Last updated on November 2nd, 2026 at 06:28 pm
The top 10 things to do in Luxor are Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum on the East Bank, and the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu and Dendera on the West Bank side, plus a sunrise balloon and a Nile sail. Plan 2 to 3 days, go between October and April and check tickets and hours locally.
The top 10 things to do in Luxor are Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum on the East Bank, and the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu and Dendera on the West Bank side, plus a sunrise balloon and a Nile sail. Plan 2 to 3 days, go between October and April and check tickets and hours locally.
Luxor holds some of the greatest temples and tombs in Egypt, in a Nile setting that is easy to enjoy at a slow pace. It is the site of ancient Thebes.
Here are the ten best things to do, split between the East Bank and the West Bank. Allow a day for each bank. See also our full list of 15 experiences.
The East Bank has the big temples and two museums, all close to the Corniche.
The largest temple complex in Egypt, with the Great Hypostyle Hall. See our Karnak Temple guide.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
A temple in the middle of the city, beautifully lit at night. See our Luxor Temple guide.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
A small, well-lit museum of statues and reliefs from Thebes. See our Luxor Museum guide.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
A small museum on the Corniche about mummification. Check current hours before you go.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
The royal tombs and mortuary temples. Start early because it is hot and open-air.
The royal burial ground of the New Kingdom pharaohs. See our Valley of the Kings guide.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
Burial place of queens and princes. See our Valley of the Queens guide.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
A terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. See our Hatshepsut Temple guide.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
The mortuary temple of Ramesses III. See our Medinet Habu guide.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
A well-preserved Ptolemaic temple of Hathor north of Luxor. See our Dendera Temple guide.
Check tickets and opening hours at the gate or on egymonuments.gov.eg.
A sunrise balloon over the West Bank. See our Luxor hot air balloon guide.
A felucca sail at sunset or a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is a relaxed way to see the river.
Luxor is the site of ancient Thebes, capital of Egypt for much of the New Kingdom. The East Bank held the temples of the living and the West Bank the tombs of the dead.
Luxor is on the Nile in southern Egypt, about 670 km south of Cairo and about 200 km north of Aswan.
One day covers the highlights if you start early, but two or three days is more relaxed.
Fly (about 1 hour), take the overnight sleeper train, or come by Nile cruise from Aswan. See our day trip to Luxor from Cairo guide.
October to April is best. Summer is very hot, so start at dawn.
Two to three days is ideal: a day for each bank and a spare day for Dendera or a balloon.
Start early, carry water and small notes, agree prices for taxis and boats, and check ticket prices before you go.
Spend a day on each bank, start early, and add a sunrise balloon or Dendera if you have time.
Book this experience: Luxor East Bank tour: Karnak and Luxor Temple from $25, and the West Bank tour from $25.
A Day Trip to Luxor from Cairo: A Guide for First-Time Visitors
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Guided trips with bottled water, transfers and hotels arranged for you.
