Tomb of Mereruka Cairo
Discover the remarkably preserved Tomb of Mereruka in Saqqara, boasting vibrant painted reliefs of ancient Egyptian life.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Best Time
Fewer crowds, better light
Tomb of Mereruka Cairo
Best Time
Fewer crowds, better light
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Discover the remarkably preserved Tomb of Mereruka in Saqqara, boasting vibrant painted reliefs of ancient Egyptian life.
"This tomb still has painted carvings in place and has a fascinating array of everyday life on the walls."
🎟️ Extra Ticket Needed
A separate ticket is required for the Tomb of Mereruka, but it's reasonably priced and worth it!
👟 Comfortable Footwear
Wear good walking shoes as you'll be exploring multiple tombs and the vast Saqqara complex.
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Vibrant Wall Carvings
Interior of the Tomb of Mereruka
Marvel at the remarkably preserved painted reliefs depicting daily life, animals, and hieroglyphics.
Intricate Scenes of Daily Life
Walls of the Tomb of Mereruka
Discover detailed depictions of fishing, hunting, and domestic activities, offering a glimpse into ancient Egyptian life.
Saqqara Necropolis Exploration
Saqqara Complex
Combine your visit with other significant sites like the Step Pyramid of Zoser and the Mastaba of Ti.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Beat the Crowds for a Better Experience
Essential Tips for Tomb Exploration
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🎟️ Extra Ticket Needed
A separate ticket is required for the Tomb of Mereruka, but it's reasonably priced and worth it!
👟 Comfortable Footwear
Wear good walking shoes as you'll be exploring multiple tombs and the vast Saqqara complex.
💧 Stay Hydrated
Bring plenty of water, especially during hotter months, as you'll be doing a lot of walking.
🤝 Be Prepared for Tips
Tomb attendants may ask for tips or offer unofficial guiding services.
Tips
from all over the internet
🎟️ Extra Ticket Needed
A separate ticket is required for the Tomb of Mereruka, but it's reasonably priced and worth it!
👟 Comfortable Footwear
Wear good walking shoes as you'll be exploring multiple tombs and the vast Saqqara complex.
💧 Stay Hydrated
Bring plenty of water, especially during hotter months, as you'll be doing a lot of walking.
🤝 Be Prepared for Tips
Tomb attendants may ask for tips or offer unofficial guiding services.
📸 Capture the Details
The vibrant colors and intricate carvings are stunning; take your time to photograph them.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Visitors praise the Tomb of Mereruka for its stunningly preserved painted reliefs, offering a vivid glimpse into ancient Egyptian daily life. Many find it a more authentic and less crowded experience compared to other major sites. However, some note the need for an extra ticket and the potential for attendants to request tips.
"This tomb still has painted carvings in place and has a fascinating array of everyday life on the walls. Different types of fish, ducks, hedgehog, rabbit, crocodile, amongst many many others. There are loads of rooms to go through and all beautifully done. Unfortunately many of the carvings have been chiseled off half way up to go to museums."
Benedict Mac
"𝖲𝖺𝗊𝗊𝖺𝗋𝖺 𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗉𝗒𝗋𝖺𝗆𝗂𝖽. 𝖨𝗍’𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖼𝗂𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖻𝗎𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗍𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝟩 𝗄𝗆, 𝖽𝗈𝗍𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖻𝗌 (𝗆𝖺𝗌𝗍𝖺𝖻𝖺𝗌) 𝗈𝖿 𝗇𝗈𝖻𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗀𝗁 𝗈𝖿𝖿𝗂𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅𝗌 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝖤𝗀𝗒𝗉𝗍’𝗌 𝖮𝗅𝖽 𝖪𝗂𝗇𝗀𝖽𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖯𝗍𝗈𝗅𝖾𝗆𝖺𝗂𝖼 𝖾𝗋𝖺.
𝗣𝗦 : 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖻𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝗅𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖿𝗋𝖾𝖾 (𝖢𝗁𝖾𝖼𝗄 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗀𝗎𝗂𝖽𝖾). 𝖶𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖳𝗈𝗆𝖻 𝗈𝖿 𝖯𝗋𝗂𝗇𝖼𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖨𝖽𝗎𝗍, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝖴𝗇𝖺𝗌. 𝖧𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖻 𝗂𝗌 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗌𝗍𝖺𝖻𝖺 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝗎𝗌𝖻𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗏𝗂𝗓𝗂𝖾𝗋, 𝖬𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗋𝗎𝗄𝖺, 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗁 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗉𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗏𝗂𝖻𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗋𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖽𝖺𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 - 𝖿𝗂𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝖼𝖾𝗇𝖾𝗌, 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗄𝖾𝗍 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗌, 𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 - 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝗂𝗆𝗆𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗓𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗅𝗂𝗆𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗇𝖾."
Nirmal Kumar
"Far less crowded than Giza, we were lucky enough to encounter an elderly Australian gentleman who was very knowledgeable on the subject. Plenty to see."
Alan Hopgood
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
The Tomb of Mereruka is located within the Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo. You can hire a taxi or use ride-sharing apps to get there. Many visitors combine a trip to Saqqara with other sites like Dahshur and Memphis in a day tour.
Saqqara is located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Giza. It's a manageable distance for a day trip from Cairo or Giza, often combined with other ancient sites in the area.
Many visitors opt for guided tours that cover the Step Pyramid, Tomb of Mereruka, and other mastabas in Saqqara. Alternatively, you can hire a taxi for the day or use ride-sharing services. 
Yes, you can visit independently. However, be aware that tomb attendants may be present and might request tips or offer guiding services.
The Saqqara complex is home to many other significant tombs and structures, including the Step Pyramid of Zoser, the Pyramid of Teti, and the Mastaba of Ti.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
Yes, a separate ticket is required specifically for the Tomb of Mereruka, in addition to the general Saqqara entrance fee. The price is reasonable, around 80 EGP.
The opening hours for the Tomb of Mereruka generally align with the Saqqara necropolis hours, which are typically from 8 AM to 5 PM. It's advisable to check for any seasonal changes.
The tomb attendants keep the place locked, and you may need to ask them to open it. They might also request tips or offer guiding services.
While a specific combined ticket for all Saqqara sites might not always be available, purchasing the individual tickets for key tombs like Mereruka is generally affordable.
The entrance fee for the Tomb of Mereruka is approximately 80 EGP (around 4 EUR), which is considered reasonable for the experience.
🎫 🏛️ Onsite Experience
The Tomb of Mereruka is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved painted reliefs, showcasing vibrant scenes of daily life, animals, and hieroglyphics. It's considered one of the most beautiful tombs in Egypt.
Inside, you'll find detailed carvings of various fish, ducks, hedgehogs, rabbits, crocodiles, and more, offering a vivid portrayal of ancient Egyptian life.
Compared to the Giza complex, the Tomb of Mereruka and Saqqara in general are significantly less crowded, offering a more peaceful exploration.
Generally, photography is allowed inside the tomb, but it's always good to check for any specific signage or ask the attendant. Tripods might be restricted.
Many carvings are beautifully done, though some have been chiseled off halfway up to be moved to museums. The remaining painted reliefs are still stunning.
📸 📸 Photography
Focus on the vibrant painted reliefs depicting animals and daily life. The intricate details and colors make for excellent close-up shots.
Photography is generally permitted inside the Tomb of Mereruka, allowing you to capture its stunning details.
Late afternoon offers beautiful golden hour light that can enhance the colors of the tomb's reliefs. Early morning also provides good light with fewer people.
Experiment with different angles to capture the depth and detail of the carvings. Close-ups of specific animals or scenes can be very impactful.
Use a camera with good low-light performance or a wider aperture to capture details in the tomb's interior. A tripod might be helpful if allowed.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
To make the visit more engaging for kids, consider focusing on the animal depictions and the sheer scale of the ancient structures. Bringing a small notebook for them to sketch their favorite carvings or a simple scavenger hunt for specific animals can add an element of fun. Remember to bring plenty of water and snacks, as facilities can be limited.
🏛️ History Buffs & Archaeology Enthusiasts
Combine your visit with other tombs in Saqqara, such as the Mastaba of Ti and the Pyramid of Teti, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Old Kingdom's burial practices and artistic achievements. Consider hiring a knowledgeable local guide who can provide in-depth historical context and point out significant details you might otherwise miss.
📸 Photographers
To get the best shots, aim for the golden hours of early morning or late afternoon when the light is softer and more dramatic. Focus on capturing the details of the carvings, experimenting with close-ups to highlight the artistry. While photography is generally allowed, be mindful of any restrictions and the presence of tomb attendants.
+1Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
The Significance of Mereruka
The tomb's architecture features a courtyard, a main hall with numerous chambers, and a burial shaft leading to the sarcophagus. The walls are adorned with incredibly detailed reliefs that provide invaluable insights into the administrative, domestic, and agricultural life of the Old Kingdom. These scenes are not just decorative; they served a religious purpose, ensuring Mereruka's continued prosperity in the afterlife.
Visiting the Tomb of Mereruka offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and witness the artistry and beliefs of ancient Egyptians firsthand. The vibrant colors and lifelike depictions make it a standout attraction for anyone interested in Egyptian history and archaeology.
Exploring the Saqqara Necropolis
+1Beyond the Step Pyramid, Saqqara boasts numerous mastabas – flat-topped, rectangular tombs with sloping sides – belonging to nobles and high officials. The Tomb of Mereruka is a prime example, celebrated for its exquisite reliefs. Other notable mastabas include the Mastaba of Ti, known for its detailed depictions of daily life and animals, and the Tomb of Kagemni. The sheer density of significant archaeological finds makes Saqqara a treasure trove for history enthusiasts.
Visiting Saqqara requires a good amount of walking, so comfortable shoes are a must. It's advisable to allocate at least half a day to explore the main sites, and potentially more if you wish to delve deeper into the less-visited areas. The site is generally less crowded than Giza, offering a more relaxed and immersive experience.
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