day. At only 100 EGP entrance and 30–45 minutes, Memphis delivers two of the finest ancient artefacts in Egypt (the Colossus and the Alabaster Sphinx) at minimal time and cost. The mistake many visitors make is skipping Memphis because it “sounds smaller” than Saqqara or Giza. The Colossus of Ramesses II lying in that purpose-built hall is one of those genuinely unexpected moments of awe that Egypt keeps producing.
Can I combine Memphis and Saqqara in one day?
Yes — and this is the recommended approach. Memphis takes 30–45 minutes. Saqqara takes 2–3 hours. The two sites are 6km apart. Combined with the Giza Pyramids in the morning, all three can be covered in a single day from Cairo. Egypt For Travel’s Tour to Pyramids, Memphis and Saqqara ($60) is designed exactly for this.
Visit Memphis, Saqqara and the Pyramids in one day with Egypt For Travel — $60 per person, private Egyptologist guide, private vehicle, all entrance fees. Book the Tour to Pyramids, Memphis & Saqqara. WhatsApp: +20 155 555 2466. ETA Licence No. 1947.
