Top places to visit in Luxor

• Karnak Temple Complex

  ancient temple complex · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  royal tombs · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  ancient temple · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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)

  ancient mortuary temple · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  ancient statues · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 to Luxor

Airport: Luxor (LXR)

How visitors arrive in Luxor

• Fly into Luxor airport By air from Cairo / Europe · common

  Luxor airport has direct flights from several European cities, many on package holidays, and from Cairo. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Cairo or Aswan By train from Cairo · common

  Luxor is on the mainline railway following the Nile between Cairo and Aswan. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Intercity bus By road from Egyptian cities · common

  Buses connect Luxor with most major Egyptian cities. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Nile cruise By ferry from Aswan · possible

  Nile cruises call at Luxor but only as package itineraries. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi

  Public buses do not serve the airport. Negotiate with a driver in a car rather than touts outside the terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Hotel shuttle

  Many hotels run a shuttle from the airport; ask when booking. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Hold on to your bags: helpers may carry them and then ask for payment. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Train to Luxor station

  Luxor station is on the main Nile line between Cairo and Aswan. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Ride Hail

  Careem and inDrive can be used in Luxor for booking rides by app as an alternative to negotiating with a taxi driver.

• Taxi

  Taxis are plentiful in Luxor and generally have no meter, so the fare is agreed beforehand, whether for a short ride or a West Bank outing.

• Walking

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.

Best time to visit Luxor

• Jan 23°C
• Feb 25°C
• Mar 30°C
• Apr 35°C
• May 39°C
• Jun 41°C
• Jul 41°C
• Aug 41°C
• Sep 39°C
• Oct 36°C
• Nov 29°C
• Dec 24°C

More in Egypt

• Cairo
• Sharm El-Sheikh
• Hurghada
• Aswan
• Alexandria
• Dahab

Frequently asked questions about Luxor

How many days do you need in Luxor?

A typical trip to Luxor is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Luxor?

The highest-rated places in our Luxor guide are Luxor Temple — Evening Visit, Karnak Temple Complex, Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, Luxor Temple Sacred Colonnade.

Where should I stay in Luxor?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Luxor: Luxor City Centre (East Bank), West Bank (near Valley of the Kings).

How do I get around Luxor?

Ways to get around Luxor covered in our guide: Ride-hailing app, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Luxor?

Scams reported to us for Luxor include Felucca Over-pricing; Unofficial West Bank Guides. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Luxor?

Average daytime highs in Luxor run from 23°C in Jan to 41°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Luxor?

The nearest airport to Luxor has the code LXR.