Luxor, ancient Thebes, is an open-air museum. Its attractions include Karnak and Luxor temples, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.

See it on a day tour, on a Nile cruise or from a hot air balloon at sunrise.

Customize Your Trip

Check top tourist sights of Luxor

No Content Available
Load More

A Guide to Discover Luxor Egypt

With its desert, temples, and history, Luxor is a city that has stood up to the effects of time and nature and kept its rich history. When you go to Egypt, you have to stop in Luxor. After all, you don’t get the chance to see the wonders of Egyptian civilization in person every day.

Where is it?

Luxor is in the south of Egypt, about 655 kilometers from Cairo and 214 kilometers from Aswan. It is on the banks of the Nile River and is the city with the most important ancient Egyptian sites. You can’t quickly see everything the city has to offer. The best way to see what Luxor offers is to stay there for at least two days.

Why Visit Luxor?

Luxor is known as the world’s largest open museum. The city is full of grand outdoor monuments like temples, obelisks, shrines, and burial chambers that have been there for thousands of years and tell the story of ancient Egyptian civilization.

When is it best to go to Luxor?

You can go to the city at any time of the year, but because it is hot most of the year, most people go in the fall/winter (October–April) when the weather is cooler.

What are the best things to see and do in Luxor?

  • The Valley of the Kings

The great pharaohs’ cemetery is in Luxor’s mountains called Valley of Kings, a large valley in the desert with many hidden tombs. You will see where great pharaohs like Ramesses II, Amenhotep III, and the famous young pharaoh Tutankhamon were buried in this valley.

  • Luxor Temple

The Temple of Luxor is in the middle of the city, facing the Nile, and this temple is why Luxor is known as the world’s largest open-air museum. The temple was built in the ancient city of Thebes, which used to be the capital, and is one of the best-kept.

  • Karnak Temple

The Temple of Karnak is next to the Luxor Temple, another fantastic site that shows the history of an ancient civilization. We know that the ancient Egyptian artisans and architects were very skilled because of the carvings on the massive columns. Also, the pharaohs had a lot of courage and perseverance to spend years building such amazing things.

  • Hatshepsut’s temple

Undoubtedly, I think the Temple of Hatshepsut is one of the most impressive temples in Egypt. It is correct at the base of a mountain and was ordered to be built by Hatshepsut, the queen of the pharaohs. The Valley of the Kings is in the same area as the tomb temple.

  • Memnon’s Colossi

In the city’s eastern part, there are two giant statues called Colossi of Memnon. The statues were made to protect the Temple of Amenophis, but this temple doesn’t exist anymore. One of the exciting things about this monument is that after an earthquake that shook the city, one of the statues was damaged with cracks that made noise when the wind blew. Because of this, the statue became known as Memnon’s Colossus (an ancient Greek hero).

  • The balloon ride you can’t miss

It can be fantastic to wake up in the middle of the night and go on an adventure in Luxor. The balloon ride lets you see the desert, the Nile Valley, and the temples that are all over the city from above. A great experience that you should have!