A tour around the area should take a couple of hours, but allow more time if wanting to explore the surrounding tombs as well. Service taxis, public mini buses and private taxis all have scheduled routes to Giza. Service taxis run from Mugama's in Tahrir to the base of the plateau. Public minibuses 82 and 83 also leave from the same place and drop tourists at the midan. Saqqara is divided into northern and southern halves.
Most tourists visit sites in the north.
To visit the south, though, requires special permission from the Department of Antiquities. A whole day should be taken to visit Saqqara. The different sights are scattered over an extensive area so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Drinks are available, but food is not. There are no public transportation facilities, hence the most convenient way to get there is to catch a taxi from Cairo for the day.