Luxor, Egypt: travel guide
The world's greatest open-air museum — a city built atop ancient Thebes, Egypt's New Kingdom capital for five centuries. The East Bank holds the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple complex (the world's largest religious building by area) and the graceful Luxor Temple illuminated gold at night. Across the Nile, the West Bank conceals the Valley of the Kings (64 royal tombs including Tutankhamun's), the Valley of the Queens, the Colossi of Memnon and the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut carved into the cliff face. No other city on earth concentrates this density of pharaonic monuments. Winter (Oct–Mar) is magical; summer temperatures exceed 45 °C.
- Country
- Egypt
- Currency
- EGP
- Time zone
- Africa/Cairo
- Nearest airport
- LXR
Top places to visit in Luxor
Karnak Temple Complex
Temple · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry EGP 450
The world's largest religious building site by area — 100 hectares of temples, chapels and obelisks built over 1,300 years (2055–650 BCE). The Great Hypostyle Hall: 134 sandstone columns 23 m tall, covered floor-to-ceiling in hieroglyphs —…
Valley of the Kings
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry EGP 450
Royal necropolis of New Kingdom pharaohs (1550–1069 BCE) — 64 decorated tombs including Tutankhamun (KV62), Ramesses II, Seti I and Ramesses VI. Standard ticket admits 3 tombs. Painted walls are among the world's greatest repositories of…
Luxor Temple
Temple · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · entry EGP 350
Cohesive 14th-century BCE temple on the East Bank, lit gold at night. Built primarily by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II, its 14-column colonnade and twin Ramesses colossi are instantly iconic. A Roman shrine, a Christian church and a…
Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahari)
Temple · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry EGP 350
Mortuary temple of female pharaoh Hatshepsut (1479–1458 BCE) carved into a natural limestone cliff amphitheatre. Three colonnaded terraces rise to meet the cliff face — a design as modern-feeling as it is 3,500 years old. Upper reliefs…
Colossi of Memnon
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h
Two 18-metre quartzite statues of Amenhotep III (14th century BCE) on the Theban plain. Famous in antiquity for a mysterious 'singing' at dawn (vibrations from dew in cracked stone), heard by Roman emperors including Hadrian. Free to view…
Luxor Temple — Evening Visit
Temple · 4.9 rating · about 1.3 h · entry EGP 200
Luxor Temple (1400 BC) dramatically illuminated after sunset is one of Egypt's most photogenic sights. Open until 22:00, far less crowded after dark, with the Sphinxes Avenue glowing in lamplight.
Luxor Corniche & Nile Promenade
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
Luxor's social heart — a kilometre of riverside promenade with felucca moorings, horse carriages and cafés. Best place to watch the sunset behind the Theban Hills reflected on the Nile.
Luxor Temple Sacred Colonnade
Temple · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · entry EGP 200
The processional colonnade of Amenhotep III — 14 colossal papyrus columns standing 16m tall — one of the most arresting sights in ancient Egypt. The surrounding reliefs record the Opet Festival in extraordinary detail.
Luxor Felucca Sunset Cruise
Activity · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h
Hiring a traditional felucca for a Nile sunset sail is the quintessential Luxor experience. The cliffs glow amber as the sun drops behind the Theban Hills. EGP 100–200/person for 90 minutes.
Luxor Souk (Market)
Market · 4.3 rating · about 1 h
Luxor's vibrant covered market from the train station to Luxor Temple. Spices, alabaster carvings, papyrus, textiles, fresh produce and perfume oils. Best visited in the cool evening.
Sphinxes Avenue (Processional Way)
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 1 h
The 2.7km processional road linking Karnak and Luxor temples, lined with 1,057 sphinx statues. Recently restored and re-excavated — one of ancient Egypt's grandest ceremonial routes.
Hot Air Balloon Launch (West Bank)
Activity · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · entry EGP 4,000
The world's top hot air balloon destination. Over 40 companies launch from the West Bank fields at dawn. Rising at sunrise over the Theban Hills and Valley of the Kings is unforgettable.
Things to do
- Valley of the Kings Full-Day Tour Cultural · 8 h · from EGP 1,600 per person
- Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show Cultural · 1.5 h · from EGP 730 per person
- Felucca Sunset Sail on the Nile — Luxor Leisure · 1.5 h · from EGP 440 per person
- Hot Air Balloon Ride over Luxor & Valley of the Kings Nature · 1.5 h · from USD 110 per person
- Luxor & Karnak Temples Guided Day Tour Cultural · 5 h · from USD 40 per person
- Valley of the Queens & Medinet Habu Tour Cultural · 5 h · from USD 35 per person
Day trips and tours
- West Bank Full Day: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi 8 h · from EGP 2,100
- Karnak & Luxor Temples Full Day + Sunset Felucca 9 h · from EGP 1,800
Where to stay in Luxor
- Luxor City Centre (East Bank) about EGP 2,800 per night
Central Luxor, close to Karnak Temple, the souk and the train station. Best selection of restaurants and cafés. Good for independent travellers.
- West Bank (near Valley of the Kings) about EGP 1,800 per night
Stay on the West Bank to wake up before the tourist buses and explore the tombs in peace. Quieter, more authentic rural atmosphere. Eco-lodges and guesthouses.
Hotels
- Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor 5-star · EGP 4,000 to EGP 15,000 per night
- Nefertiti Hotel Luxor 2-star · EGP 300 to EGP 700 per night
- Steigenberger Achti Resort Luxor 5-star · EGP 2,500 to EGP 7,000 per night
- Jolie Ville Kings Island Luxor
- Iberotel Luxor
- Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
Where to eat
- Sofra Restaurant Egyptian, Middle Eastern · about EGP 180 per person
- El Moudira Mediterranean, Egyptian · about EGP 850 per person
- 1886 Restaurant International, Egyptian · about EGP 675 per person
- Al-Sahaby Lane Restaurant Egyptian, International · about EGP 235 per person
- Jamboree Restaurant Egyptian · about EGP 85 per person
- Aisha Restaurant Egyptian, International · about EGP 235 per person
Getting around
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Felucca Over-pricing
Luxor Corniche jetty
Felucca captains quote 10× the going rate to tourists. A 1-hour ride should be EGP 100–200 total, not per person.
How to avoid it: Ask your hotel what a fair price is before going to the jetty. Agree total price, not per-person.
Unofficial West Bank Guides
Ferry landing, West Bank
Men at the ferry claim to be "official licensed guides" but have no certification. They charge high fees and provide poor commentary.
How to avoid it: Book guides through your hotel or the official Luxor Tourist Office. Ask to see a government-issued guide licence before hiring.