17 amazing things to do in Luxor, Egypt
Luxor Egypt is known for having a large number of the most important archeological sites in Egypt, from the tomb of King Tut to the newly discovered ‘Lost Golden City‘ announced in 2021. Not every discovery in Luxor is open to the public, but even just among the ones that are, it can be difficult to decide what to see!
Whether you’re traveling on your own or have the whole family in tow, these are the 17 amazing things you’ll want to see in Luxor, Egypt!
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Where is Luxor, Egypt?
Luxor is one of the larger cities in Egypt, and as such, it is located along the banks of the Nile River. It is close to the middle of the country, significantly farther south than Cairo and Alexandria in the North. Farther south, Edfu, Kom Umbu, and Aswan can also be found on the Nile, each with its own temples and history. To the east, it is about a 3-hour drive to the Red Sea. If you travel west, you can visit one of the oasis cities, but there’s not otherwise a lot out there to see. Much of the landscape in that direction is inhospitable desert.
What makes Luxor so special?
While pretty much every place you can visit in Egypt is filled to the brim with history, Luxor still manages to be one of the most spectacular and special places in Egypt. In large part, that’s because Luxor is the home of the ancient city of Thebes, which was the burial site for many of Egypt’s Pharaohs throughout the country’s history.
Thebes was home to both the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, and some of the most famous discoveries in Egyptian archaeology occurred there. From King Tut’s undisturbed burial chamber to the beauty of Queen Nefertari’s tomb, there is a lot to see.
Of course, not everything in Thebes was about death! While the West Bank is filled with tombs from antiquity and temples honoring the dead pharaohs, the East Bank features beautiful temples celebrating life, right in the middle of today’s vibrant Luxor town.
What should I do in Luxor Egypt?
With so many wonderful temples and tombs to explore, it can be hard to decide on where to start! Each archeological site in Luxor is full of amazing hieroglyphics, beautiful stone reliefs, and monumental statues, so it’s hard to go wrong when choosing! Plus, just because Luxor is famous for its ruins doesn’t mean that they’re the only things worth doing.
However, if you want to make the absolute best use of your time in Luxor, here are my suggestions for the most amazing things to do in and around Luxor!
Karnak Temple
Admission:
Regular – 200 EGP
Student (6 and up) – 100 EGP
Purchase tickets at entrance.
The Karnak Temple Complex is the second most visited archeological site in all of Egypt, and for good reason! It is an absolutely enormous temple complex, with an impressive array of temples, statues, and collonades throughout its 200 acres of area. It’s also the second most visited archaeological site in Egypt, next to the Great Pyramid in Giza.
Over 30 pharaohs contributed to the construction process over hundreds of years, which has led to an impressive variety of architectural features.
While only a portion of the entire complex is open for the public to view, it is still a huge amount of area to cover in a single trip and is well-worth seeing.
Tickets can be bought at Karnak Temple itself if you want to visit it on your own, or there are plenty of amazing tour groups if that’s more your speed. Either way, Karnak should not be missed!
Luxor Temple
Admission:
Regular – 160 EGP
Student (6 and up) – 80 EGP
Purchase tickets at entrance.
Located along the east bank of the Nile River, Luxor Temple is one of the most visible destinations in town. The temple was started by the Pharoah Amenhotep III around 1392 BC, and construction was not completed until the reign of Tutankhamun, around the year 1213 BC.
The temple itself is much smaller than Karnak but is still quite impressive to see in person, with huge columns in the Grand Colonnade and an impressive obelisk near the entrance. Interestingly, nestled among the columns of the temple is a small building that was converted into a church by the Romans in the year 395. It was again converted into the Abu Haggag Mosque in the year 640, and is still in use today, making Luxor Temple the oldest building in the world being at least partially used for a purpose other than tourism.
The Sphinx Avenue
(Newly opened November 2021!)
Admission:
To walk the full road, you need to buy tickets for both Karnak and Luxor Temples.
In November of 2021, the road was officially reopened to the public in a spectacular program, which you can watch on Youtube.
This ancient avenue is a mile and a half long section of road (2700 meters) connecting the Luxor and Karnak temples. Originally, this road was used by the Egyptians each year during the festival of Opet, celebrating the marriage of Amun and Mut. The entire length of the road was lined with more than 1,300 sphinxes, some of which can still be seen today.
Since it connects Luxor and Karnak Temples, you must purchase an entry ticket for both locations in order to walk the entirety of the road, but you can walk to the halfway point from either side with only a single ticket.
This is an awesome bit of history that not many people have had the opportunity to experience yet, as well as a great chance to get out and stretch your legs!
Valley of the Kings
Admission:
Regular –240 EGP
Student (6 and up) –120 EGP
Tutankhamun – add 300 EGP/person
Seti I – add 1000 EGP/person
Ramesses V and VI – add 100 EGP/person
Additional 4 EGP/person for transportation from the entrance to the Valley itself.
Purchase tickets at entrance.
The modern-day city of Luxor sits on the site of the ancient city of Thebes, which was first and foremost the place where the Egyptians buried their kings. The place where the Pharaohs were buried is known as the Valley of the Kings. It is located a short drive away from Luxor among the limestone hills on the west bank of the Nile.
At current, there have been 64 tombs discovered in the Valley of the Kings, including the tombs of Thutmose I, Ramses II, and the world-famous tomb of King Tut! However, of the 64, only 11 are open to the public. Still, that’s a lot of amazing tombs to check out, and it’s plenty to fill a morning!
A standard ticket to the Valley of the Kings includes entry to any of 8 main tombs, with the remaining three that are open to the public requiring a special entry ticket. These include the tomb of Seti I, the tombs of Ramses V and Ramses VI, and the tomb of King Tut.
I haven’t had a chance to explore all the tombs yet, but from the ones I have seen, I absolutely recommend checking out the tomb of Merenptah (KV8), which was my personal favorite.
Valley of the Queens
Admission:
Regular – 100 EGP
Student (6 and up) – 50 EGP
Nefertari’s Tomb – add 1400 EGP/person
Purchase tickets at entrance.
Similar to how the Valley of the Kings hosts the tombs of the Pharaohs, the Valley of the Queens hosts their queens. There are more than 90 tombs in the valley, but only four are open for viewing, two of which are actually the tombs of princes, instead of queens.
A standard entry ticket will give you access to the tombs of Queen Titi, Prince Khaemwaset, and Prince Amunherkhepshef. The fourth tomb open to the public is the tomb of Queen Nefertari, which has been called the Sistene Chapel of Egyptian tombs, due to the beautiful paintings covering the walls.
The paint has held its color remarkably well over the years and is some of the brightest and most vivid in Luxor. In part that’s due to a 6-year long restoration process started in the ’80s that cleaned and repaired the paintings. However, all the paint is original, and the colors are breathtaking.
Accordingly, her tomb has one of the most expensive entry prices on this list. A single entry ticket to Nefertari’s tomb costs 1400 EGP, and there is no half-price discount for students, and entry is limited to a maximum of 150 visitors each day.
I personally really enjoyed seeing Nefertari’s tomb, but at that price point, I probably won’t be making a second visit.
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Admission:
Regular – 140 EGP
Student (6 and up) – 70 EGP
Additional 4 EGP/person for transportation from the gate to the Temple
Purchase tickets at the entrance.
Hatshepsut was one of only a handful of female Pharaohs to rule over Egypt, and her mortuary temple is a testament to the power she held. It is a massive three-tiered temple structure built into the side of a mountain outside of Luxor and filled with beautiful paintings describing her achievements.
Apart from being the first woman to gain the full powers of Pharoah, Hatshepsut did much to increase the power of Egypt as a whole. She established new trade routes, built up the area around Thebes, and sent out a successful expedition to Punt.
Unfortunately, her mortuary temple has taken a lot of abuse over the years, first at the hands of Hatshepsut’s own stepson, who tried to erase all evidence of her, and then again at the hands of the Pharoah Akhenaten, who worked to erase the images of the god, Amun, whose images were prominent throughout the temple.
Despite these attempts at erasure, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut remains an absolutely beautiful temple, and is one of my favorite destinations in Luxor!
Amenhotep’s Mortuary Temple
and the Colossi of Memnon
Admission: Free!
Most of the Temple is still an active archeological site, so it’s not open for viewing. But you can get really close to the Colossi! You’ll likely only spend a few minutes here, so it’s super easy to add it to the end of another trip.
The statues called the Colossi of Memnon today were originally just the statues on either side of the mortuary temple built by Amenhotep III. That temple had a tendency to get flooded each year, and most of the original structure didn’t survive, but these guardian statues were still around when Greek tourists began to visit Egypt.
During this time, Amenhotep III became linked with the mythological King Memnon who was killed by Achilles in the battle of Troy. And these colossal statues of Amenhotep III became the Colossi of Memnon!
There’s actually a lot more to the story, which makes for a fascinating read. One of the statues became known as an oracle of good luck, and all sorts of Greek officials ended up carving their name into its base. You can still see ancient Greek graffiti there today. I found this article in the World History Encyclopedia to be a great resource.
Even if you choose not to specifically stop to visit the Colossi, you’ll definitely see them, since they are located so close to the main road out of Luxor. But since there’s no charge for entrance, a quick stop to get a closer look is absolutely worth your time.
Luxor Museum
Admission:
Regular – 80 EGP
Student (6 and up)- 40 EGP
Purchase tickets at entrance.
Located on the East Bank of the Nile, the Luxor Museum hosts a small, but varied collection of the finest examples of Ancient Egyptian art ever discovered.
Opened in 1975, the museum is constantly expanding its collection in an attempt at giving the fullest possible picture of Ancient Egyptian history and art. Displays are intentionally kept uncluttered with plenty of explanation, making it a great place for tourists to get a fuller picture of the overarching history of the Luxor area.
The Luxor Museum also plays a huge role in educating the local population on the importance of the archeological work in the area. Monthly seminars hosted by the museum help to keep locals educated as to what is happening with the different dig sites around Luxor and the progress being made on restoration projects.
Mummification Museum
Admission:
Regular – 100 EGP
Student (6 and up)- 50 EGP
Purchase tickets at entrance.
Whereas the Luxor Museum tries to cover all of Egyptian art and history with its collection, the Museum of Mummification chooses to focus on a single aspect of Egyptian history: the process and importance of mummification.
The Egyptian mummification process is one of the most complex burial rituals ever, taking around 70 days to complete from start to finish. Luxor’s Museum of Mummification dives into the process, giving visitors the chance to learn about every aspect of the secretive ritual, from start to finish.
While the museum itself is fairly small, it hosts tons of great examples of mummification as well as many of the artifacts dealing with the religious importance of the process.
Howard Carter House Museum
Admission:
Regular – $5 USD
Note: You cannot pay for entrance with Egyptian pounds, so have Dollars or Euros available when you arrive.
Purchase tickets at the entrance.
In the year 1922, a British archaeologist by the name of Howard Carter made a discovery in the Valley of Kings that would capture the attention of the world. That discovery was the now-famous tomb of the boy Pharaoh, King Tut. While the tomb itself is small in comparison to the others in the valley, it was special in that it was the only such tomb to be discovered completely intact.
Today, you can still visit King Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, but you can also visit the house where Howard Carter lived during the expedition. It has been left mostly intact, and you can see original furnishings and documents written by Carter himself on display, as well as a full-sized replica of King Tut’s tomb.
Ramesseum
(Mortuary Temple of Ramses II)
Admission:
Regular – 60 EGP
Student (6 and up)- 30 EGP
Purchase tickets at Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office. Tickets are not available at the entrance.
Ramses II was one of the most powerful Pharaohs of Egypt and is known for his numerous military exploits to secure Egypt’s borders. He had equal success in the realm of monument building, constructing more monuments during his 66 years as Pharoah than any other, including the hypostyle hall of Karnak.
The Ramesseum was Ramses II’s mortuary temple and one of the grandest temples of its time. However, the annual flooding of the Nile caused a ton of damage over the years, which has somewhat diluted its grandeur. Though it is not one of the more popular attractions in Luxor, today’s Rammesseum is still worth a visit. Giant pylons depicting his military conquests still stand among the temple’s columns and the lower half of a 67-foot tall statue of Ramses himself gives a glimpse of the building’s former glory. (The upper half is in the British Museum in London, where it was given the name “the Younger Memnon”)
Take a ride on a Felucca
Luxor may be famous for the stones and tombs of ancient Egypt, but many age-old traditions are still alive today. One such is the use of the traditional Egyptian sailing boat, the felucca.
Feluccas are an open-decked boat used throughout Egyptian history both for shipping goods and transporting people, and their role remains relatively unchanged today. Today’s feluccas range in size from smaller boats mostly used to ferry tourists from bank to bank, all the way up to larger vessels that regularly make the voyage upriver to Aswan and back.
It’s easy enough to find a felucca captain to take you on an evening boat ride simply by walking down the banks of the Nile. But booking in advance means seeing reviews for your boat captain, and being able to pay online instead of dealing with cash at the end of your trip.
Ultimately, it comes down to your own comfort and peace of mind.
Dendera Temple
Admission:
Regular – 120 EGP
Student (6 and up)- 60 EGP
Note: Many tours will combine the Dendera Temple Complex trip with a trip to the Abydos Temple Complex. This makes for a very long day. If you plan on doing the combined tour with kids, be aware that it can take 10+ hours to do both temple complexes and return to Luxor.
While the other attractions on this list are concentrated on Luxor itself, the Dendera Temple Complex is located a little more than an hour away, in Qena. However, an hour of travel is a small price to pay to visit what some consider to be the best-preserved temple complex in all of Egypt!
The most prominent structure in the temple complex is the Temple of Hathor, built during the Ptolemaic period of Egypt’s history. Construction on the temple began in 54 BCE, making it comparatively young compared to many of Egypt’s temples. Still, it is an excellent example of typical Egyptian architecture, boasting huge columns, intricate wall decorations, and a replica of the Dendera Horoscope, which is the most complete map of the Egyptian night sky ever found. The original is on display in the Louvre, in Paris.
Unfortunately, touring the temple without a guide is not permitted, but it’s not too difficult to find a guide. If you want to get the fullest possible experience from your trip, I highly recommend making sure your guide is a certified Egyptologist.
Medinet Habu
(Mortuary Temple of Ramses III)
Admission:
Regular – 100 EGP
Student (6 and up)- 50 EGP
Purchase tickets at Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office. Tickets are not available at the entrance.
Medinet Habu is both one of the best-preserved mortuary temples in Luxor and unusual in its design. The entire temple is enclosed in a high wall, and the main entrance is a fortified gate, modeled after the Syrian migdol gate, which Ramses III would have encountered during his military campaigns. Those extra fortifications led to the temple’s use as a stronghold more than once in the temple’s history.
Alongside its extra fortifications, the mortuary temple included a small palace inside the walls where Ramses III could live while in Thebes, as well as quarters for the priests and some administrative buildings.
As with the other ruins in Luxor, art plays a huge role in setting this temple apart. Ramses III was best known for his military prowess, and a huge mural along the northern exterior wall of the temple shows a scene from a huge naval battle between Egypt and the Sea Peoples, with Ramses III leading his army.
Unlike some of the larger attractions on this list, you cannot buy entry tickets to Medinet Habu at the door, so be sure to either purchase tickets at the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office before you visit, or go on a private or group tour that will take care of the tickets for you!
Visit an Egyptian Souk (Market)
No matter where in the world you choose to visit, one thing remains the same: Shopping is an integral part of any vacation.
Whether it’s looking for small gifts for friends back home, finding the perfect souvenir to remember your journey, or just having fun hunting for bargains in street-side stalls, the Souk on the East Bank is the place you want to go. Souk is the Arabic word for an open-air bazaar, and the East Bank’s souk is filled with small shops where you can find leather goods, local spices, and more.
Be prepared to haggle, though, since almost every price is flexible and merchants will usually start with a price that’s much higher than their wares are worth. If haggling isn’t your thing, the area is still worth a visit, with local coffee and tea shops, and plenty of locals willing to strike up a conversation.
Almost every place you visit in Luxor will have small tourist stalls where you can buy a souvenir or two, but the Souk gathers everything on offer together in a single space, making it a market trip worth taking, at least once.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
(Ages 6 and up)
There are tons of great companies doing balloon rides over Luxor, with a wide range of price points. Most trips average between $50 and $120 a trip.
Hot air balloons aren’t a uniquely Egyptian experience, but they are an excellent way to get a look at Luxor from above!
There are several different companies that do early morning balloon rides over Luxor, but all of the balloons leave from the same spot on the West Bank. Flights typically take place either at sunrise or a little later around 7:00 am. Either way, be prepared for an early morning, as you will be arriving well before the balloons lift off!
Seeing Luxor from the sky definitely gives you a new perspective on everything the city has to offer and can provide a better understanding of the sheer size and scope of the archaeological sites. I highly recommend taking the opportunity!
Tip: Dress warm! No matter what time of year it is, it gets rather chilly in Luxor before the sun comes up!
Take a Nile Cruise to Aswan
(Good-bye, Luxor)
I have this as a great way to leave Luxor when you’re through so you can check out the sites not included with the cruise before heading on, but it’s equally great as a way to arrive!
Just be sure to check which sites are included with your cruise so you don’t double up.
Luxor is among the greatest collection of archaeological sites in the world, but it’s only one of the amazing places you can visit in Egypt!
One of the best ways to see a ton of amazing sites in Egypt is to take advantage of their proximity to the Nile and spend some time cruising up the river to Aswan. Like Luxor, Aswan is home to a collection of UNESCO World Heritage sites, known as the Nubian Monuments. These include places like Philae Temple and the absolutely stunning Abu Simbel Temple, built by Ramses II.
Most Nile cruises will also stop by Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples, as well, making a cruise a super-efficient way to see a large number of sites in a short amount of time.
Cruises might seem like a pretty big-ticket item to add on to a trip, but so long as you are ok seeing the sites in a large group, they can be surprisingly cost-effective. For instance, this cruise costs $1500 for a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids under 12). But that price includes a place to sleep for 4 nights, all your meals, entry to 10 different sites, and your transportation from Luxor to Aswan!
Yes, it is possible to do it cheaper, but for the convenience and novelty of the trip, it’s not an unreasonable price.
Should I purchase the Luxor Pass?
If you’ve been looking into the best ways to see everything in Luxor, you’ve probably heard about the Luxor Pass. Essentially, the Luxor Pass is a single ticket that you can buy that provides access to all the major sites in the area, with very few exceptions. The idea is that by bundling all the sites into one ticket, the Luxor Pass can save visitors both time and money during their vacation.
The Pass comes in two main flavors, one that does not include entry to the tombs of Nefertari and Seti I, and one that does. Either pass is only good for a total of 5 days, and both varieties are half price for those who can prove they are a student under 30 years of age.
You can compare the Luxor Pass Price against individual entrance fees for the different temples using the spreadsheet below. The exchange rate should update automatically, but always double check, to be sure!
The pass without the tombs included costs $100 USD, and the one that includes the tomb costs $200. That means that for someone who is not a student, the regular Luxor Pass actually costs a little more than just paying as you go, but it does still save you some time. Plus, it allows entry to each place once per day, so if you really liked a place, you can head back again.
As of March 2023 the Egyptian Pound is worth about half of what it was when I wrote this originally!
At that price, the Luxor pass is not a good deal for those looking to enjoy everything that Luxor has to offer. Instead, I highly recommend purchasing tickets to the different attractions as needed.
But if you plan on visiting the tombs of both Nefertari and Seti I, the pass can definitely save you some money. And since the tombs don’t discount the entry price for students but the Luxor Pass does, if you can get a Student Luxor Pass, it can save you quite a bit!
And again, the pass allows a single entry each day, meaning you can visit the tombs 5 times each if you have the inclination!
Ultimately, it’s a deal if you plan to do absolutely everything during your 5 days, or if you plan on visiting the tombs of Nefertari and Seti I. But if you plan on skipping out on the pricier tombs, or are only hitting a few of the major sites, it might not be worth it to you.
Proving you’re a Student
If you’re planning on buying the student version of the Luxor Pass and you’re between 12 and 30 years old, you’ll need to provide a valid student ID. However, I have heard that some people have had difficulty in getting their local student ID accepted, which can definitely throw a wrench in your plans.
If you want to be absolutely sure that your Student ID gets accepted, I’d recommend investing in an international student ID card. These are internationally accepted proof of being a student that can get you discounts not just here, but anywhere that has student discounts.
There is a small fee to get one, but it’s definitely outweighed by the benefits of having it. I haven’t gone through the process myself, since my kids aren’t older than 12, but these are two ID companies that sell International Student IDs. (Not affiliate links)
If you get a card, let me know about the process!
When is the best time to visit Luxor?
As a desert country, Egypt seems like the kind of place where you’re likely to encounter blistering heat year-round. In reality, that’s only partly true. If you visit during the summer months, you should be prepared for the desert heat, but the rest of the year is much more reasonable. In the winter it can even get a bit chilly!
Of course, those lower temperatures come with an increase in the number of tourists, so if you visit during peak tourism season, be prepared for that.
Personally, I feel the best times to visit are in the shoulder seasons between the heat of the summer and the popular winter. Late March through May are good choices for a spring trip while October and November are the best for the fall.
What is the best way to get to Luxor?
Since so much of what Luxor has to offer seems to be pulled out of a book of tales from a distant land, it may seem like a place that is difficult to get to. However, with a modern airport, a train station, and access to the world’s longest river, Luxor is actually pretty simple to visit.
Planes (Easiest way to get to Luxor)
Planes are my preferred method of travel in most places, and Egypt is no exception. Luxor has a decent airport not too far outside of town, making flying into Luxor an easy and hassle-free method of getting to town, even if they aren’t as adventurous as some of the other options.
A flight from Cairo only takes about an hour and can cost less than $150/person for a one-way ticket.
Trains (Least Expensive way to get to Luxor)
While planes may be the simplest way to get to Luxor, trains have a lot going for them as well. Luxor has a train station on the East Bank, not far from Luxor Temple. And whereas flying would cost my family of four around $600 USD to get from Cairo to Luxor, a train trip would only cost us about 600 Egyptian Pounds ($38 USD) to make the same trip, first class.
That’s quite a bit of savings, but the big trade-off is time. Our family’s recent train ride took 14 hours to get from Cairo to Luxor! However, if you’re willing to sacrifice the time, it’s hard to argue with a price like that.
It’s easiest to buy train tickets in person at the station, but you can check the train schedules and purchase tickets online at the Egyptian National Railways website. Alternatively, there are a number of Android apps that do a great job of displaying the train schedule, though they don’t allow for buying tickets.
For a better overview of what it’s like to travel by train in Egypt, I found this blog super helpful.
If you feel like that’s too much time to spend traveling, but still want the experience of traveling by train through Egypt, do note that there is also a sleeper train that runs between Cairo and Luxor. The Watania Sleeper Train offers both private sleeping cars and single beds in a double car, but either option is far pricier than just getting a seat.
Check out the Watania Sleeper Train website for up-to-date pricing.
Automobiles (A way to get to Luxor)
If neither planes nor trains much appeal to you, it is also possible to make the journey by road, either using a bus or by hiring a private car. The trip by road takes almost as long as by train, right around 8 hours, so get comfortable.
Bus routes generally cost around the same as train rides, in the $10-$20 a person range, so it’s largely a matter of preference as to whether you take the bus or a train. I’ve not taken the bus, but the company I’ve seen recommended most often is Go Bus Egypt, and they have a number of different options available depending on where in Egypt you’d like to leave from.
However, their reviews on Trip Advisor are not great. Most of the reviews lean towards the buses being uncomfortably cold, and the journey taking longer than expected due to police checkpoints. Again, I haven’t personally taken them, so I can’t say one way or the other, but if you’re interested, I’ve included the link below.
Private transfers, on the other hand, are all about balancing the best price you can find with the amount of comfort that you want. The most comfortable private transports are also some of the easiest to find. However, they come with a price tag to match, with some transports charging over $400 for the trip.
Still, if you’re looking to balance cost and comfort, booking a private car is might be what you’re looking for.
But also boats (The most luxurious way to get to Luxor)
I’ve already mentioned Nile River Cruises above, as one of the best things to do in Luxor, but depending on where you’re coming from, a Nile Cruise is a pretty good way of getting to Luxor, as well. The best part of the Nile is the river between Aswan and Luxor, so if you’ve already seen Aswan, a cruise to Luxor can be a pretty great option.
Alternatively, you can cruise down from Cairo, but there are fewer sites to see along the Nile from that direction.
If you missed the reasons why a Nile Cruise is a great way to end (or begin!) your trip,
click here to hop back to that section.
How long do I need to visit Luxor?
Obviously, there are a ton of amazing things to do in Luxor! So, just how long do you need in Luxor if you want to see it all? The answer, unfortunately, is that it depends on how deep you want to go.
It is quite possible to spend months in Luxor and still have things that you want to see. (And I have!) But if you’re just looking to see the highlights and move on, it is quite possible to do everything on this list in just a week’s time. If there are items on this list that you want to leave off, it could be less!
Here’s how I would divide out the items from my list:
Day 1: I would give a full day to the two East Bank Temples, Karnak and Luxor, including walking the Ram’s Road.
Day 2: The second day is for the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, with the Colossi of Memnon on the road back.
Day 3: A third full day would go to Hatshepsut, Medinat Habu, and the Ramesseum.
Day 4: The fourth day would include a half-day trip to Dendera, and finish with the Howard Carter House Museum.
Day 5: The fifth day would start with the hot air balloon ride, and move back to the East Bank for the Luxor and Mummification Museums.
I would insert the other two days of the week as rest days as needed, and fit in the Souk and Felucca trips on days when I felt a need to relax!
Most Nile Cruises already include the locations in Day 1 and Day 2, so if you plan on taking a Nile cruise, be sure to plan accordingly!
Really, with this many amazing things to do in Luxor, it’s hard to choose something that won’t be great.
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