# Medinet Habu, Luxor

> Medinet Habu is the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramesses III on Luxor's West Bank: a fortress-style gate, the Sea Peoples battle reliefs and some of the best-preserved paint in Thebes. Foreign adults pay EGP 220, students EGP 110. It opens daily at 6:00; last entry is 17:00 in summer, 16:00 in winter. Allow about 90 minutes.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/medinet-habu

- City: [Luxor](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor), Egypt
- YesGo score: 36/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h 30 min
- Entry: EGP 220, students EGP 110
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Foreign adult: EGP 220; students up to 24 with a valid student ID EGP 110
- Children: Under 6 free
- Hours: Daily from 6:00; last entry 17:00 in summer, 16:00 in winter and Ramadan
- Where to buy: Online at the official Egymonuments site or the Experience Egypt app; sources disagree on the on-site ticket desk
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hours, up to 2 with the palace and small temple
- Location: West Bank, by Medinet Habu village, about 1 km from the Colossi of Memnon
- Getting there: Ferry plus a 15-min taxi, or about 30 min by car via the bridge
- Payment: Visa and Mastercard at official ticket channels; cash pounds for ferries and taxis
- Photos: Free with a phone
- Coordinates: 25.72000, 32.60083
- Facts checked: 03.11.2026

## Key facts

- **Ramesses III** — 20th-Dynasty pharaoh, reigned c. 1186–1155 BC — the temple was built for his cult (source: English Wikipedia; Ancient Egypt Online)
- **About 7,000 m²** — of decorated wall reliefs (source: English Wikipedia; Ancient Egypt Online)
- **Year 8** — of his reign: the war against the Sea Peoples, carved on the temple's north wall (source: English Wikipedia; Ancient Egypt Online)
- **About 18 m** — height of the mudbrick enclosure wall, some 10 m thick (source: English Wikipedia; Ancient Egypt Online)
- **Migdol** — the main gate, modelled on a Syrian fortress, with royal rooms upstairs (source: Ancient Egypt Online; Explore Luxor)
- **Window of Appearances** — palace balcony where the king handed out gold collars to loyal officials (source: English Wikipedia; Ancient Egypt Online)
- **Hatshepsut and Thutmose III** — completed the Small Temple of Amun, the oldest building on site (source: English Wikipedia; Explore Luxor)
- **8th–6th c. BC** — chapels of the God's Wives of Amun by the entrance (source: English Wikipedia; Ancient Egypt Online)
- **Djeme** — the Coptic town that grew inside the walls, with a church in the second court (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia)
- **1829** — Champollion studied the temple; Vivant Denon saw it with Napoleon's expedition before him (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **Since 1924** — the University of Chicago's Epigraphic Survey has been recording the reliefs (source: English Wikipedia; ISAC, University of Chicago)

> **The West Bank temple most people skip** Medinet Habu costs half as much as Hatshepsut's temple and gets a fraction of the Valley of the Kings crowds, yet its columns and ceilings still show blue, red and yellow paint. Do the valleys first thing, then come here around lunchtime when the coach groups have moved on.

## Medinet Habu tickets and entrance fee

Egypt's official ticketing system (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) lists Medinet Habu at **EGP 220** for foreign adults and **EGP 110** for students up to 24 with a valid student ID; children under 6 go free. One ticket covers the main temple, the palace remains and the Small Temple of Amun. Phone photography is free.

Tickets are dated and non-refundable. Buy them online at Egymonuments or in the Experience Egypt app; the ministry's FAQ says Visa and Mastercard work across all its channels, including site counters and kiosks. Sources disagree on whether the desk is at the gate or at the West Bank antiquities office, so buying ahead saves a detour.

Keep Egyptian pounds in cash for the ferry, taxis and tips. The unofficial Luxor Pass also covers Medinet Habu if you plan to see most of the city's sites.

## Medinet Habu 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**, and the ministry asks visitors to arrive at least an hour before closing. Medinet Habu keeps the same hours as the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Ramesseum.

Early morning gives you cool air and the east-facing gate in full sun. Early afternoon is quietest, as the coach groups head back to the East Bank. Midday in summer is hard work — the courts are open to the sky.

## What is Medinet Habu?

It's the **mortuary temple of Ramesses III**, the last great pharaoh of the New Kingdom. He was buried in the Valley of the Kings; here, on the edge of the fields, priests kept his cult alive. The complex inside the walls also holds a much older Small Temple of Amun, chapels of priestesses and the foundations of a royal palace.

The scale is serious: a mudbrick enclosure wall about 18 metres high and some **7,000 m² of carved reliefs**. What sets it apart from its neighbours is survival — the pylons and walls stand close to full height, and the paint in the second court still reads clearly. If you want to picture a working Egyptian temple, this is the one to see.

## Is Medinet Habu worth visiting?

Yes — after 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), it's the West Bank's best use of two spare hours. It's better preserved and more colourful than the [Ramesseum](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/ramesseum), cheaper than Hatshepsut and far calmer than either.

If you have only one day in Luxor, though, put the valleys, Hatshepsut and [Karnak](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/karnak-temple) first; Medinet Habu is the next pick, not the first. Kids tend to enjoy it: a gate like a castle, ships and battles on the walls, and space to roam.

## What to see at Medinet Habu

- **The Migdol gate** — a tall gatehouse styled on a Syrian fortress; the king's rooms upstairs show him at ease with women of the court.
- **The first pylon** — Ramesses III smiting enemies before Amun, with war scenes on the inner face.
- **The first court** — the palace wall and **Window of Appearances** on the left, Osiride statues of the king on the right.
- **The second court** — the temple's best colour: festival processions in blue, red and yellow on the columns and walls.
- **The north outer wall** — the Sea Peoples naval battle. Walk round the outside; many visitors miss it.
- **The Small Temple of Amun**, right of the entrance — built by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, three centuries older than the main temple.
- **The God's Wives chapels** by the gate and **the palace remains** — mudbrick foundations with a throne room.

## The Sea Peoples reliefs

In the 8th year of his reign Ramesses III beat off the **Sea Peoples**, a coalition that ravaged much of the eastern Mediterranean as the Bronze Age collapsed. The inscriptions name groups such as the Peleset — often linked to the biblical Philistines — the Tjeker and the Shekelesh.

The campaign fills the **north outer wall**. The famous scene is the sea battle: Egyptian ships ram the invaders' boats, and warriors in feathered headdresses tumble into the water. Nearby, a land battle shows ox-carts carrying the invaders' families. For historians it's one of the key records of the Late Bronze Age collapse.

## History of Medinet Habu

Ramesses III reigned around 1186–1155 BC and modelled his temple closely on the **Ramesseum** of Ramesses II, a short drive north. The ground was already sacred: Hatshepsut and Thutmose III had completed the Small Temple of Amun here, and in the 8th–6th centuries BC chapels were added for the God's Wives of Amun, priestesses who ruled Thebes on the kings' behalf.

Later the Coptic town of **Djeme** grew up inside the walls, with a church in the second court; plaster laid over the reliefs helped protect their paint. Champollion studied the temple in 1829, and since 1924 the University of Chicago's Epigraphic Survey has been recording every wall.

## How to get to Medinet Habu

1. Start at Luxor Temple on the Corniche — the public ferry to the West Bank leaves from the landing beside it.
2. Cross on the ferry: a few minutes and a few pounds (unofficial).
3. Take a taxi from the West Bank landing: about 15 minutes to Medinet Habu. There are no meters, so agree the fare first — ideally for a full West Bank loop with waiting time.
4. No change of transport: a taxi or the inDrive app (cash) from the centre over the bridge south of town, about 30 minutes.
5. Stop at the [Colossi of Memnon](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/colossi-of-memnon) on the way — they're about a kilometre from the temple.
6. The [Valley of the Queens](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/valley-of-the-queens) and the Ramesseum are close by — easy to add with the same driver.

## Before you go

- [ ] Dated ticket bought online for the right day
- [ ] Student ID if you're 24 or under
- [ ] Egyptian pounds in cash for the ferry and taxi
- [ ] West Bank loop agreed with the driver
- [ ] Water, a hat and sturdy shoes — the courts are open
- [ ] Arrive at least an hour before last entry

## Medinet Habu vs other West Bank temples

|  | Medinet Habu | Ramesseum | Temple of Hatshepsut |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Mortuary temple of Ramesses III | Mortuary temple of Ramesses II | Terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut |
| Foreign adult | EGP 220 | EGP 220 | EGP 440 |
| Student | EGP 110 | EGP 110 | EGP 220 |
| Open | From 6:00; last entry 17:00 summer, 16:00 winter | From 6:00; last entry 17:00 summer, 16:00 winter | From 6:00; last entry 17:00 summer, 16:00 winter |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours | About an hour | About an hour |

Fares and hours from Egypt's official ticketing system (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities). Visit times are YesGo estimates.

## Luxor history: compare and choose

All historic sites 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 day

Valley of the Kings at opening, then Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu after lunch and the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to the ferry. Add it to your route — YesGo sets the timings and transfers.

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

## Don't confuse

Medinet Habu is Ramesses III's temple. The Ramesseum, further north, belongs to Ramesses II, whose temple it copies. Neither is Abu Simbel — Ramesses II's rock-cut temples far to the south on Lake Nasser.

## Tips

- Walk the north outer wall before going in — the Sea Peoples sea battle is there and most visitors head straight for the courts.
- In the second court, look up: the best paint survives under the cornices and high on the columns.
- Don't skip the Small Temple of Amun right of the entrance — older by three centuries and usually empty.
- Medinet Habu makes a good last stop on the West Bank: groups leave after lunch and the light on the walls softens.
- Find the Window of Appearances on the first court's left wall — it's where the king stood to reward his officials.
- Back on the East Bank in the evening, finish at [Luxor Temple](https://yesgo.io/egypt/luxor/luxor-temple), floodlit and right by the ferry landing.

## Questions

### How much is the Medinet Habu entrance fee?

EGP 220 for foreign adults and EGP 110 for students up to 24 with ID; children under 6 go free, per the official ticketing system.

### What are Medinet Habu's opening hours?

Daily from 6:00. Last entry is 17:00 in summer and 16:00 in winter and during Ramadan.

### Is Medinet Habu worth visiting?

Yes, once you've seen the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut. It has the best-preserved colour of the West Bank temples and far fewer people.

### How long do you need at Medinet Habu?

1–1.5 hours for the temple; up to 2 hours with the palace, the Small Temple of Amun and a walk round the outer walls.

### How do I get to Medinet Habu from Luxor?

Take the public ferry from beside Luxor Temple, then a taxi for about 15 minutes, or drive over the bridge in about 30 minutes.

### Can I pay by card at Medinet Habu?

The ministry says Visa and Mastercard work on its website, app and site counters. Ferries and taxis are cash only, so carry Egyptian pounds.

### Who built Medinet Habu?

Ramesses III of the 20th Dynasty, in the 12th century BC. The Small Temple of Amun inside the walls is older — completed by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III.

### What are the Sea Peoples reliefs?

Scenes on the temple's north outer wall of Ramesses III's Year 8 war against the Sea Peoples, including a famous naval battle.

### Is Medinet Habu the same as the Ramesseum?

No. Medinet Habu is Ramesses III's temple; the Ramesseum is Ramesses II's, a short drive north, and less well preserved.

## How we checked

Fares, concessions, hours (summer, winter and Ramadan) and free phone photography come from the Medinet Habu page of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' official ticketing system, as do the Ramesseum and Hatshepsut figures in the comparison; card payment comes from the same system's FAQ. Sources disagree on where the on-site ticket desk is (at the gate or at the West Bank antiquities office), so we recommend buying online and mark it "verifying". Guides quoting EGP 100 or 200 are out of date. The Luxor Pass is unofficial. Ramesses III's reign is given as 1186–1155 BC by English Wikipedia and Ancient Egypt Online and 1185–1153 BC by Russian Wikipedia, so we say "around". Wall dimensions: English Wikipedia (18 × 10 m) and Ancient Egypt Online (60 and 35 ft). Ferry and taxi times come from guidebooks and are marked "verifying"; Uber and Careem aren't confirmed in Luxor, inDrive works for cash. Other historical facts are checked against at least two sources.

## Sources

- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, official Egymonuments ticketing: Medinet Habu, Ramesseum, Hatshepsut Temple — fares, hours, concessions; FAQ — payment and refunds
- English Wikipedia: Medinet Habu; Wikidata Q932622
- Russian Wikipedia: Мединет-Абу
- Ancient Egypt Online: Medinet Habu
- Explore Luxor: Medinet Habu; Luxor Ticket Offices (unofficial)
- ISAC, University of Chicago: Epigraphic Survey

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