The site museum at Saqqara, opened in 2006 and named after Imhotep, the architect credited with Djoser's Step Pyramid, the first monumental building in stone.
The Imhotep Museum is the site museum at Saqqara, named after Imhotep, who is credited with being the first Egyptian to build a monumental structure in stone, King Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara.
It opened on 26 April 2006. Construction was completed in 2003, and the project, conceived in 1990, was launched in 1997.
It gives context to Saqqara. The Step Pyramid and the tombs around it show the monuments; the museum explains how they were built and who built them.
It is a modern building at the edge of the necropolis, so it works as a calm stop in a day that is otherwise spent outdoors in the sun.
One travel guide describes around 250 displays in six large halls, though that is a single source of uncertain reliability.
The idea of a museum at Saqqara dates to 1990, and work began in 1997. The building was finished in 2003 and inaugurated three years later.
In 2022 a headless bronze statue of Imhotep was shown in a makeshift display at the Step Pyramid, and reports said the pieces would be moved to a permanent display at the Grand Egyptian Museum, so check what is currently on show.
Any time of day suits a museum, which makes it a good midday stop between outdoor sites. October to April is the comfortable season for the rest of Saqqara.
Opening hours: Daily 08:00 to 17:00. Ministry portal, checked 13 August 2026. Hours change, so confirm before you go.
Opening hours and ticket prices may change. Please confirm the latest details before visiting.
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