Get the app

Egypt

Luxor

Ancient Thebes, with temples on the east bank and royal tombs on the west. Stay 3 nights. This guide pulls together 6 sights, 1 activity and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Luxor with friendsBrowse 9 places
Luxor, Egypt
Places
9

6 See · 1 Do · 2 Eat

Curated routes
1

Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile

Best season
Oct – Apr

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

42°C / 107°F avg high

Coolest month
January

22°C / 71°F avg high

Wettest month
January

about 1 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Luxor

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Luxor across East Bank and West Bank.

  • Karnak Temple in LuxorPhoto: René Zelaya · Google
    See

    Karnak Temple

    Vast temple complex of Amun with the 134-column Great Hypostyle Hall.

    Tip Go at 6 am opening for soft light and few groups.

    • East Bank
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Early morning
  • Luxor Temple in LuxorPhoto: Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Luxor Temple

    Riverside temple linked to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes, lit up after dark.

    Tip Visit at night.

    • East Bank
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening
  • Valley of the Kings in LuxorPhoto: Fotograf/Photographer: Peter J. Bubenik (1995) · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    Valley of the Kings

    Royal tombs cut into the desert hills, with painted corridors; extra tickets for Tutankhamun and Seti I.

    Tip Standard ticket covers three tombs; no photos without a permit.

    • West Bank
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • Early morning
  • Temple of Hatshepsut in LuxorPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Temple of Hatshepsut

    Terraced mortuary temple of Egypt's female pharaoh beneath the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.

    • West Bank
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Morning
  • Medinet Habu in LuxorPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Medinet Habu

    Ramesses III's temple with deep, colorful reliefs and few crowds.

    • West Bank
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Afternoon
  • Luxor Museum in LuxorPhoto: Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Luxor Museum

    Compact, well-lit museum of Theban statues and finds from Tutankhamun's tomb.

    • East Bank
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Evening

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Luxor in West Bank.

  • Hot-air balloon over the West Bank in LuxorPhoto: HODHOD SOLIMAN HOT Air Balloon Rides Luxor Egypt · Google
    Do

    Hot-air balloon over the West Bank

    Sunrise flights over temples, fields and the Nile.

    Tip Choose an operator with a solid safety record; pickups are around 4:30 am.

    • West Bank
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • Sunrise

Eat

2 places to eat in East Bank, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Sofra Restaurant & Café in LuxorPhoto: Souradeep Dasgupta · Google
    Eat

    Sofra Restaurant & Café

    Egyptian home cooking in an old house, with a rooftop terrace.

    Tip Try the stuffed pigeon or duck.

    • East Bank
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner
  • 1886 Restaurant at Winter Palace in LuxorPhoto: Winter Palace Luxor · Google
    Eat

    1886 Restaurant at Winter Palace

    Formal French dining in the 19th-century Winter Palace hotel.

    Tip Jacket expected for men.

    • East Bank
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner

How to fit Luxor into a trip

Luxor is stop 2 of 3 on our Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile route. Follow it as-is or lift Luxor into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Luxor month by month

Average daily highs run from 22°C / 71°F in January to 42°C / 107°F in July. January is the wettest month, with about 1 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Luxor weather and the best time to visit →

Near Luxor

1 other destination from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

Luxor questions, answered

How many days do you need in Luxor?

Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Luxor. On our Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 10-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 18 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Luxor best known for?

Ancient Thebes, with temples on the east bank and royal tombs on the west. Stay 3 nights. Standouts on our list: Karnak Temple (Vast temple complex of Amun with the 134-column Great Hypostyle Hall); Luxor Temple (Riverside temple linked to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes, lit up after dark); Valley of the Kings (Royal tombs cut into the desert hills, with painted corridors; extra tickets for Tutankhamun and Seti I).

When is the best time to visit Luxor?

Our Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile route is best Oct – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (42°C / 107°F), the coolest in January (22°C / 71°F) and the most rain in January (about 1 mm).

What are the best things to do in Luxor?

Start with Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Hot-air balloon over the West Bank. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 6 sights, 1 activity and 2 places to eat.

Where should a group eat in Luxor?

Our picks: Sofra Restaurant & Café (East Bank); 1886 Restaurant at Winter Palace (East Bank). Try the stuffed pigeon or duck (Sofra Restaurant & Café).

Plan Luxor with your crew

Open the Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Plan around Luxor

More in Egypt

Plan it together

Plan Luxor