Serapeum of Saqqara Tomb

Address: Serapeum / Saqqara necropolis, near Saqqara (Memphis area), Giza Governorate, Egypt

The Serapeum of Saqqara is an ancient Egyptian burial complex at the Saqqara necropolis used for the interment of the sacred Apis bulls. It is located in Lower Egypt within the greater Memphis area, close to the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

The complex is characterised by long underground galleries lined with very large stone sarcophagi that contained the mummified remains of bull cult burials. These massive carved blocks and the subterranean architecture are the site’s most notable physical features.

The Serapeum was excavated in the 19th century by Auguste Mariette, a milestone in Egyptology, and remains an important archaeological site for the study of animal cults and burial practices in ancient Egypt.

The Serapeum sits at the Saqqara plateau, southwest of Cairo, within the extensive necropolis area associated with the ancient capital of Memphis and adjacent to other Old Kingdom monuments.

• Apis burial galleries: Contains long underground galleries that held the mummified and sarcophagus-buried sacred Apis bulls, notable for very large carved stone sarcophagi.
• 19th-century discovery: Discovered and excavated in the 19th century by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, attracting significant archaeological attention.

The Serapeum at Saqqara is on the Saqqara necropolis south of Giza/Cairo. By car or taxi it is roughly a 30-60 minute drive from central Cairo depending on traffic (around 30-40 km); from Giza it is nearer and typically a shorter drive. Many visitors reach Saqqara by taxi or as part of an organized tour; the archaeological site has roadside parking and the Serapeum is a short walk from the site entrance.

• Arrive at Saqqara early in the morning to tour the Serapeum before the midday heat and to see the underground galleries with fewer visitors; the Serapeum is less busy than the Giza plateau but still benefits from an early start.
• Ask at the Saqqara ticket office or hire a licensed guide on arrival - access to the Serapeum's burial galleries and detailed explanations of the gigantic stone sarcophagi are much clearer with official guidance.
• Combine the Serapeum visit with the Step Pyramid complex and the Imhotep Museum on the same day to make the most of opening hours and minimize repeat travel across the Saqqara site.