# Luxor Temple, Luxor, Egypt

> Luxor Temple is the riverside temple of Amun in the centre of Luxor, begun around 1400 BC by Amenhotep III and expanded by Ramesses II. Entry is EGP 500 for foreign adults, EGP 250 for students. It opens daily at 6:00, last entry 19:00, and is floodlit after dark. Allow 1–1.5 hours, ideally around sunset.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-temple

- City: [Luxor](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor), Egypt
- YesGo score: 52/100 (Yes, go)
- Time on site: 1 h 15 min
- Entry: EGP 500, students EGP 250
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Foreign adult: EGP 500
- Students: EGP 250 with a valid student ID
- Children: Under 6 free
- Hours: Daily from 6:00, last entry 19:00, Ramadan the same
- Closing time: Not published; unofficial: between 20:00 and 22:00
- Where to buy: Egymonuments website, Experience Egypt app, ticket desk and kiosks at the gate
- Payment: Visa and Mastercard on every sales channel
- Photos: Phone photos free; drones banned
- Refunds: Tickets are dated and non-refundable
- Entrance: From the Corniche, at the north end of the temple
- Coordinates: 25.69950, 32.63910
- Facts checked: 03.11.2026

## Key facts

- **c. 1400 BC** — main building phase under Amenhotep III (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Paris twin** — the second entrance obelisk stands on the Place de la Concorde (source: English Wikipedia: Luxor Temple; Luxor Obelisks; Russian Wikipedia)
- **1979** — UNESCO World Heritage listing as part of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Ipet-resyt** — the ancient name — "the southern sanctuary" (source: English Wikipedia)
- **Amun, Mut and Khonsu** — the Theban Triad the temple was dedicated to (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **2.7 km** — the Avenue of Sphinxes to Karnak (source: English Wikipedia; news agencies on the avenue's reopening)
- **14 columns** — in two rows — the Colonnade of Amenhotep III (source: Russian Wikipedia; Fodor's guide)
- **24 m** — height of Ramesses II's First Pylon (source: Russian Wikipedia; Fodor's guide (79 ft))
- **23 m** — height of the Paris obelisk; the one left in Luxor is taller (source: English Wikipedia: Luxor Obelisks)
- **1884** — after this year Gaston Maspero began digging the temple out of a 14.5–15 m mound (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)

> **Come an hour before sunset** Last entry is 19:00, and the sweet spot is late afternoon: you see the reliefs in daylight, then walk out under the floodlights on the same ticket. Midday is hot and busy with cruise groups; opening time at 6:00 is the quiet alternative. It pairs neatly with Karnak, where last entry is 16:00.

## Luxor Temple tickets and prices

A foreign adult ticket costs **EGP 500**; students with a valid ID pay EGP 250, and children under 6 go free. Phone photography is free with no permit; drones need permission from the Ministry of Defence, so leave yours at the hotel. Tickets are dated, non-refundable and won't be replaced if lost.

You can buy on the official Egymonuments website, in the Experience Egypt app, or at the desk and kiosks at the gate. **Visa and Mastercard are accepted on every channel**, so a card covers your entry. Local guides still suggest carrying some Egyptian pounds in case a terminal is down, and small notes are handy for toilets and tips.

There's no separate evening ticket: the same entry works whether you come at dawn or after dark. If you plan to see most of Luxor's sites within a few days, compare the unofficial Luxor Pass, sold for cash at Karnak and at the Valley of the Kings, with buying tickets one by one.

## Luxor Temple opening hours

Luxor Temple opens every day at 6:00, with last entry at 19:00 all year — the ministry lists the same times during Ramadan. It doesn't publish a closing time and asks visitors to arrive at least an hour before it; unofficial sources put closing anywhere between 20:00 and 22:00.

In practice, aim to be through the gate by 18:00 if you want time to walk the whole axis slowly and wait for the lights. Early morning, from 6:00 to 8:00, is the other good slot: soft light, cool air and almost nobody else inside.

## Visiting Luxor Temple at night

Yes, you can visit at night, and it's the best time to go. The temple is floodlit after dark: the colossi, the obelisk and the colonnade glow against a black sky, and the heat drops. In winter it gets dark well before the 19:00 last entry, so you have plenty of time.

There's no Sound and Light show here — that runs at Karnak on a separate ticket. At Luxor Temple you simply walk at your own pace. For the best of both worlds, arrive about an hour before sunset and stay until it's fully dark.

## How long do you need, and is it worth it?

Plan **1–1.5 hours** to walk from the Avenue of Sphinxes to the sanctuary and back, or around 2 hours if you want daylight and floodlights. The temple runs along one straight axis, so it's easy to see on your own and hard to get lost in.

It's worth it, even after Karnak: it's compact, readable and at night one of the finest sights in Egypt. Just don't expect Karnak's scale — this is a highlight of an evening, not a half-day. If you're in Luxor for only a few hours on a cruise stop, choose Karnak first.

## What to see at Luxor Temple

- **The Avenue of Sphinxes** by the north entrance — human-headed sphinxes marking the processional road to Karnak.
- **The obelisk of Ramesses II** in front of the First Pylon. Its twin has stood on the Place de la Concorde in Paris since 1836.
- **The First Pylon** of Ramesses II, 24 m high, and the **colossi of Ramesses II** flanking the gate.
- **The Court of Ramesses II**, lined with papyrus columns and statues of the king. Above it, on the ancient columns and walls, sits the working **Abu Haggag Mosque**, well above the temple floor.
- **The Colonnade of Amenhotep III** — 14 huge columns in two rows, the classic night shot.
- **The Sun Court of Amenhotep III**, an open court ringed by papyrus columns.
- **The Roman chamber**, a hall the Romans turned into a shrine of the imperial cult and later a church.
- **The shrine of Alexander the Great**, the barque chapel of Amun deep inside, rebuilt in Alexander's name.

## How to get to Luxor Temple

1. Luxor Temple is the centre of town: it sits on the Corniche el-Nil, within a 5–20 minute walk of most East Bank hotels.
2. From Luxor railway station, walk about 1 km west towards the Nile — around 15 minutes — or take a short taxi ride.
3. From Luxor International Airport (LXR), it's about 7 km: taxi, the inDrive app (paid in cash) or a pre-booked transfer. Taxis have no meters, so agree the fare first.
4. From the West Bank, take the public ferry across the Nile; it docks on the Corniche right by the temple.
5. From Karnak, walk the 2.7 km Avenue of Sphinxes (about 40 minutes) or take a 10-minute taxi.
6. The entrance and ticket office face the Corniche at the north end, putting you straight onto the sphinx avenue and the obelisk.

## Luxor Temple or Karnak?

|  | Luxor Temple | Karnak Temple | Valley of the Kings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Temple of Amun in the city centre | Temple city of Amun-Re | Royal tombs |
| Bank | East | East | West |
| Foreign adult ticket | EGP 500 | EGP 600 | EGP 750 |
| Last entry | 19:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 winter, 17:00 summer |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 h | 2–3 h | 2–3 h |
| Best time | Evening, floodlit | At opening | 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 an hour before sunset, or at opening
- [ ] In by the 19:00 last entry
- [ ] Visa or Mastercard for the ticket
- [ ] A few Egyptian pounds for toilets and tips
- [ ] Student ID, if you have one
- [ ] Water and a hat for a daytime visit
- [ ] 1–1.5 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 the Avenue of Sphinxes to Luxor Temple as the lights come on. Add it to your route — YesGo sets the timings and transfers.

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

The Luxor in Las Vegas is a pyramid-shaped hotel, not a temple. Karnak is a separate, much larger temple of Amun 2.5 km north — the two are linked by the [Avenue of Sphinxes](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/avenue-of-sphinxes).

## Tips

- Start at the obelisk and the sphinx avenue, and save the Colonnade of Amenhotep III for when the floodlights come on.
- The Abu Haggag Mosque is a working mosque and isn't part of the temple ticket; if you look in, cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a headscarf.
- On a budget? Walk the Corniche after dark — the floodlit temple is clearly visible through the railings for free.
- Guides at the gate can be persistent: agree the price and length up front, or decline politely and firmly.
- Pair the temple with the [Luxor Museum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-museum) on the Corniche — check its evening session first.
- Keep a separate early morning for the West Bank — the [Valley of the Kings](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-kings) and [Hatshepsut's temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/hatshepsut-temple).

## Questions

### How much is the Luxor Temple ticket?

EGP 500 for foreign adults, EGP 250 for students with ID, free under 6. Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

### What are Luxor Temple's opening hours?

Daily from 6:00, with last entry at 19:00. The hours are the same during Ramadan; the closing time isn't published.

### Is Luxor Temple open at night?

Yes — you can enter until 19:00 and stay as it gets dark. The temple is floodlit, and evening is the best time to visit.

### How long do you need at Luxor Temple?

1–1.5 hours, or about 2 hours if you want to see it in daylight and under the floodlights.

### Is Luxor Temple worth visiting?

Yes, especially at night. It's smaller than Karnak but easier to understand and beautifully lit.

### Can I pay by card at Luxor Temple?

Yes. The ministry accepts Visa and Mastercard online, in the Experience Egypt app and at the ticket desk and kiosks.

### Is there a sound and light show at Luxor Temple?

No. Luxor's Sound and Light show is at Karnak, with its own ticket; Luxor Temple is simply floodlit in the evening.

### How do I get to Luxor Temple?

It's on the Corniche in central Luxor, walkable from most East Bank hotels, about 1 km from the station and 7 km from the airport.

### Where is the other Luxor Temple obelisk?

On the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Muhammad Ali gave it to France, and it was raised there in 1836.

### What is the mosque inside Luxor Temple?

The Abu Haggag Mosque, built on top of the buried temple long before excavation. It was kept and is still in use.

## How we checked

Prices, concessions, hours (including Ramadan), photo and drone rules, sales channels, card payment and the no-refund policy come from the official ticketing system of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — the Luxor Temple page and its FAQ. The ministry gives only the 19:00 last entry, not a closing time; guidebooks say anything from 20:00 to 22:00, so that is marked as checking. The Explore Luxor guide recommends carrying cash because terminals can fail, while the ministry says cards work everywhere — we mention both. We couldn't find the student age limit on the official page, so we don't give one. Travel times and the entrance location come from guidebooks and are marked as checking; Uber and Careem coverage in Luxor is not confirmed. Sources date the Abu Haggag Mosque to either the 13th or 14th century, so we don't name a century. The First Pylon height is checked against Russian Wikipedia and Fodor's; other facts against at least two sources, except the Paris obelisk height and the ancient name (English Wikipedia).

## Sources

- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, official Egymonuments ticketing: Luxor Temple — prices, hours, concessions; FAQ — payment, refunds, photography and drones
- English Wikipedia: Luxor Temple; Luxor Obelisks; Abu Haggag Mosque; Wikidata Q319841
- Russian Wikipedia: Luxor Temple
- Fodor's guide: Luxor Temple
- Explore Luxor: Luxor ticket offices (unofficial)
- inDrive: Luxor — services and payment

---

This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.