Major city · Egypt
Lisht
Skip Lisht unless you are an Egyptology specialist. The two Middle Kingdom pyramids are heavily ruined, and there is no visitor infrastructure. A half-day stop from Cairo is possible but unrewarding for most travellers.
Lisht is the site of the 12th-Dynasty pyramids of Amenemhat I and Senusret I, close to the lost capital Itj-Tawy. Both pyramids are badly damaged — the first is a 20 m mound, the second a hillock — and groundwater has blocked all interior access. There are no ticket office, toilets or café. Only travellers with a deep interest in Middle Kingdom archaeology should consider the 35 km drive south of Saqqara.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EGP
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat)
- Airport
- CAI
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Egypt ↗Check visa rules for your passport on the official Egypt e-visa portal before flying; visa on arrival availability depends on nationality and can change.
- Egypt ↗Drones need prior permission and are routinely confiscated on arrival; leave them at home.
- Egypt ↗Do not photograph military sites, police, bridges or government buildings; some museums and tombs charge for or ban photography.
- Egypt ↗During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants still serve.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Lisht122 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Lisht, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E).Egypt-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckVodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.Egypt-wide
- Tap waterTap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.Egypt-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).Egypt-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Egypt-wide
- SafetyThe site is remote and unpatrolled.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20.Egypt-wide
- Emergency numbers122 police · 123 ambulance · 126 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday is the weekend day (with Saturday for offices); sites open daily, some close earlier in Ramadan.Egypt-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCAI Cairo International Airport (About 80 km (50 mi) north; 1.5–2 h by car).CAI Cairo International Airport (About 50 mi (80 km) north; 1.5–2 h by car).
- Getting aroundA private car or taxi is the only practical way.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CAI Cairo International Airport (About 80 km (50 mi) north; 1.5–2 h by car)CAI Cairo International Airport (About 50 mi (80 km) north; 1.5–2 h by car)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Feb
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Mar
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Apr
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
May
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Jul
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Aug
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Sep
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Oct
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Dec
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)), coolest Jan (9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C) low), wettest Jan (1 rain days), driest Apr (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Lisht: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
1 rd
Feb
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
1 rd
Mar
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
Apr
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
0 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Jun
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
0 rd
Jul
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Aug
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Sep
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
0 rd
Nov
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
1 rd
Dec
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A private car or taxi is the only practical way. The site has no public transport, no marked paths and no shade.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40 min
Car, about 35 km (22 mi) northCar, about 22 mi (35 km) north
Step Pyramid and the Serapeum; far better preserved.
Dahshur
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Car, about 26 km (16 mi) northCar, about 16 mi (26 km) north
Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid; fewer crowds than Saqqara.
Door to door: About 1–1.5 h
Car, about 60 km (37 mi) northCar, about 37 mi (60 km) north
Pyramids of Giza, Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo.
Door to door: About 1 h
Car, about 50 km (31 mi) southwestCar, about 31 mi (50 km) southwest
Wadi El Rayan and whale fossils; a full day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
No accommodation in Lisht
Base yourself in Cairo or Saqqara and visit as a day trip.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- EGP 0 (no entry fee; transport from Cairo extra)
- Mid
- EGP 0
- High
- EGP 0
Trip budget
| No accommodation in Lisht1 × 1 night × EGP 0 | EGP 0 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × EGP 1 | EGP 1 |
| Trip total≈ EGP 1 per person per day, bed included | EGP 1 |
Day trip from Cairo or Saqqara
2026 estimate in EGP. Lisht has no entry fee and no services; costs are for transport from Cairo.
Prices of common things
| Private taxi from Cairo (round trip, wait time)check | EGP 800–1,500 |
| Baksheesh for guardiancheck | EGP 50–100 |
| Bottled water (1.5 L) | EGP 10–15 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No facilities: bring water, sun protection and a hat.
- Groundwater has flooded the pyramid interiors; no entry possible.
- The site is unstaffed — you may need to find a local guardian to open a gate (baksheesh expected).
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 122
- Ambulance
- 123
- Tourist police
- 126
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
LishtLisht
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
إلى منطقة ليشط الأثرية، من فضلكTo Lisht archaeological site, please
Emergency
- Police122
- Ambulance123
- Tourist police126
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Cairo → Lisht by taxi: EGP 400–750 one way, about 1 h (check)
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بكام؟ — How much? (bi-kam?)
- غالي أوي — Too expensive (ghali awi)
- المدخل فين؟ — Where is the entrance? (al-madkhal fayn?)
No official site; coordinates: 29.5703, 31.2311
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Lisht. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Lisht
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