Luxor Travel Guide: 10 Best Things to Do & 2-Day Itinerary

10 Best Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt

1. Visit Luxor Temple ♥️ Must Visit

Luxor Temple is one of the first temples you will see when you arrive in Luxor. This ancient Egyptian temple complex is located right in the middle of Luxor City, and you can easily pay a visit on foot.

Luxor Temple is an ancient Egyptian ruin constructed way back in 1400 BCE when the area was still referred to as Thebes, and it was built as a place where the ancient Egyptian people crowned their kings.

The temple was expanded throughout its existence by various kings, and it is divided into several sections. Right at the entrance, you will find the Obelisk of Ramses 2, and as you walk into the temple, you will find yourself in the Grand Colonnade area surrounded by giant pillars.

As you continue, you will be in the Sun Court of Amenhotep III, which is a great place to be at sunset. Behind the sun court is the avenue of Sphinx where both sides of the walkway are filled with Sphinx statues, which are even more breathtaking at night.

Due to its proximity to the city, it is also one of the few temples you can visit during sunset and into the night to see the ancient ruins being illuminated by artificial lights, which is quite a sight to behold.

I highly recommend you visit the site around sunset and stay until they turn on the lights. You are going to love it. Luxor Temple currently opens from 6 AM to 8 PM, and the foreign-adult entrance fee is 500 EGP per person.

Where to Stay in Luxor, Egypt?

Budget

Bob Marley House Hostel

Dorm | $

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👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Steigenberger Resort Achti

King Room | $$

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High-End

Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor

King Room | $$$

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2. Be Blown Away By the Pillars at Karnak Temple

Karnak Temple is another must-visit large temple complex that is not too far from Luxor City. Located just north of the city center, Karnak Temple is a great place to visit, especially if you plan to explore Luxor independently and on a budget, as you can easily reach Karnak Temple by minibus for around 2 EGP.

Right at the entrance of Karnak Temple, you will be greeted with lines of ram-headed sphinx statues on both sides. Within the temple, you will find the Great Hypostyle Hall, a large hallway with more than 130 massive columns arranged in 16 rows that will take your breath away.

The Great Hypostyle Hall contains 134 massive columns. Most stand around 15 meters tall, while the 12 enormous columns along the central aisle reach about 21 meters. The bulk of the hall was constructed and decorated during the reigns of Seti I and Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE, which makes the scale of the place even more impressive.

The Great Hypostyle Hall is one of the highlights of visiting Karnak Temple, making it a great photo spot if you have a camera with a wide enough focal length to capture the true scale of these columns. Unfortunately, I didn't have one, so all I got was a photo of the columns and a very small me 😅.

Located at the center of the temple, you will also find the Obelisk of Thutmosis I, the tallest in the world at the time it was constructed, and the tallest surviving ancient obelisk in the world right now, which is quite a sight to behold.

Karnak Temple currently opens from 6 AM to 5 PM every day, and the foreign-adult ticket is 600 EGP, including access to Karnak Temple and the Open-Air Museum. Expect to spend around 1-2 hours here to see the highlights.

3. Visit Luxor Museum 🏛️ Best Museum

Located on the East Bank of the Nile, Luxor Museum is where they collect and preserve Ancient Egyptian artifacts discovered here in Luxor, from everyday items to ancient sculptures and even mummies.

The museum holds a stunning collection of items that tell the story of what it was like living in ancient Thebes. One could only imagine what they have discovered in this "land of the palaces" and how many are still waiting to be discovered.

If you are looking to learn more about this ancient capital city of Egypt, visiting Luxor Museum is a no-brainer. The museum opens from 9 AM - 4 PM and again from 5 PM - 10 PM every day. The entrance fee is 140 EGP per person.

4. Visit Mummification Museum

The Mummification Museum is another museum located not too far from Luxor Museum and Luxor Temple that is worth a visit if you are interested in the process of mummification or how the ancient Egyptians mastered the art of preserving the dead.

The museum is not as big as Luxor Museum, but it is still quite an interesting one to visit if you have another day to spare in Luxor. It currently opens from 9 AM to 2 PM and again from 5 PM to 9 PM every day, and the foreign-adult entrance fee is 220 EGP.

5. Check Out the Beautiful Tombs at Valley of the Kings ☀️ Great Day Trip

Now that we are done with the East Bank, it is time to explore the West Bank of Luxor, and one of the first places you have to visit is the Valley of the Kings.

The Valley of Kings is where the ancient Egyptians buried their beloved kings in rock-cut royal tombs to commemorate their accomplishments in life.

There have been found over 60 tombs and chambers in this valley, many of which were decorated with carvings and murals of Egyptian Mythology scenes, which allow us to learn a bit more about the belief system of Ancient Egyptians.

Some of the most impressive royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings are the tomb of Tutankhamun, the tomb of Ramesses V and VI, and the tomb of Seti I, all of which require an additional ticket to enter.

I especially like the tomb of Ramesses V and VI, where you will be able to see some of the most well-preserved colored wall carvings still intact. It remains my pick if you only want to pay for one additional tomb; the separate foreign-adult ticket is currently 220 EGP.

The Valley of the Kings currently opens from 6 AM to 5 PM every day. The foreign-adult entrance fee is 750 EGP. The standard ticket covers a selection of the regular open tombs, while special tombs require separate tickets. The tomb of Ramesses V and VI currently costs an additional 220 EGP, while Tutankhamun's tomb has its own separate ticket.

6. Stroll Around Temple of Hatshepsut

The Temple of Hatshepsut is an ancient Egyptian temple constructed by Queen Hatshepsut in the 15th Century BC, and it is considered to be a masterpiece of ancient architecture.

The temple consists of three massive terraces that rise above the desert, leading you to a number of shrines inside the cliff behind it. Once you are inside, there are some truly impressive columns and carvings to see. The place is quite spacious, and it may take you an hour to see everything it has to offer.

Now, if the Temple of Hatshepsut seems familiar to you, even though you have not been here before, you are not alone. For those of you who are gamers, the layout of the temple will be very familiar to you.

Well, if you have played Serious Sam 3, a first-person shooting game released way back in 2011, you will realize that one of the maps in the game is based on this temple, and you should be able to explore the place like the back of your hand.

The temple opens from 6 AM to 5 PM every day, and the current foreign-adult entrance fee is 440 EGP. If you are visiting on a tour, check whether entrance tickets are included, as inclusions vary between operators.

7. Check out the Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of pharaohs, measuring around 18 meters (60 ft) in height. It is said that these statues have been standing at this exact location since 1350 BCE when they were constructed, which is pretty mind-blowing.

The fact that you can still make out the seated postures and the anatomy of the 3000-year-old sculptures really shows just how much of masters the ancient Egyptians were.

If you are visiting the West Bank of Luxor with a tour, the tour should stop by here for around 30 minutes before continuing on to other tourist attractions. There isn't a whole lot to see, but it is still worth a visit nevertheless.

The place opens from 6 AM to 5 PM every day, and the entrance fee is FREE! An attraction with a free entrance fee in Egypt? Now, that's a first 😂.

8. Be Amazed at the Beauty of Medinet Habu Temple

Not too far from the Colossi of Memnon, there is also another impressive temple to visit. The Medinet Habu Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Amun, and it is famous for its well-preserved inscriptions depicting the defeat of the Sea People during the rule of Ramesses III on the walls of the temple.

Within the temple, you will also find several courtyards with some really impressive sculptures, pylons, and ancient Egyptian columns, similar to the ones in Karnak Temple but smaller.

If you went on a tour, this would be your last stop before heading back to Luxor city and definitely a great place to end the day. The temple currently opens from 6 AM to 5 PM, and the foreign-adult entrance fee to Medinet Habu is 230 EGP per person.

9. Visit Howard Carter House

• 📍 Location: Howard Carter House [Map Link]
• 🕐 Opening Hours: 6 AM - 5 PM
• 💰 Entry Fees: 220 EGP

For those of you who are traveling the West Bank of Luxor independently, do not forget to visit Howard Carter House, the preserved home and working base of British archaeologist Howard Carter, who, together with his team and patron Lord Carnarvon, discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. The house was restored in 2022 and now operates as a museum.

All the content of the house is kept the way it was almost a hundred years ago, and visiting the place and seeing all the old furniture is like stepping back in time. The house is open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day, and the entrance fee is 20 EGP.

10. Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Luxor at Sunrise

If you are spending another day in Luxor, I highly recommend you sign up for a Hot Air Balloon Ride over Luxor to see Luxor and all its stunning tourist attractions from a perspective you have yet to see, from the air.

The hot air balloon is also one of the most affordable rides you can get, with a tour costing only around $30-40 USD per person, and you will be in the air for around 45 minutes, flying over places like the Valley of the Kings, which is best appreciated from the air.

Keep in mind that riding a hot air balloon is dependent on favorable weather, and the trip may get canceled at the last minute, so do not keep your hopes up too high. To book the tour, you can click on the link below:

Book a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor

When to Visit Luxor, Egypt?

October to April is usually the best time to visit Egypt due to the mild weather, but in my opinion, the crowds and the increase in price might ruin it for you.

I would recommend that you go during the shoulder seasons, such as June or September. During these months, you will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds: fewer people at tourist attractions, cooler weather, and fewer unnecessary jacked-up prices.

How to Get to Luxor, Egypt?

In order to get to Luxor from abroad, you first have to get to Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, where you can then travel to Luxor by various modes of transportation.

Fortunately, Cairo is one of the largest hubs in the region, and you should have no trouble finding a flight to get from your home country to Cairo International Airport.

From the US, there are 2 direct flights from Washington DC and New York operated by EgyptAir that will take you to Cairo in about 10 hours. If you don't mind transiting, Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar and Turkish Airlines also fly from other major cities in the US like LA, Chicago, etc. to Cairo.

From Europe, you can fly from different popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via national airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, or Air France, or with EgyptAir directly to Cairo. You can also go with Etihad and Emirates if you don't mind transiting; they are often cheaper and very comfortable to fly on.

From Asia, there are no direct flights to Egypt, but you can fly with Middle Eastern Airlines like Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Etihad from many major hubs like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Bangkok.

To find a cheap flight to Egypt, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule, so you can compare and pick the best one.

Getting From Cairo to Luxor

By Train: Egypt is well-connected by trains, and one of the most scenic and time-effective ways to travel from Cairo to Luxor is to get on one of these sleeper trains.

There are several trains per day, but the most recommended sleeper train is the one that leaves from Cairo Ramses Station at 7:45 PM and arrives in Luxor at 05:55 AM the next day.

If you want to go along the way to see the view, the one leaving from Cairo at 08:00 AM and arriving in Luxor at 7:00 PM is also recommended.

The price for the trains ranges from 7 USD for a second-class seat to 80 USD (1,255 EGP) for a 2-berth shared sleeper, to 120 USD (1,800 EGP) for a sole-berth sleeper. I went with the shared berth, and I wasn't sharing with anyone; it was alright, although it's not cheap.

You can book the train online from their official site, or you can find more details about train travel in Egypt here.

For the most affordable way, I would go by bus instead. Trains are great if you enjoy the journey as much as the destination, but since it isn't cheap, you can do as I did and ride the train to Luxor and then take the bus back.

By Bus: This is the cheapest way to get from Cairo to Luxor as there are plenty of buses that go directly to Luxor. Traveling by bus is definitely cheaper than taking a sleeper train and quite comfortable if you don't mind sleeping on the bus.

Go Bus is a great bus operator to go with if you want to travel from Cairo to Luxor and vice versa. They have 4 buses per day at 01:50 AM, 05:35 AM, 09:40 PM, and 11:34 PM departing near Tahrir Square.

The journey should take you around 9 hours to reach Luxor, and the prices are 190 EGP, 265 EGP, and 450 EGP depending on the class you pick. You can book the bus from Cairo to Luxor here.

By Plane: You can also fly from Cairo to Luxor Airport on one of the four daily flights operated by EgyptAir and AirCairo from 6 AM to 5:30 PM. The journey will take about one hour and cost 50 USD per person.

From the airport, you will have to make your way out of the terminal and ward off touts and scammers who will likely charge you double to get to the city center. Find a taxi driver who is either in their car or dropping off other passengers outside the terminal area.

The taxi ride from the airport to the city center should cost no more than 200 EGP, and it should take about 20 minutes to get there.

How to Get Around Luxor, Egypt?

By Walking: If you are staying in the city center, there are some places in this article that you can walk to, like Luxor Temple. However, for places that are further away, you will need something more.

By Minibus: This is the cheapest way to get around Luxor, and it is how the locals move around the city. It costs around 2 EGP per ride, and the minibuses are clearly marked with different colors and run on fixed routes.

Places like Karnak Temple can be easily reached by minibus. The problem will be which minivan to get on, and the easiest way to know is to ask your hostel/hotel to point you in the right direction. It is a fun way to get around Luxor and great if you are looking for a crazy adventure. 😂

By Taxi: You can also hire a taxi to take you to all the tourist attractions on the East Bank of Luxor for around 300 EGP and around 500 EGP to explore the West Bank, but I wouldn't recommend this. You will have to deal with taxi drivers, some of whom aren't very nice, and it will end up costing you way more than just going with an organized tour.

By Tours: For other places that are further away, like The Valley of the Kings and Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, going with a tour is highly recommended as it will allow you to see all of these places without having to deal with the logistics. I went this route, and I was happy I did.

I would have killed myself if I had to deal with another scammy taxi driver again in Egypt 😅. God, they are everywhere!

There are several Luxor day trips you can join, but for the best one, I highly recommend the "A Luxor Day Trip from East to West Bank" tour. This tour will take you to all the tourist attractions around the East and West Banks of the Nile in Luxor with ample time at each place. It is a great way to see everything in one day without spending a lot of money. I highly recommend it.

See More Tours in Luxor

How Many Days To Spend in Luxor, Egypt?

One full day should be enough to see most of what Luxor has to offer, or you can extend your stay to 2 days if you want to relax a little. Below is a rough itinerary for Luxor.

Day 1: Go on a day trip and visit all the tourist attractions on the East and West Banks of the Nile. Spend the evening at Luxor Temple for a nice sunset experience.

Day 2 (optional): Ride the hot air balloon in the morning, visit all the museums in the city, and spend the rest of the day relaxing.

How Much Money Do I Need For Luxor, Egypt?

With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will be spending here as follows:

Accommodation: For two nights in a hostel or simple budget accommodation in Luxor, I would budget around 1,000–1,800 EGP. Prices vary by season, so check the current rates in the hotel section above for your dates.

Food: If you mostly eat at local restaurants, budget around 900–1,500 EGP for two days, including drinks and snacks.

Transportation: For local minibuses, the public ferry, and a few taxi or ride-hailing trips, I would allow around 500–900 EGP. If you book an organized West Bank tour, treat that as a separate cost and check exactly what the tour includes.

Activities: Entrance fees have increased substantially. Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu, and Howard Carter House alone now total about 2,740 EGP for a foreign adult. Museums, special tombs, guided tours, and a hot-air balloon ride cost extra.

Total budget for 1 day in Luxor, Egypt: 5,500–7,500 EGP (105 - 144 USD)

Is it Safe in Egypt?

One thing to be aware of in Egypt are scams. Scamming is very common here, and it is important for you to know how they operate and how you can avoid getting scammed, as I did.

I have written an entire article about it so you can read more on ways to avoid getting scammed in Egypt there. That said, not all locals are out to scam you; it's just that the scammers are the loudest, most aggressive, and they always make themselves known to you the moment you arrive at a tourist attraction.

Here are a few things to keep in mind. Everyone gets scammed at the pyramid, whether it's the taxi driver who pretends the meter was broken, a person impersonating a security guard taking you to where you want to go before asking for money, or people pretending to give you free stuff but then aggressively asking you to pay.

There is simply no shortage of them, and there is no way to avoid them either. So whenever a person approaches you for a friendly conversation, be extremely skeptical about it. As more often than not, they will try to scam you along the way.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Egypt?

There are four major mobile networks in Egypt: Vodafone, Orange, e& Egypt (formerly Etisalat), and WE. All offer prepaid options, although packages and prices change regularly.

I personally used Vodafone, and it remains a convenient option for travelers because Vodafone still offers a dedicated Tourist Line that you can buy from its airport store or retail shops around Egypt. The old 200 EGP and 500 EGP packages from my trip are no longer useful current prices, so check Vodafone's latest Tourist Line bundles when you arrive and choose based on how much data you need.

Alternatively, if your phone supports eSIMs, you can set one up before arriving and have mobile data as soon as you land. You can browse through available eSIMs here.

Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.