Cairo aerial View and Nile River in Egypt 1276968130

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

If you want to dig a little deeper into Egyptian culture and history, the area surrounding the capital is home to several intriguing and important sites rarely included on typical Egypt itineraries. Although few can honestly be put in the 'must-see' category – except of course for the majestic ancient site of Saqqara, which lies on the city’s southern edge – those with time up their sleeve will enjoy delving into this lesser-seen region.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • It is the most remarkable construction of the necropolis of Saqqara, south of the city of Memphis. Some tourists walk next to the pyramid..Saqqara, Egypt. March 27, 2008

    Saqqara

    Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

    Covering a 7km stretch of the Western Desert, Saqqara, the huge cemetery of ancient Memphis, was an active burial ground for more than 3500 years and is…

  • The tomb of Ti at the Step pyramid of Djoser funerary complex in Saqqara, Egypt.

    Mastaba of Ti

    Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

    The Mastaba of Ti was discovered by Auguste Mariette in 1865. This grand and detailed private tomb is not only Old Kingdom art at its best but also one of…

  • Ancient Egyptian exhibits in the Imhotep Museum.

    Imhotep Museum

    Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

    In the complex at the entrance to the Saqqara site is this beautiful collection of some of the best finds from Saqqara, and one of the finest small…

  • Wadi Al Hittan

    Wadi Al Hittan

    Al Fayoum

    This Unesco World Heritage Site is home to the earliest prehistoric whale fossils ever discovered. The more than 400 basilosaurus and dorodontus (both…

  • Serapeum

    Serapeum

    Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

    The Serapeum, dedicated to the sacred Apis bull, is one of the highlights of visiting Saqqara. The first Apis burial took place in the reign of Amenhotep…

  • Red Pyramid

    Red Pyramid

    Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

    The world’s oldest true pyramid, the Red Pyramid probably derives its name from the red tones of its weathered limestone, after the better-quality white…

  • Birqash Camel Market

    Birqash Camel Market

    Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

    Egypt’s largest camel market is held at Birqash (pronounced Bir’ash), a small village 35km northwest of Cairo, just on the edge of the Delta’s cultivated…

  • It is the most remarkable construction of the necropolis of Saqqara, south of the city of Memphis. Some tourists walk next to the pyramid..Saqqara, Egypt. March 27, 2008

    Step Pyramid of Zoser

    Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

    In the year 2650 BC, Pharaoh Zoser (2667–2648 BC) asked his chief architect, Imhotep (later deified), to build him a Step Pyramid. This is the world's…

View more attractions
  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: destinations/top
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "destination": "Cairo-Outskirts-&-the-Nile-Delta",
  "region": "Cairo-Outskirts-&-the-Nile-Delta",
  "continent": "Africa",
  "country": "Egypt"
}

Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta

Filter by interest:

History

Archaeologists have discovered a treasure trove of ancient Egyptian coffins

Oct 5, 2020 • 1 min read

Read more articles

Go Beyond

Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta and beyond

Beyond Cairo Outskirts & the Nile Delta
  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: destinations/bottom
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "destination": "Cairo-Outskirts-&-the-Nile-Delta",
  "region": "Cairo-Outskirts-&-the-Nile-Delta",
  "continent": "Africa",
  "country": "Egypt"
}