Things to do in Luxor: top sights and where to go
Luxor is ancient Thebes on both banks of the Nile: Luxor Temple and Karnak stand in town on the East Bank, joined by the Avenue of Sphinxes, while the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon lie 15–20 minutes by taxi from the West Bank ferry. Give the East Bank one day and the West Bank another, starting early before the heat.
Sights
Luxor itineraries
Luxor travel guide
Before you go: Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut, the two banks of the Nile, dawn balloons, weather.
Luxor on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 2 days: east bank and west bank
- When to go
- October–April: ≈ 23–35° by day
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — e-visa or on arrival
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Egyptian pound (EGP); cards at ticket offices
- Airport
- Luxor (LXR) ≈ 6 km from the centre
- From Hurghada
- ≈ 280 km, ≈ 4 h by road
- Two banks
- East — temples; west — tombs
- Crossing the Nile
- Ferry, boat or bridge ≈ 20 min
- Balloons
- Sunrise flights over the west bank
- Time zone
- UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 87Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Avenue of Sphinxes”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Karnak”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Tomb of Tutankhamun”Things to do in Luxor
The top things to do in Luxor: on the east bank, Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Avenue of Sphinxes between them and the Luxor Museum. On the west bank, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple, the Colossi of Memnon, the Ramesseum, Medinet Habu and the Valley of the Queens. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| East bank | Karnak, Luxor Temple | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| East bank | Sphinxes, museum | 2 h |
| West bank | Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut | ½ day |
| West bank | Colossi, Ramesseum | 1.5 h |
| West bank | Medinet Habu, Queens | 2 h |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Where to stay in Luxor
For a first time in Luxor, stay on the east bank by the Nile Corniche, near Luxor Temple, cafés and the station. The west bank has quiet guesthouses among the fields, closer to the tombs and balloon launches. Many visitors sleep on Nile cruise boats.
| East bank | First visit, cafés, temples | Busy along the Corniche |
|---|---|---|
| West bank | Quiet, near the tombs | Few restaurants |
| Nile cruise boat | Luxor–Aswan cruise | Fixed schedule |
Getting to Luxor
Luxor airport (LXR) is ≈ 6 km from the centre and about 45 minutes from the Valley of the Kings. Many visitors arrive by road from Hurghada (≈ 4 hours), by plane or sleeper train from Cairo, or on a Nile cruise from Aswan.
Luxor weather by month
The best time to visit Luxor is October to April: ≈ 23–35 °C by day with cool nights. From May to September it is about 40 °C — see tombs and temples at opening time and take shelter by noon. It almost never rains.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 23° | 25° | 29° | 35° | 39° | 41° | 41° | 41° | 38° | 35° | 29° | 24° |
| Night | 6° | 7° | 11° | 16° | 21° | 23° | 24° | 24° | 22° | 18° | 12° | 8° |
| Rain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: January–March and November–December
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 6°
- rain 0 days
About 23°, ≈ 6° at night — bring a jacket.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 7°
- rain 0 days
About 25° — the best time.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 11°
- rain 0 days
About 29°, warm.
- day ≈ 35°
- night ≈ 16°
- rain 0 days
About 35°, hotter.
- day ≈ 39°
- night ≈ 21°
- rain 0 days
About 39°; start early.
- day ≈ 41°
- night ≈ 23°
- rain 0 days
Heat ≈ 41°.
- day ≈ 41°
- night ≈ 24°
- rain 0 days
Heat; early mornings only.
- day ≈ 41°
- night ≈ 24°
- rain 0 days
Heat ≈ 41°.
- day ≈ 38°
- night ≈ 22°
- rain 0 days
About 38°.
- day ≈ 35°
- night ≈ 18°
- rain 0 days
About 35°, the season begins.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 12°
- rain 0 days
About 29° — excellent.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 0 days
About 24°, crisp nights.
Hot air balloons in Luxor
Hot air balloons in Luxor rise at sunrise over the west bank, above Hatshepsut’s temple, the Colossi of Memnon, the fields and the Nile. The flight lasts about an hour, with a hotel pickup before dawn. Flights are cancelled in strong wind.
- When — all year at dawn; October to April is best.
- How long — about an hour aloft, ≈ 3–4 hours in total.
- Tips — book a licensed operator; age limits apply for children.
Things to do in Luxor beyond temples
Things to do in Luxor other than temples: a felucca sail on the Nile at sunset, a bike ride through west-bank villages, the souk behind Luxor Temple, and the evening light at Karnak and Luxor Temple.
- Felucca at sunset — an hour on the Nile from the Corniche.
- West-bank cycling — sugar-cane fields and mud-brick villages.
- Luxor Temple at night — floodlit after dark.
- Souk — spices, scarves and alabaster behind the temple.
Luxor ticket prices
The Colossi of Memnon and the Avenue of Sphinxes from outside are free. You pay for Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings (Tutankhamun’s tomb is a separate ticket), Hatshepsut’s temple, the Ramesseum, Medinet Habu and the museum.
| Luxor Temple | 52 | 1 h 15 min | EGP 500, students EGP 250 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnak Temple | 50 | 2 h 30 min | EGP 600, students EGP 300 |
| Valley of the Kings | 49 | 2 h 30 min | EGP 750, Tutankhamun extra |
| Temple of Hatshepsut | 44 | 1 h | EGP 440, students EGP 220 |
| Avenue of Sphinxes | 43 | 40 min | Free to view (unofficial) |
| Ramesseum | 39 | 45 min | EGP 220, students EGP 110 |
| Luxor Museum | 37 | 1 h 15 min | EGP 400, students EGP 200 |
| Medinet Habu | 36 | 1 h 30 min | EGP 220, students EGP 110 |
| Valley of the Queens | 33 | 1 h | EGP 220, Nefertari closed |
Free — 1 places: Colossi of Memnon.
Tips
- Reach the Valley of the Kings at opening — by noon it is hot and crowded.
- Luxor Temple is lovely floodlit: arrive around sunset.
- A standard Valley of the Kings ticket covers three tombs; Tutankhamun and Seti I cost extra.
FAQ
Is Luxor worth visiting?
Absolutely — Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple make Luxor the richest ancient site in Egypt.
How many days do you need in Luxor?
Two days: one for the east bank temples, one for the west bank tombs, plus a dawn balloon flight if you like.
What to do in Luxor in one day?
The west bank in the morning — the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi — Karnak in the afternoon and Luxor Temple after dark.
Can I do a day trip from Hurghada to Luxor?
Yes, about 4 hours each way by road; tours leave before dawn.
Do I need a visa for Luxor?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities can get an Egyptian e-visa or a visa on arrival. A Sinai-only stamp is not valid for Luxor. Check the rules for your passport.
What is the weather like in Luxor in December?
About 24 °C by day and 8 °C at night — pleasant in the sun, chilly after dark.
When is the best time to visit Luxor and Aswan?
October to April, when days are warm rather than scorching; Nile cruises run all year.
How many tombs can you see in the Valley of the Kings?
A standard ticket covers three open tombs of your choice; Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramesses VI need extra tickets.
Is a hot air balloon in Luxor worth it?
Yes, if you are fine with heights: at sunrise you see the whole west bank, its temples and the Nile. Choose a licensed operator.
What day trips can I take from Luxor?
The Dendera temple to the north, Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way to Aswan, and Abu Simbel via Aswan.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 87 (Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis)
- Wikipedia, “Luxor”; “Karnak”; “Avenue of Sphinxes”; “Tomb of Tutankhamun”; Luxor climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — tickets