From the tombs of the Valley of the Kings to the vast temple complex at Karnak, Luxor is ancient Egypt at its most spectacular. This guide covers the best things to do in Luxor, what I did there and how to plan your trip.
Sure, Cairo has the Pyramids and Aswan has Philae, but Luxor seemingly has it all. There’s the Valley of the Kings, forever entwined with the stories of pharaohs like Tutankhamun, not to mention the vast temple complex that is Karnak. All before you throw in the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and Luxor Temple.
It was the destination I was most excited about visiting on my Egypt trip and, spoiler alert, it didn’t disappoint. How could it really? This is a living portal to the ancient world, where the tales of past millennia are writ in golden stone.
I arrived in early June at the end of an overnight felucca trip from Aswan, stayed on the West Bank and packed in as much as I could: a sunrise hot air balloon flight, a private tour of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut’s temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak.
Here’s my pick of the best, starting with the experiences that made my trip, followed by the other sights worth your time, and the practical tips to help you plan.
The best things to do in Luxor
Float over the West Bank in a hot air balloon at sunrise
While the sights here are impressive from the ground, they’re even greater once you see them from the air. Taking a hot air balloon ride over the West Bank was not only one of the highlights of my stay, it was one of the highlights of the whole trip.
Sure, it’s an early start. I had to wake up at 3am and it felt terrible. Then came a boat across the Nile to the West Bank and a van to the take-off site. But imagine this: you rise serenely as the sun’s first rays bathe the valley in gold, with the Nile, the fields, the Colossi of Memnon and the terraces of Hatshepsut’s temple spread out in a multicoloured patchwork below.
Flights take off around dawn and last 40 minutes to an hour, and most packages include hotel pick-up and the boat across the river. In October 2026, prices on GetYourGuide ranged from about $70 to $115 per person. Flights depend on the wind and are regulated by Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority; in 2026 they were also suspended over the hottest summer months, so check before you book a summer trip.
Book a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings
Descend into the painted tombs of the Valley of the Kings
If there’s only room for one place on your itinerary (and it would be a mighty shame if that were the case), it should be the Valley of the Kings. Hidden away in the rocky hills of the West Bank, it was the burial ground of Egypt’s kings for around 500 years, from the 18th to the 20th Dynasty.
Visiting the tombs was one of the highlights of my trip. Hieroglyphs carved into stone, colourful depictions of the afterlife and the stories of the gods: it’s an extraordinary collection, and only a fraction of the 60-plus tombs are open at any one time.
The standard ticket (750 EGP) covers three tombs from the open list. I chose Ramses IX (KV6), Merenptah (KV8) and Tausert and Setnakht (KV14). KV14 was my favourite, and its location at the top of the valley also meant it was the quietest tomb I visited too.
Don’t miss Tutankhamun’s tomb. It’s not the biggest, in fact it’s quite small, but it is the only one with a mummy still inside, and it’s well worth paying a bit extra to see it (700 EGP; it was half price in low season when I went).
Book a private tour of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens
Have the Valley of the Queens almost to yourself
Venture to the southern end of the Theban hills to discover the Valley of the Queens, where the wives and children of the pharaohs were buried. Even though it’s only a short drive from the Valley of the Kings, it’s a lot quieter: it was empty when I visited.
The ticket (220 EGP) covers the open tombs. I saw the tomb of Prince Khaemwaset (QV44), where Ramses III presents his son to the gods in bright, well-preserved colour, and the tomb of another of his sons, Amenherkhepshef (QV55).
I also paid extra to see Nefertari’s tomb, the most beautiful in Egypt. I saw a lot in Egypt that blew my mind, but Nefertari’s tomb was something else. Sadly, it has been closed since March 2024, with no word on if or when it will reopen. In the meantime, Seti I’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings is the one to pay extra for.
Climb the terraces of the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut was one of the few women to rule ancient Egypt in her own right, and she billed herself as a king, complete with a pharaonic beard. Her temple at Deir el-Bahari, three great terraces rising against a wall of cliffs, is every bit as iconic as she seems to have been.
I stopped here on my private tour, between the two valleys. Walk up the ramps to the colonnades carved with the expedition to Punt and her divine birth, the falcon of Horus guarding the upper ramp and the row of statues of Hatshepsut as Osiris. Go early: there’s almost no shade.
The ticket costs 440 EGP. Read my guide to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut for the history and what to see, terrace by terrace.
Stand beneath the Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon are usually the first thing you see when you cross to the West Bank: two huge seated statues rising from the fields beside the main road. I saw them first from the air on my balloon flight, then stopped beneath them on the way to the Valley of the Kings.
Both statues depict the pharaoh Amenhotep III, of the 18th Dynasty, and were finished around 1350 BC. Each stands about 18 metres tall, including its platform, and weighs an estimated 720 tonnes. They were carved from quartzite quarried near modern Cairo and moved about 675 km overland to Thebes.
They once guarded the entrance to Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple, one of the largest temples ever built in Egypt. It was wrecked by an earthquake around 1200 BC, and later kings carried off its stone, so the colossi were left standing almost alone. Next to the king’s legs you can still make out smaller figures of his wife, Tiye, and his mother, Mutemwiya.
The sides of the thrones are carved with the Nile god Hapi binding together the plants of Upper and Lower Egypt, a symbol of the united country.
Why are they called the Colossi of Memnon?
In 27 BC, another earthquake cracked the northern colossus. After that, it began to make a sound at dawn, perhaps as the sun warmed the stone and moisture escaped from the cracks. Greek visitors decided it was Memnon, a hero of the Trojan War killed by Achilles, greeting his mother Eos, the goddess of the dawn, and the name stuck.
The “singing statue” became one of the great tourist attractions of the Roman world. The geographer Strabo heard it, though he couldn’t tell whether it came from the statue, and Pausanias compared the sound to a lyre string snapping. More than 100 Greek and Latin inscriptions left by visitors between AD 20 and 250 are still carved on its legs, including poems by Julia Balbilla, who came with the emperor Hadrian in AD 130. The statue fell silent after Roman repairs, traditionally credited to Septimius Severus, around AD 199.
Excavations are still uncovering the temple behind the colossi. In December 2025, two more restored colossal statues of Amenhotep III, carved from Egyptian alabaster, were unveiled at the site after around two decades of work.
Getting There
The Colossi of Memnon are free to visit and open all day, on the main road from the river to the Valley of the Kings, so any West Bank tour or taxi can stop on the way. Allow 15 to 20 minutes, and expect a few souvenir sellers.
Lose yourself among the columns at Karnak
It’s kind of tough to get your head around the scale of Karnak. It. Is. Vast. To put it bluntly, if you’re going to skip anything in Luxor, Karnak is not it.
Built and added to by around 30 pharaohs over 2,000 years, the complex was the religious heart of ancient Thebes, dedicated mainly to the god Amun, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu. Walk past the ram-headed sphinxes and through the first pylon into the Great Court, then into the Hypostyle Hall, a forest of 134 giant columns covered in carvings. Beyond are the obelisks of Thutmose I and Hatshepsut and the Sacred Lake.
Tickets cost 600 EGP and the complex is open from 6am to 5pm. Take at least a few hours to explore, but also wear a hat and bring plenty of water too.
Watch the sun set at Luxor Temple
In the heart of the modern city, the temple is the ultimate time capsule: once you step through its gates, you’ll forget you’re in a modern city at all. It was built mainly by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, with later additions by Tutankhamun, Alexander the Great and the Romans, and the Mosque of Abu al-Haggag, named after a 13th-century saint, still sits on top of one of its courts.
Look out for the seated colossi of Ramses II and the single obelisk at the entrance (its twin has stood in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since the 1830s), the Great Court of Ramses II, the colonnade and the Sun Court of Amenhotep III.
The temple stays open into the evening and is floodlit after dark. I’d go as the sun sets, when the light turns the stone golden. Tickets cost 500 EGP.
Arrive by felucca from Aswan
If you’re travelling north from Aswan, consider swapping the train or the road for a traditional felucca. I spent a night on one before arriving, and waking up on a remote part of the Nile as the sun rises over the desert is worth the trip alone.
Feluccas aren’t allowed through the Esna Lock, so trips from Aswan finish with a minibus transfer for the rest of the way, which is how I arrived. Some stop at the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu along the way. Check facilities and reviews before you book, preferably for a boat with a Nubian crew. My guide to Nile cruises covers the options, from feluccas to cruise ships.
Walk the Avenue of Sphinxes
The Avenue of Sphinxes once linked Karnak and Luxor Temple, a 2.7 km processional road lined with hundreds of sphinxes. Every year, during the Opet Festival, the statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu were carried along it from Karnak to its southern end.
After decades of excavation, the whole avenue reopened in November 2021 with a grand parade. You’ll see its two ends in front of both temples, and long stretches are visible from the streets in between.
See the treasures of the Luxor Museum
The museum is small but outstanding, with some of the finest finds from Thebes beautifully displayed. Don’t miss the reconstructed Akhenaten wall, made of 283 painted sandstone blocks from his temple at Karnak, the statues found buried under Luxor Temple in 1989, objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb and the mummy of Ahmose I, the king who drove the Hyksos out of Egypt.
Tickets cost 400 EGP. The museum is on the Corniche between the two great temples and closes for a few hours in the afternoon heat, with hours that change by season, so check before you go.
Book a private tour of this museum and the Mummification Museum
Learn how the Egyptians made mummies at the Mummification Museum
On the Corniche by Luxor Temple, the Mummification Museum explains how the ancient Egyptians preserved the dead, with embalming tools, canopic jars, coffins and mummified animals, from cats to a crocodile. It’s small, so allow under an hour. Tickets cost 220 EGP, and it opens 9am to 2pm and 5pm to 9pm.
Explore Medinet Habu
Ramses III’s mortuary temple at Medinet Habu is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, and much quieter than the big names. You enter through a fortified gateway modelled on a Syrian fortress, and the walls are carved with his battles against the Sea Peoples. Inside, the second court still has plenty of its original colour. Tickets cost 220 EGP.
See the fallen colossus at the Ramesseum
The Ramesseum was the mortuary temple of Ramses II. Its most famous sight is the huge fallen statue of the king, which is said to have inspired Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias”. It’s partly ruined but atmospheric and rarely busy. Tickets cost 220 EGP.
Visit the workers’ village at Deir el-Medina
The craftsmen who cut and painted the royal tombs lived at Deir el-Medina, and you can walk through the foundations of their village. They also decorated their own small tombs nearby, and the ones open to visitors are among the most colourful you’ll see. A ticket costs 220 EGP and covers several tombs.
Step into the Tombs of the Nobles
Cut into the hillside at Qurna, the Tombs of the Nobles belonged to the officials of ancient Thebes, and their paintings show everyday life: farming, fishing, banquets and music. Tickets are sold by cluster (from 120 to 200 EGP), with the tombs of Nakht and Menna, Rekhmire and Sennefer, and Ramose among the best. Payment is by card only.
Pay extra for the tomb of Seti I (KV17)
The tomb of Seti I is the longest and one of the most beautifully decorated in the Valley of the Kings, with painted reliefs that run almost its full length. It needs a separate ticket, at 2,000 EGP, but if you can only pay for one extra tomb while Nefertari’s is closed, this is the one.
Visit Howard Carter’s house
On the road to the Valley of the Kings, the domed house where Howard Carter lived while he searched for and excavated Tutankhamun’s tomb is now a small museum, with his desk, his darkroom and a replica of the burial chamber. Tickets cost 220 EGP.
Take a felucca at sunset to Banana Island
For a break from temples, take a felucca out on the Nile in the late afternoon. Many trips sail upriver to Banana Island, a small island of banana plantations south of the city, and come back as the sun sets behind the Theban hills. Agree the price and the length of the trip with the captain before you set off, or book ahead.
Book a private sunset felucca ride
Watch the Karnak sound and light show
If you thought Karnak was impressive during the day, the evening sound and light show sees it lit up after dark. The first part walks you through the temple, with the story of Thebes told through narration and music, and the second is seated beside the Sacred Lake. Shows run nightly in several languages and need a separate ticket, so check the schedule before you go.
Enjoy a Nile dinner cruise
Egypt is famous for its flavourful food as well as the Nile, so a dinner cruise combines the two. Evening cruises leave from the East Bank with a buffet of Egyptian dishes and entertainment, often including a folk show. It’s one of the most romantic ways to spend an evening here.
Go shopping in the souk after dark
The souk, a few streets back from Luxor Temple, is busiest in the evening, when the heat has gone out of the day. You’ll find spices, scarves, alabaster and souvenirs, and haggling is expected.
Take a day trip to Dendera and Abydos
North of the city are two of Egypt’s finest temples. At Dendera, about 60 km away, the Temple of Hathor is one of the best preserved in the country, with vivid blue ceilings and a copy of the famous Dendera zodiac (the original is in the Louvre). Abydos, around three hours’ drive away, has the Temple of Seti I, with some of the finest reliefs in Egypt and the king list of his predecessors. They’re usually combined in one long day by private car.
Take a day trip to Edfu, Kom Ombo and Esna
Heading south towards Aswan, you’ll find three more temples. The Temple of Horus at Edfu, about two hours away, was built under the Ptolemies and is one of the best preserved in Egypt. Kom Ombo, about three hours away and only 50 minutes from Aswan, is a double temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris, with a small museum of mummified crocodiles.
On the way, the Temple of Khnum at Esna (200 EGP) is worth a stop: its ceiling has recently been cleaned to reveal its original colours.
Visit Edfu and Kom Ombo on a private day trip
Planning your trip
How many days do you need?
You need at least three days to see the main sights: one for the East Bank (Karnak, Luxor Temple and the museums), one or two for the West Bank (the two valleys, Hatshepsut and the Colossi) and an early morning for a balloon flight. With four or five days, you can add the quieter West Bank temples and a day trip to Dendera and Abydos.
Getting around
The city straddles the Nile. The modern centre, Karnak and Luxor Temple are on the East Bank, and the tombs and mortuary temples are on the West Bank. The public ferry across the river is the cheapest way to cross, private motorboats are quick to hire, and by road it’s around 30 to 45 minutes via the bridge south of the city.
Taxis are easy to find, but agree the fare before you get in. On the West Bank, the easiest way to see the sights is a driver for the day or a tour. On the East Bank, you’ll be offered rides in horse-drawn calèches: agree the price first, and choose one with a healthy-looking horse.
When to go
The most comfortable time to visit is from October to April, when daytime temperatures are pleasant. December to February is peak season, so book ahead, while March to April and October to November are a good balance of weather and crowds.
Summer is extremely hot, often over 40°C. My trip was in late May and early June, and it was hot but still bearable, and quiet. Just plan your sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon.
If you can, plan around 2 August 2027, when the city will be close to the centre of a total solar eclipse, with around six minutes of totality.
Top tips
- Bring a card and some cash: ticket offices at the major sites are cashless now, but you’ll still want cash for taxis, tips, toilets and the souk.
- Consider the Luxor Pass: if you’re seeing most of the big sites over several days, the pass (from $130, or $250 for the premium version with Seti I’s tomb) covers them for five days.
- Start early: the West Bank sites open at 6am, and the first couple of hours are the coolest and quietest.
- Book a guide for the West Bank: a good Egyptologist guide makes the tombs and temples come alive. Mine certainly did.
- Expect to be asked for tips: guardians in tombs and temples will often offer to show you something or take a photo in return for a tip, so carry small notes.
Watch my Luxor video
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Where to stay
Stay on the West Bank to be close to the tombs and quieter evenings, or on the East Bank for restaurants and the big temples. See my guide to where to stay for the full rundown.
- El Mesala Hotel (mid-range, West Bank): where I stayed, on the riverfront by the ferry landing, opposite Luxor Temple, with a pool, a rooftop restaurant and rooms with balconies.
- Steigenberger Nile Palace (luxury, East Bank): a five-star resort with pools by the Nile, about 2 km south of Luxor Temple.
- Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa (luxury, East Bank): infinity pools, a large spa and river views, north of Karnak.
Recommended tours
- Guided tour to the East or West Bank with lunch
- From Hurghada: day trip with Tutankhamun’s tomb
- From Aswan: four-day Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and a balloon flight
Map
Read next
- A step-by-step Egypt itinerary
- The best things to do in Egypt
- Visiting the Valley of the Kings: a practical guide
- Visiting the tomb of Tutankhamun
- Visiting the Valley of the Queens: a practical guide
- Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut: a visitor’s guide
- Karnak Temple: a visitor’s guide
- How to visit Luxor Temple
- Taking a hot air balloon ride
- Where to stay in Luxor
- The best things to do in Cairo
- Booking a Nile river cruise
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