By air
Luxor International (LXR), ~6 km
Africa · Egypt
Luxor, Egypt
Temples and tombs of the pharaohs
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to April — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
Karnak Temple
Luxor Temple
The Valley of the Kings
The Temple of Hatshepsut
Things to do
Karnak
The Valley of the Kings
A hot-air balloon at dawn
A felucca at sunset
Where to eat
What to pack
A sun hat, water, comfortable shoes
A quieter corner
The Valley of the Nobles' painted tombs
Questions travellers ask
What's the best time of year to visit Luxor?
October to April, when it's warm rather than scorching. Bring a sun hat, water and comfortable shoes.
Which temples and tombs should I see in Luxor?
Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut. The painted tombs of the Valley of the Nobles are a hidden gem.
What else is there to do in Luxor?
Take a hot-air balloon at dawn and a felucca at sunset. In between, refuel with Egyptian home cooking and fresh juices.
Is Luxor's airport close to town?
Yes: Luxor International (LXR) is only about 6 km away.
About Luxor
- Riverside
- Desert
Where it is
Luxor is a city on the east bank of the Nile in southern Egypt, the capital of Luxor Governorate, facing the desert hills of the Theban Necropolis across the river on the west bank.
History
Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, capital of Egypt for much of the Middle and New Kingdoms, when pharaohs raised the vast temples of Karnak and Luxor and were buried in the Valley of the Kings across the river. Howard Carter's discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun there in 1922 made it world-famous, and Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
People
Luxor's people speak the Sa'idi Arabic of Upper Egypt, and many work in tourism, in sugar-cane farming and in the alabaster workshops of the west bank. Village houses are often painted with scenes celebrating a family member's pilgrimage to Mecca.
Known for
- Karnak Temple
- Luxor Temple and the Avenue of Sphinxes
- The Valley of the Kings
- The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari
- Hot-air balloons at dawn over the west bank
Did you know?
The Abu al-Haggag Mosque, built in the 13th century, stands inside Luxor Temple on top of its ancient columns and is still in use as a mosque.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.