Luxor
Luxor travel guide
Ancient Thebes: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the Nile.
Luxor is the site of ancient Thebes, with Karnak and Luxor temples on the east bank and the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple on the west bank. It is the start of many Nile cruises. Visit from October to April and allow 2 to 3 days. Luxor is good value, and many passports qualify for an e-Visa or visa on arrival.
Luxor, on the Nile in Upper Egypt, stands on the site of ancient Thebes, capital of Egypt's New Kingdom, and is often called the world's greatest open-air museum. On the east bank are the vast Karnak Temple complex and Luxor Temple, linked by the Avenue of Sphinxes; on the west bank lie the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Ancient Thebes and its necropolis are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Luxor is the starting point for many Nile cruises to Aswan, and sunrise hot-air balloon flights over the west bank are popular. Winter is the best season; summers are extremely hot.
Best experiences in Luxor
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Luxor at a glance
Best season, daily budget, visa, currency and language for ancient Thebes and the modern town.
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Top things to do in Luxor
Temples, tombs, balloons and Nile trips in Luxor.
Luxor
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings lies in the desert hills on the west bank of the Nile, opposite the city of Luxor in southern Egypt. For nearly 500 years, from about th...
Luxor
Karnak Temple
The Karnak Temple Complex lies on the east bank of the Nile at the northern edge of Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. It forms part of the Ancient Thebes with...
Luxor
Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple stands on the east bank of the Nile in the centre of modern Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. Most of the core was built around 1400 BC by Amenhot...
Where to stay in Luxor
Hotels and resorts in Luxor with guest scores, nightly prices and free cancellation.
Best time to visit Luxor
Winter brings warm, dry days; from May the west bank turns fierce by mid-morning.
Warm, sunny days and cool nights.
Extreme heat, often above 40°C; visit sites at dawn.
Start on the west bank at opening time; the Valley of the Kings is very hot by late morning.
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Luxor travel tips
Visas, ticket offices, money, health, safety, where to sleep, ferries and SIM cards in Luxor.
Visas and entry
e-Visa or visa on arrival
Most nationalities reach Luxor already holding an Egyptian e-Visa or a visa bought on arrival at a major airport, so check whether yours qualifies before booking. The free South Sinai stamp given at Sharm El Sheikh does not cover Luxor, so travellers starting there need a full visa first. Visitors flying straight to Sharm El Sheikh and other South Sinai resorts can enter on a free stamp valid only for that area for up to 15 days.
- Apply online
- visa2egypt.gov.eg (official)
- Passport validity
- At least 6 months
Getting there
Airport, train or cruise
Luxor International Airport (LXR), 6 km east of town, has flights from Cairo and some European cities but no bus link, so agree a taxi fare before loading bags. Day trains and the Watania sleeper arrive from Cairo in about 10 hours, and Nile cruises link Luxor with Aswan.
- From Cairo
- About 1 hour by air or 9–10 hours by train
- Nile cruise
- 3–4 nights to Aswan
Money and costs
Pounds, tips and cards
Carry small Egyptian pound notes for Luxor's ferries, tips and souk purchases, but bring a card for tickets, since the main west-bank ticket office accepts cards only. Careem rides can be paid by card, and almost anyone who shows you something, temple guides included, expects baksheesh. Tipping (baksheesh) is part of daily life, so carry small notes.
- Many major sites accept only card payments for tickets.
- Agree prices for camel and horse rides before you start.
Health and vaccines
Heat and water
Heat is Luxor's main health risk: from June to August highs stay above 40°C, and the west bank is punishing well before noon. Drink bottled water, skip raw salads where hygiene looks doubtful, wear a hat and sunscreen, and rest indoors through the middle of the day.
- Hospitals
- Good private hospitals in Cairo and resort towns
Staying safe
Touts and advisories
Luxor's monuments are heavily policed and most visits pass without trouble, but touts are persistent at the airport, the ferry landing and the souk. Agree prices for taxis, calèches and boats before setting off, and check your government's advice, which restricts travel to parts of Sinai and border areas. Expect persistent touts at major sites.
- Tourist police
- 126
- Be firm and polite with touts; use licensed guides.
Where to stay
East or west bank
Most visitors sleep on Luxor's east bank, where the big hotels, the station and the restaurants sit around Karnak and Luxor Temple. The west bank is quieter, with guesthouses close to the tombs, and a longer stay can be split between the two banks.
- East bank
- Corniche hotels near Luxor Temple
- West bank
- Guesthouses near the Valley of the Kings
Getting around
Ferries and drivers
Cross the Nile on the blue local ferry from the landing opposite Luxor Temple, which leaves when full, or on a motor launch after some haggling. On the west bank, hire a taxi for the day, take a tuk-tuk or cycle between the tombs; Careem and InDrive work in Luxor, Uber does not.
- Balloons
- Sunrise flights over the west bank
- West bank
- Microbuses from the ferry towards Gurna; bikes from Sheraton Street
- East bank
- Colour-coded minibuses meet at the railway station
- Trains
- Aswan 3 to 4 hours; Watania sleeper north around 11PM
- Calèches
- Choose with care; agree all charges
SIM and internet
Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&), WE
A tourist SIM from Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) or WE costs little and needs your passport to register. In Luxor, data matters mainly for summoning Careem or InDrive, the two ride-hailing apps that work here, and for checking ferry and train times on the go.
- Networks
- Vodafone, Orange, e& (Etisalat), WE
Culture and etiquette
Conservative dress
Luxor is more conservative than the Red Sea resorts, so cover shoulders and knees in town and at temples, and women may be asked to cover their hair in mosques. Drinking in the street is illegal, and bargaining in the covered souk is a slow ritual over tea. Dress modestly away from resorts.
- La shukran (no thanks) is the phrase you will use most.
- Cover shoulders and knees in towns and at mosques
- Women cover their hair in mosques
- Photographing police, military sites or people without asking
- Public displays of affection
Things to know before visiting Luxor
What makes Luxor worth the trip, and what catches visitors out.
Why travelers love it
- Karnak Temple, the largest ancient religious complex.
- The Valley of the Kings and Tutankhamun's tomb.
- Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari.
- Luxor Temple lit up at night.
- Sunrise balloon flights over the west bank.
Good to know
- Some tombs need separate tickets.
- Heat is extreme in summer.
- Touts are common around the temples and corniche.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Luxor weather by month
Luxor sees almost no rain and around 4,000 hours of sunshine a year; summer highs pass 40°C.
Climate figures are approximate long-term averages for Luxor (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, via Wikipedia).
Three days across Luxor's west and east banks
Three days suit Luxor: two mornings on the west bank for the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Medinet Habu and the Tombs of the Nobles, and a day on the east bank for Karnak, the Luxor Museum and Luxor Temple at dusk. Buy west-bank tickets at the card-only office past the ferry landing.
The main west-bank office stands at the end of the straight road from the ferry landing and takes cards only. The Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and Hatshepsut's temple each sell their own. For a longer stay, the Premium Luxor Pass covers every site in town for 5 consecutive days.
- First morning, west bank: a sunrise balloon flight (at least 45 minutes in the air, weather permitting), then the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's terraces at Deir el-Bahari. Finish at Medinet Habu, the temple of Ramses III, which gets relatively few visitors.
- Third day, west bank again: the Tombs of the Nobles, Deir el-Medina and the Ramesseum, or the Valley of the Queens instead. Fit walkers can link several of these on foot in a 6 km loop that ends near Hatshepsut's temple.
- Leaving by water: cruise boats moored along the pier take walk-up bookings for 2 to 3 nights to Aswan if you visit their receptions before noon, often for less than an agent charges.
Trains reach Cairo in about 10 hours.
Winter light and summer heat in Luxor
Visit Luxor between November and early March, when days are warm and clear. Summer arrives abruptly, with no real spring or autumn: from June to August highs stay above 40°C, though some hotels halve their rates. Rain averages under 1 mm a year, and dawn feels cold on a balloon flight.
What does vary is the gap between day and night, almost 16°C in this stretch of the Nile valley, so bring a warm layer for a dawn balloon flight even when afternoons reach 23°C.
Luxor has the widest seasonal swing in hotel rates in Egypt; some places charge half their winter rate or less.
The one local event that changes the feel of the town is the moulid of Yusuf Abu al-Haggag, whose mosque sits inside Luxor Temple in the court of Ramesses II. The celebration lasts three days and culminates 15 days before Ramadan, when boats are carried in procession around the temple, a custom often compared to the ancient Opet festival. Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, so the moulid is expected about 11 days earlier each year and its exact date depends on moon sighting; check it for your year.
Eating and etiquette in Luxor
Expect mezze, grilled meat and Egyptian set meals in Luxor. Meals open with pita, baba ganoush and taboulé, which suits vegetarians, and pigeon and rabbit are the regional mains. Near the west-bank ferry landing, the Tutankhamun Restaurant and the Sunflower rooftop suit a break between sites, and alcohol is sold discreetly.
Beef is the safer order for a cautious stomach. Desserts can be very sweet; ask for low or medium sugar.
The Tutankhamun Restaurant, 200 m south of the landing, cooks a fixed menu that changes with what is in season, while Sunflower serves traditional Egyptian set meals on a rooftop with a view.
Alcohol is easy to find but discreet. Restaurants a step above street level sell lager and wine, usually advertised by a Stella sign outside, and a "cafeteria" may turn out to be a pub.
Travelers are asking
Yes. A 3–4 night cruise to Aswan stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo temples and is a relaxing way to travel.
Our travel desk answers questions about Luxor
How We Research This Guide
Ticket rules at Luxor change often, and the card-only west-bank office caught many visitors out, so we recheck this page against Experience Egypt and the Egypt e-Visa portal; climate figures follow the Egyptian Meteorological Authority.
Last updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Checked against trusted sources:
Experience EgyptEgypt e-Visa portalEgyptian Meteorological Authority climate normals
See all 3 sources
- Experience Egypt (Egyptian Tourism Authority)
- Egypt e-Visa portal
- Egyptian Meteorological Authority climate normals
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most before visiting Luxor.
Timing & weather
October to April. Summer temperatures often exceed 40°C.
Booking
Two to three days covers both banks.
Often, yes. Cruise boats moored along the pier take walk-up bookings for 2 to 3 nights to Aswan if you visit their receptions before noon.
General
Yes, with an additional ticket at the Valley of the Kings.
Yes. The Premium Luxor Pass covers every site in town for 5 consecutive days.
Take the blue local ferry from the landing opposite Luxor Temple; the crossing takes a few minutes. Motor launches and feluccas cost more, and taxis use the road bridge upstream.
bookingMentor lists 3 things to do in Luxor, each with its category, rating and a short description. Open one for the full details, such as opening hours and how to get there.
bookingMentor lists 1 place to stay in Luxor. Prices start from $200.00 per night. Types: Hotels.
Prices & payment
No. The main west-bank office, at the end of the road from the ferry landing, takes cards only; the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and Hatshepsut's temple each sell their own tickets.
Daily travel costs in Luxor are good value. Site entry tickets are the biggest cost.
Getting there
At least 45 minutes in the air, weather permitting. Flights leave at sunrise, when the desert is cold, so bring a warm layer.
No. Careem and InDrive operate in Luxor, and Careem accepts card payment.
Three to four hours. Trains to Cairo take about 10 hours, and the Watania sleeper leaves northbound around 11PM.
Luxor International Airport (LXR), 6 km east of town, has flights from Cairo and some European cities but no bus link, so agree a taxi fare before loading bags. Day trains and the Watania sleeper arrive from Cairo in about 10 hours, and Nile cruises link Luxor with Aswan.
Visa & documents
Most nationalities reach Luxor already holding an Egyptian e-Visa or a visa bought on arrival at a major airport, so check whether yours qualifies before booking. The free South Sinai stamp given at Sharm El Sheikh does not cover Luxor, so travellers starting there need a full visa first. Visitors flying straight to Sharm El Sheikh and other South Sinai resorts can enter on a free stamp valid only for that area for up to 15 days.
