# Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor > The Temple of Hatshepsut is the terraced mortuary temple of Egypt's female pharaoh, built in the 15th century BC at Deir el-Bahari on Luxor's West Bank. Foreign adults pay EGP 440, students EGP 220. It opens daily at 6:00; last entry is 16:00 in winter and 17:00 in summer. Allow about an hour. Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/hatshepsut-temple - City: [Luxor](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor), Egypt - YesGo score: 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Entry: EGP 440, students EGP 220 - With kids: Fine with kids - Foreign adult: EGP 440 - Students up to 24: EGP 220 with a valid student ID - Children: Under 6 free - Hours: Daily from 6:00; last entry 17:00 summer, 16:00 winter and Ramadan - Where to buy: Egymonuments website, Experience Egypt app, ticket desk at the gate - Payment: Visa and Mastercard accepted - Electric train: Unofficial: visitor centre to the temple's foot, small extra fee in cash - Photos: Phone photos free - Getting there: Ferry plus a 15-min taxi, or about 30 min by car via the bridge - Time needed: About 1 hour, up to 1.5 hours with all the chapels - Coordinates: 25.73806, 32.60694 - Facts checked: 03.11.2026 ## Key facts - **3 terraces** — rising towards the cliff, linked by ramps (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) - **15th century BC** — built under Hatshepsut, 18th Dynasty (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) - **Djeser-Djeseru** — the ancient name — "Holy of Holies" (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) - **Senenmut** — the queen's steward, credited as the architect (source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Russian Wikipedia) - **Punt** — reliefs of a sea expedition to the land of incense, on the middle terrace (source: English Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) - **Hathor and Anubis** — the two chapels at either end of the middle terrace (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Amun-Re** — his sanctuary is cut into the rock at the back of the upper terrace (source: English Wikipedia; Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) - **1961** — a Polish-Egyptian mission began the work that rebuilt the upper terrace (source: English Wikipedia; Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw) - **1979** — UNESCO World Heritage listing as part of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (source: UNESCO; English Wikipedia) - **Mentuhotep II** — his older temple next door inspired the design (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) > **Go at 6:00 — there is almost no shade** The temple sits in a bowl of bare cliffs, and its open terraces trap the heat. By late morning it is fierce, even in winter. Arrive at opening with water, a hat and sunscreen. Last entry is 16:00 in winter and 17:00 in summer, and the ministry asks you to arrive an hour before closing. ## Temple of Hatshepsut tickets and prices A foreign adult ticket costs **EGP 440**; students up to 24 with a valid ID pay EGP 220, and children under 6 go free. One ticket covers the whole temple, including the Hathor and Anubis chapels. Phone photography is free; drones need a permit, so leave yours behind. Tickets are sold on the official Egymonuments website, in the Experience Egypt app and at the desk by the visitor centre. **Visa and Mastercard are accepted**, so a card covers entry. Bring small Egyptian pound notes for the electric train, toilets and tips. Tickets are dated and non-refundable. The unofficial Luxor Pass, sold for cash at Karnak, also covers this temple. It only pays off if you plan to see nearly every major site on both banks within its 5 days; for a single West Bank morning, separate tickets are simpler. ## Temple of Hatshepsut opening hours The temple opens every day at 6:00. Last entry is 17:00 in summer and 16:00 in winter and during Ramadan, according to the ministry's ticketing site. There is no weekly closing day. The best slot is the first two hours after opening: the cliffs glow orange, the air is still bearable and many tour groups start at the Valley of the Kings first. Midday is the worst time — the terraces are bright, white and shadeless. ## How long do you need, and is it worth it? Plan **about an hour**. That covers the ramps, both colonnades of the middle terrace and the upper court. Stretch it to 1.5 hours if you want to study the Punt reliefs and step into both side chapels. Yes, it is worth it, mainly for the setting: no other Egyptian temple is built like this, in terraces against a wall of rock. The honest catch is that much of the decoration was chiselled away in antiquity, and the upper terrace is a careful modern reconstruction. Come for the architecture and two or three well-kept reliefs, not for colour on every wall. ## What to see at the Temple of Hatshepsut - **The main ramp and facade** — walk up slowly from the lower terrace; the whole design only makes sense from below. - **The Punt Colonnade** (left side of the middle terrace) — ships, stilt houses, incense trees and the people of Punt, from a famous trading voyage. - **The Birth Colonnade** (right side) — the story of Hatshepsut's divine birth from the god Amun, her claim to the throne. - **The Chapel of Hathor** — at the south end of the middle terrace, with columns topped by the goddess's face. - **The Chapel of Anubis** — at the north end, with the best-preserved paint in the temple. - **The upper terrace** — a portico of Osiris-style statues of Hatshepsut and the rock-cut sanctuary of Amun-Re at the back. - **The Solar Court** — an open-air altar to the sun god in the north of the upper terrace. ## How to get to the Temple of Hatshepsut 1. Start at Luxor Temple on the Corniche — the public ferry to the West Bank leaves from the landing right beside it. 2. Cheapest: cross on the ferry, a ride of a few minutes, and take a taxi from the West Bank landing — about 15 minutes to the temple. There are no meters, so agree the fare first, ideally for a full loop with the Valley of the Kings and waiting time. 3. No change of transport: a taxi or the inDrive app (cash only) from the centre over the bridge south of town, roughly 30 minutes each way. 4. You'll be dropped at the visitor centre and ticket office. A small electric train runs to the foot of the temple for a small fee, or walk a few hundred metres in the sun. 5. Climb the main ramp to the middle terrace, then the upper one. 6. On the way back, stop at the [Colossi of Memnon](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/colossi-of-memnon), right beside the road to the ferry. ## Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut in one morning The two sites are back-to-back on either side of the same ridge, and most visitors pair them. Do the [Valley of the Kings](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-kings) first at 6:00, while the tombs are cool and quiet, then drive round to Hatshepsut — the hop takes a short taxi ride. Together they fill four hours or so. If you still have energy, [Medinet Habu](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/medinet-habu) is the West Bank's best-kept secret: cheaper, quieter and with far more surviving colour than Hatshepsut's temple. ## Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings or Medinet Habu? | | Temple of Hatshepsut | Valley of the Kings | Medinet Habu | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Terraced mortuary temple of a queen | Rock-cut royal tombs | Mortuary temple of Ramesses III | | Foreign adult ticket | EGP 440 | EGP 750 | EGP 220 | | Last entry | 16:00 winter, 17:00 summer | 16:00 winter, 17:00 summer | 16:00 winter, 17:00 summer | | Best time | Early morning | At opening | Afternoon, after the crowds | Hatshepsut is the most striking from the outside; Medinet Habu has the best colour inside; the Valley of the Kings is the one most people come for. ## Before you go - [ ] Arriving at opening, not at midday - [ ] In by last entry: 16:00 winter, 17:00 summer - [ ] Visa or Mastercard for the ticket - [ ] Small Egyptian pound notes for the train and tips - [ ] Student ID if you're 24 or under - [ ] Water, hat and sunscreen - [ ] Taxi fare and waiting time agreed ## Historic sites in Luxor: compare and choose Every historic site in Luxor rated by YesGo. - [Luxor Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-temple) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 15 min · EGP 500, students EGP 250 - [Karnak Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/karnak-temple) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h 30 min · EGP 600, students EGP 300 - [Colossi of Memnon](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/colossi-of-memnon) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free, no ticket - [Valley of the Kings](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-kings) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · EGP 750, Tutankhamun extra - [Temple of Hatshepsut](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/hatshepsut-temple) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · EGP 440, students EGP 220 - [Avenue of Sphinxes](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/avenue-of-sphinxes) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free to view (unofficial) - [Ramesseum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/ramesseum) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · EGP 220, students EGP 110 - [Luxor Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-museum) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · EGP 400, students EGP 200 - [Medinet Habu](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/medinet-habu) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · EGP 220, students EGP 110 - [Valley of the Queens](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-queens) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · EGP 220, Nefertari closed ## The West Bank in a morning Valley of the Kings at opening, then Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to the ferry. 1. [Valley of the Kings](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-kings) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · EGP 750, Tutankhamun extra 2. [Temple of Hatshepsut](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/hatshepsut-temple) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · EGP 440, students EGP 220 3. [Medinet Habu](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/medinet-habu) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · EGP 220, students EGP 110 4. [Colossi of Memnon](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/colossi-of-memnon) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free, no ticket ## Not to be confused with The ruined temple just south of Hatshepsut's belongs to Mentuhotep II and is about six centuries older. Hatshepsut's standing obelisk and Red Chapel are not here but across the river at [Karnak](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/karnak-temple). Her tomb is in the Valley of the Kings. ## Tips - Read up on the Punt and birth reliefs before you go, or take a guide — otherwise it's easy to walk past them. - Use the electric train at midday; at opening, the walk up the causeway is half the experience. - Agree one taxi for the whole West Bank loop, with waiting time, rather than haggling at every gate. - There are few cafés near the West Bank sites — carry water and a snack. - Touts and souvenir sellers wait by the visitor centre; a polite, firm "no, thank you" is enough. - Keep the evening for floodlit [Luxor Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-temple), right by the ferry landing. ## Questions ### How much is the ticket for the Temple of Hatshepsut? EGP 440 for foreign adults, EGP 220 for students up to 24 with ID, free under 6. The Hathor and Anubis chapels are included. ### What are the Temple of Hatshepsut's opening hours? Daily from 6:00. Last entry is 17:00 in summer and 16:00 in winter and during Ramadan. ### Can I pay by card? Yes. The ministry accepts Visa and Mastercard online, in the Experience Egypt app and at the ticket desk. Keep some cash for the electric train and tips. ### How long do you need at the Temple of Hatshepsut? About an hour; 1.5 hours if you want to study the reliefs and visit both side chapels. ### Is the Temple of Hatshepsut worth visiting? Yes, for its unique terraced design against the cliffs. Much decoration was defaced in antiquity, so don't expect colour everywhere. ### How do I get to the Temple of Hatshepsut from Luxor? Take the ferry from the Corniche by Luxor Temple, then a taxi for about 15 minutes, or drive over the bridge in about 30 minutes. ### Is there a train at the Temple of Hatshepsut? A small electric train runs from the visitor centre to the foot of the temple for a small cash fee; you can also walk a few hundred metres. ### Can you visit the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut on the same day? Yes, most people do. Start at the Valley of the Kings at 6:00, then take a short taxi ride round the ridge to Hatshepsut. ### Is Hatshepsut buried in her temple? No. It was her mortuary temple, used for her cult; her tomb is in the Valley of the Kings on the other side of the ridge. ## How we checked Prices, concessions, hours (summer, winter and Ramadan), rules and free phone photography come from the official ticketing system of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, as do the Valley of the Kings and Medinet Habu prices used for comparison. The ministry gives opening and last-entry times only; its separate monuments website says 6:00–17:00 without seasons, so we show the stricter ticketing figures. The ministry doesn't publish the date the winter hours start. Card payment is from Egymonuments' official FAQ. The electric train appears only in guidebooks, and their fares disagree (EGP 2 to EGP 20), so we say "small fee" and mark it as checking. Ferry and taxi times come from guidebooks and are marked as checking; Uber and Careem coverage in Luxor is not confirmed, so we don't recommend them. Sources disagree on Hatshepsut's reign dates and the length of construction, so we say "15th century BC"; English Wikipedia also names Hapuseneb as a possible architect, while the ministry and Russian Wikipedia credit Senenmut. Which inner chapels are open on a given day is not officially published. Historical facts are checked against at least two sources. ## Sources - Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, official Egymonuments ticketing: Hatshepsut Temple, Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu — prices, hours, concessions and rules - Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, monuments website: Hatshepsut Temple — description - English Wikipedia: Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut; Wikidata Q660692 - Russian Wikipedia: Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari - Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw: Deir el-Bahari, Temple of Hatshepsut - Science in Poland: opening of the Solar Cult Complex on the upper terrace - Explore Luxor: Luxor Pass; Getting around Luxor (unofficial) --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.