Travel advisory · SudanGovernments advise against all travel to Sudan.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Darfur · avoid all travel · Spain, France, US
- Khartoum · avoid all travel · Spain, US
- Kordofan · avoid all travel · France, US
Also named by one government: Dinder National Park (Sennar State) (France), Djebel 'Aouînât region (France), Entire country (Spain), Omdurman (US), Sudan–Ethiopia border zone (France), Bir Tawil Trapezoid (UK), Hala'ib Triangle (UK)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Advises against all travel | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Do not travel to Sudan for any reason | May 15, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid all travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Vor Reisen nach Sudan wird gewarnt; deutsche Staatsangehörige werden dringend aufgefordert, Sudan zu verlassen | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Do not travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Formellement déconseillé, ensemble du territoire | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Meroë
Meroë is a Kushite royal city in Sudan where you can walk among more than 200 small, steep pyramids in open desert.
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Meroë is an archaeological site in the Nile Valley of northern Sudan, about 200 km north of Khartoum. It was a center of the Kingdom of Kush for several centuries, and its royal and elite burials are the best-known part of the site. Two cemeteries hold more than 200 narrow, steep-sided pyramids, the main reason visitors come. The ruins also include temple remains and the Royal Baths.
The site suits travelers who want ancient ruins in open desert rather than beach or city life. Plan the drive as the main effort of the day, since the road from Khartoum is long and the sites offer little shade. Book your driver ahead and carry water. November to February is the most comfortable window, when days are cooler and drier. Check current access and travel conditions before you go.
Meroë in five
- Check Sudan's travel advice before you bookSudan has been in armed conflict since April 2023. Read the current UK Foreign Office advice and your own government's advice before you pay for anything.
- Apply for a visa before you travelMost passports need a Sudanese visa, and you should apply through a Sudanese embassy or consulate before you fly. Confirm the current rules with that office.Visas and entry
- Carry hard currency in clean notesCards and ATMs are limited outside the capital. Bring enough cash in clean, undamaged notes, and count it before you leave Khartoum.Money and costs
- Book the drive through a tour operatorMeroë is roughly 200 km north of Khartoum, and an operator can arrange a driver and vehicle for the trip. Ask them to confirm the road and any permits before you pay.Tours and tickets
- Dress modestly for the sites and townsWomen usually cover their hair and shoulders in Sudan, and the pyramid fields are open desert with little shade. Carry a scarf and water.
Things to do in Meroë
See all attractions in Meroë
Need to know
- Currency
- Sudanese pound (SDG)
- Entry
- Visa required for most passports; apply before you travel
- Emergency
- Save your embassy's emergency number before you travel
- Tipping
- Not fixed; small tips for guides and drivers
- Time
- UTC+2, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool, dry
- FebruaryCool, dry
- MarchWarming up
- AprilHot, dusty
- MayVery hot
- JunePeak heat
- JulyRainy season
- AugustRainy, humid
- SeptemberHot, humid
- OctoberEasing, mixed
- NovemberMild, dry
- DecemberCool, dry
Right now in Meroë
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
31
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 37%
- Wind
- 19 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Meroë
11:56 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today39°26°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 39°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue39°25°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 39°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed38°23°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 38°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu36°23°0%Thursday: Clear. High 36°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri36°23°0%Friday: Clear. High 36°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat36°23°0%Saturday: Clear. High 36°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun35°23°0%Sunday: Clear. High 35°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 11:36 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 458.9 SDG
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- NaqaA short drive from the main siteThe Apedemak temple, with reliefs of the lion-headed god.
- Musawwarat es-SufraA short drive from the main siteThe Lion Temple and a large Great Enclosure.
- KhartoumSeveral hours by road each wayThe capital, its museums and the Nile confluence.
Before you go to Meroë
Rules for Meroë, checked
- Read the current FCDO advice for Sudan before you book; conditions have changed quickly since 2023.Source
- Photography at archaeological sites and near military areas can be restricted. Ask your guide or operator before you take pictures.
- Dress modestly in towns and at the sites, and ask before photographing people.
Plan around Meroë
Entry rules and the visa steps
Read the guideMoney and cashCash, notes and paying in Sudan
Read the guideGetting aroundRoad options from the capital
Read the guideWhere to stayKhartoum, Omdurman and Shendi
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for medical care and evacuation
Read the guideAll of SudanSudan overview and other regional pages
Read the guideMeroë FAQ
Is Meroë worth visiting?
Yes, for the pyramids and the Nile-side temples of the Kingdom of Kush. The site is a long way from Khartoum and the heat is strong, so plan it as a deliberate day trip.
Is it safe to visit Meroë now?
Check your government's current advice before you book, since Sudan has been in armed conflict since April 2023. Then go with an operator who knows current road conditions.
How far is Meroë from Khartoum?
Roughly 200 km north of the capital, which makes it a long drive by road. Arrange a car with a driver for the trip.
Do I need a guide at Meroë?
A tour operator can arrange the vehicle, the driver and site access. Ask whether the guide can explain the Kushite history in detail.
Can you visit Meroë as a day trip from Khartoum?
Yes, but the drive is long each way, so leave early and plan for a full day. Staying one night nearby gives you more time at the pyramids.
When is the best time to visit Meroë?
November to February, when days are cooler and drier. From spring into summer the heat is intense, and the rainy season runs roughly June to September.