# Karnak Temple, Luxor > Karnak is the vast temple city of Amun-Re, 2.5 km north of central Luxor on the Nile's East Bank, built and rebuilt over 1,500 years. Entry is EGP 600 for foreign adults, EGP 300 for students. It opens daily at 6:00, last entry 16:00. Allow 2–3 hours, and arrive at opening to beat heat and crowds. Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/karnak-temple - City: [Luxor](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor), Egypt - YesGo score: 50/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 2 h 30 min - Entry: EGP 600, students EGP 300 - With kids: Fine with kids - Foreign adult: EGP 600 - Students up to 24: EGP 300 with a valid student ID - Children: Under 6 free - Hours: Daily from 6:00, last entry 16:00, Ramadan the same - Where to buy: Egymonuments website, Experience Egypt app, ticket desk and kiosks at the gate - Payment: Visa and Mastercard on every sales channel - Temple of Mut: Southern precinct — separate ticket, EGP 200 - Sound and Light show: Evenings at 19:00 and 20:00; USD 20, children 6–12 USD 11 - Luxor Pass: Unofficial: USD 130 standard, USD 250 premium, 5 days, cash only - Photos: Phone photos free; drones banned - Getting there: About 10 min by taxi from Luxor Temple, or 30–40 min on foot along the Nile - Coordinates: 25.71833, 32.65833 - Facts checked: 03.11.2026 ## Key facts - **134 columns** — in the Great Hypostyle Hall, about 5,000 m² (source: English Wikipedia: Karnak; Great Hypostyle Hall) - **1979** — UNESCO World Heritage listing as part of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **1,500+ years** — of building, from Senusret I in the Middle Kingdom to the Ptolemies (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **2.5 km** — north of central Luxor, on the East Bank of the Nile (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Ipet-isut** — the ancient name — "the most select of places" (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **≈ 30 m** — height of Hatshepsut's standing obelisk (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Seti I and Ramesses II** — built and decorated the Great Hypostyle Hall (source: English Wikipedia: Karnak; Great Hypostyle Hall; Russian Wikipedia) - **2.7 km** — the Avenue of Sphinxes linking Karnak and Luxor Temple (source: English Wikipedia; news agencies on the avenue's reopening) - **El-Karnak** — the neighbouring village that gave the temple its modern name (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) > **Get there at 6:00, not at noon** Last entry is 16:00, and by midday the courtyards are an open-air oven with very little shade. Early morning is cooler and quieter, before the Nile cruise groups arrive. Bring water, a hat and proper shoes — you will easily walk a couple of kilometres inside. ## Karnak Temple tickets and prices A foreign adult ticket costs **EGP 600**; students up to 24 with a valid ID pay EGP 300, and children under 6 go free. The Temple of Mut, the southern precinct of the complex, needs a separate EGP 200 ticket. Phone photography is free; drones need a military permit, so leave yours at the hotel. Tickets are sold on the official Egymonuments website, in the Experience Egypt app, and at the desks and kiosks at the gate. **Visa and Mastercard work on every channel**, including the desk on site, so a card is all you need for entry. Keep some small Egyptian pound notes for toilets and tips. Tickets are dated and non-refundable. The Luxor Pass covers sites on both banks for 5 days. Unofficial figures put it at USD 130 (standard) and USD 250 (premium, adding the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari), sold at an office by the Karnak ticket desk for clean US dollar or euro notes, with a passport copy and photo. There is no official page for it, so confirm the price on site. For scale, the eight main Luxor tickets at official prices — Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu, Ramesseum, Valley of the Queens and Luxor Museum — add up to EGP 3,350. ## Karnak Temple opening hours Karnak opens every day at 6:00, and the last entry is 16:00, all year — the ministry lists the same times in Ramadan. It asks visitors to arrive at least an hour before closing, which in practice means arriving by 15:00 if you want to see more than the main axis. The best slot is 6:00–9:00: soft light on the columns, cooler air and far fewer people. The evening Sound and Light show is a separate event after the temple closes, with its own ticket. ## How long do you need, and is it worth it? Plan **2–3 hours** for the Precinct of Amun-Re, the main part that everyone visits. Add an hour if you want the Temple of Mut and the Open Air Museum. A quick walk down the central axis takes 45 minutes, but that skips most of what makes Karnak special. Yes, it is worth it — this is the single site in Luxor not to miss, even on a one-day stop. The honest catch: without context it can feel like an endless field of stones. A guide or a good audio guide turns it into a story; if you only want photos, go at sunrise and keep it short. ## What to see at Karnak - **The ram-headed sphinxes** at the entrance — the ram was Amun's sacred animal. - **The First Pylon**, the biggest gateway of the temple, which was never finished. - **The Great Hypostyle Hall** — 134 papyrus columns, the central 12 over 20 m tall. Look up: original paint survives on the capitals and ceiling blocks. - **The obelisks** of Thutmose I and Queen Hatshepsut; hers stands about 30 m high. - **The Sacred Lake**, where priests purified themselves, with the giant granite scarab beside it. - **The Open Air Museum** in the north — the White Chapel of Senusret I and Hatshepsut's Red Chapel, rebuilt from their original blocks. - **The Temple of Mut** to the south, on a separate ticket, quiet and rarely crowded. ## How to get to Karnak Temple 1. Start at Luxor Temple on the Corniche in the city centre. 2. Fastest: a taxi or the inDrive app, 2.5 km north along Corniche el-Nil, about 10 minutes. Taxis have no meters, so agree the fare before you get in. inDrive is paid in cash. 3. On foot: 30–40 minutes north along the Corniche or the streets beside the Avenue of Sphinxes. There is little shade — do it early. 4. A horse-drawn calèche also runs along the Corniche; fix the price and the route before you set off. 5. Get out at the visitor centre and ticket office on the west side of the complex, facing the Nile, then walk through the sphinx avenue to the First Pylon. 6. Heading back, stop at the [Luxor Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-museum) on the Corniche on the way. ## Do you need a guide? You can visit on your own: the main route is a straight line from the entrance to the sanctuary and the Sacred Lake, and the key spots are signposted. What a guide adds is meaning — who built which pylon, what the reliefs show, where to find the less obvious chapels. A good middle path is to read up before you go and hire an Egyptologist only for the Hypostyle Hall and the obelisks. Book through a recognised operator rather than accepting offers at the gate, and agree the length and price in advance. > **Karnak Sound and Light show** After closing, the temple hosts the Sound and Light show: you walk through floodlit courtyards and finish in seats by the Sacred Lake. Sessions run at 19:00 and 20:00, USD 20 for adults and USD 11 for children 6–12. Your day ticket does not cover it. The language changes by session, so check the schedule before you buy. ## Karnak or Luxor Temple? | | Karnak Temple | Luxor Temple | Valley of the Kings | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Temple city of Amun-Re | Temple in the city centre | Royal tombs | | Bank | East | East | West | | Foreign adult ticket | EGP 600 | EGP 500 | EGP 750 | | Last entry | 16:00 | 19:00 | 16:00 winter, 17:00 summer | | Time needed | 2–3 h | 1–1.5 h | 2–3 h | | Best time | At opening | Evening, floodlit | At opening | Karnak is bigger and older; Luxor Temple is compact and at its best after dark. With one day, do Karnak in the morning and Luxor Temple in the evening. ## Before you go - [ ] Arriving at opening, not at midday - [ ] In by the 16:00 last entry - [ ] Visa or Mastercard for the ticket - [ ] Small Egyptian pound notes for toilets and tips - [ ] Student ID if you're 24 or under - [ ] Water, hat and sunscreen - [ ] 2–3 hours set aside ## 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 East Bank in a day Karnak in the morning, the museum at midday, then a walk along the Avenue of Sphinxes to Luxor Temple as the lights come on. 1. [Karnak Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/karnak-temple) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h 30 min · EGP 600, students EGP 300 2. [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 3. [Avenue of Sphinxes](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/avenue-of-sphinxes) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free to view (unofficial) 4. [Luxor Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-temple) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 15 min · EGP 500, students EGP 250 ## Not to be confused with Carnac in Brittany, France, is a field of prehistoric standing stones with no link to Egypt. Luxor Temple is a separate temple of Amun in the city centre — the two were joined by the [Avenue of Sphinxes](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/avenue-of-sphinxes). ## Tips - Go straight to the Hypostyle Hall at opening, before the groups — the courtyards and the lake can wait. - The Temple of Mut is the quiet corner of Karnak; worth the extra ticket if crowds wear you down. - Pair Karnak with [Luxor Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-temple) in the evening — last entry there is 19:00 and the floodlighting is superb. - The West Bank sites — [Valley of the Kings](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-kings), [Hatshepsut's temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/hatshepsut-temple) — need their own half day across the river. - Only buy the Luxor Pass if you'll cover most sites on both banks within 5 days. - Coming back for the Sound and Light show? It's a separate ticket — your day entry won't get you in after dark. ## Questions ### How much is the Karnak Temple ticket? EGP 600 for foreign adults, EGP 300 for students up to 24 with ID, free under 6. The Temple of Mut is a separate EGP 200 ticket. ### What are Karnak Temple's opening hours? Daily from 6:00, with last entry at 16:00. The hours are the same during Ramadan. ### Can I pay by card at Karnak? Yes. The ministry accepts Visa and Mastercard online, in the Experience Egypt app and at the ticket desks and kiosks on site. ### How long do you need at Karnak Temple? 2–3 hours for the main Precinct of Amun-Re, up to 4 hours with the Temple of Mut and the Open Air Museum. ### Is Karnak Temple worth visiting? Yes — it is the one Luxor site not to skip. Go early and consider a guide, or it can feel like a maze of ruins. ### How do I get to Karnak Temple from Luxor? It's 2.5 km north of Luxor Temple: about 10 minutes by taxi or inDrive, or a 30–40 minute walk along the Corniche. ### Is the Sound and Light show at Karnak worth it? If you have a free evening, yes — the floodlit temple feels different. Sessions at 19:00 and 20:00, USD 20; check the language of each session. ### Is Karnak included in the Luxor Pass? Yes, by unofficial accounts the pass covers Karnak and the other main sites on both banks for 5 days; it's sold for cash at Karnak. ### Which is better, Karnak or Luxor Temple? Karnak is larger and the bigger wow; Luxor Temple is smaller and best at night. Most people do both on the same day. ### Can you take photos inside Karnak Temple? Yes, phone photos are free. Drones are banned without a permit. ## How we checked Prices, concessions, hours (including Ramadan), sales channels and card payment come from the official ticketing system of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, as do the Luxor Temple, Mut Temple, Valley of the Kings and other prices used for comparison. The ministry gives only the 6:00 opening and the 16:00 last entry, not a closing time; guidebooks say 17:00 or 17:30, so we show only the official figures. Sound and Light sessions and prices come from the show's official website, which warns that dates can change. The Luxor Pass is not described on any ministry site: its price, coverage and cash-only payment are unofficial figures from the Explore Luxor guide, marked as checking, and press reports on the premium price disagree. Sources give different heights for the central hypostyle columns (21 m and 24 m), so we say "over 20 m". Travel times and options come from guidebooks and inDrive's own page and are marked as checking; Uber and Careem coverage in Luxor is not confirmed, so we don't recommend them. Historical facts are checked against at least two sources. ## Sources - Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, official Egymonuments ticketing: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Mut Temple, Valley of the Kings and other Luxor sites — prices, hours, concessions, payment and rules - Sound and Light Egypt, official show website: Karnak show — sessions and prices - English Wikipedia: Karnak; Great Hypostyle Hall; Wikidata Q522862 - Russian Wikipedia: Karnak Temple - University of Memphis, Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project - inDrive: Luxor — services and payment - 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.