Egypt · Region
Luxor
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Luxor is often called the world's greatest open-air museum, its east bank crowded with the temples of Karnak and Luxor while the west bank holds the Valley of the Kings and the tombs of the pharaohs. Built on the site of ancient Thebes, the city sits on the Nile in Upper Egypt, where millennia of monuments stand alongside daily riverside life.
Top attractions
attraction Colossi of Memnon: Luxor Travel Guide (4.6★)
The Colossi of Memnon stand on Luxor's West Bank, beside the main road from the Nile toward the Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu and the Ramesseum. 4.6★ (12,008 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Karnak: Luxor Travel Guide (4.8★)
Karnak, on the east bank of Luxor about 3 km north of Luxor Temple, is a huge temple complex: more than 200 structures grouped around the Temple of Amun-Ra and its Great Hypostyle Hall. 4.8★ (31,442 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Luxor Temple: Travel Guide (4.8★)
Luxor Temple sits on the Corniche in central Luxor on the Nile's east bank, a short walk from most city hotels and the train station. 4.8★ (35,392 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut: Luxor Travel Guide (4.7★)
The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut stands at Deir el-Bahari on Luxor's West Bank, three stacked colonnaded terraces built against a sheer limestone cliff. 4.7★ (24,123 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction Valley of the Kings: Luxor Travel Guide (4.8★)
The Valley of the Kings sits on Luxor's West Bank, a limestone wadi below the pyramid-shaped peak of al-Qurn where 63 tombs have been found, including Tutankhamun's. It's currently open 6am–5pm. 4.8★ (23,784 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction The Avenue of Sphinxes: Luxor Travel Guide (4.7★)
The Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor runs roughly 2.7 km across the East Bank, linking Karnak Temple in the north with Luxor Temple on the Nile Corniche. 4.7★ (973 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
Hidden gems
hidden gem Avenue of the Rams: Luxor Travel Guide (4.8★)
Avenue of the Rams in Luxor is the ancient processional road, lined with sphinxes, that runs about 2.7 km through the modern city between Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple. 4.8★ (371 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
hidden gem Luxor Museum: Travel Guide (4.6★)
Luxor Museum sits on the Corniche in Luxor City, between Luxor Temple and Karnak. 4.6★ (8,256 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
hidden gem Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III: Luxor Travel Guide
The Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, better known as Medinet Habu, stands on Luxor's West Bank at Al Bairat, near Al Qarna, a short drive from the Colossi of Memnon.
hidden gem Ramesseum: Luxor Travel Guide (4.7★)
The Ramesseum is the mortuary temple of Ramesses II at Al Qarna on Luxor's West Bank. 4.7★ (969 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
Top-rated things to do in Luxor
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Where to stay in Luxor
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Frequently asked questions about Luxor
How do I get to Luxor?
Most travellers fly into Luxor International Airport (LXR), with flights from Cairo taking roughly 1 hour; the alternative is the overnight sleeper train from Cairo's Bashtil station, which takes around 10 to 11 hours and arrives at Luxor's central railway station. Buses and private cars also run the route from Cairo, though these typically take ~10 to 12 hours.
How many days should I spend in Luxor?
Allow ~2 to 3 days to cover both the east bank temples and the west bank necropolis at a comfortable pace, with an extra day if continuing on to Aswan.
What is Luxor known for?
Luxor is often called the world's greatest open-air museum, its east bank crowded with the temples of Karnak and Luxor while the west bank holds the Valley of the Kings and the tombs of the pharaohs. Built on the site of ancient Thebes, the city sits on the Nile in Upper Egypt, where millennia of monuments stand alongside daily riverside life.