The world's greatest open-air museum and the ancient capital of Thebes
Luxor, located on the east bank of the Nile in southern Egypt, is often called the world's greatest open-air museum. As the ancient city of Thebes, it served as Egypt's capital during the New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE) and contains some of the most spectacular pharaonic monuments ever built.
The city is naturally divided by the Nile into the East Bank (City of the Living) with Karnak and Luxor temples, and the West Bank (City of the Dead) with the Valley of the Kings, Queens, and magnificent mortuary temples. More than half of Egypt's major monuments are concentrated in this one city.
Location: East Bank, 3km north of Luxor
Built: 2000-300 BCE (2,000 years of construction!)
Highlights: Great Hypostyle Hall (134 massive columns), Sacred Lake, Avenue of Sphinxes
Fee: EGP 450 ($15 USD)
Allow: 2-3 hours minimum
Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon for best light
Location: West Bank
Tombs: 63 tombs including Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI, Seti I
Period: New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE)
Fee: EGP 500 ($16); Tutankhamun tomb +EGP 600
Entry: Ticket includes 3 tombs (choose wisely!)
Tip: Go early - valley gets extremely hot
Location: East Bank, Luxor city center
Built: 1400 BCE by Amenhotep III
Highlights: Avenue of Sphinxes, Abu Haggag Mosque, illuminated at night
Fee: EGP 300 ($10 USD)
Best Time: Evening for stunning illumination
Distance: Walking distance from Corniche hotels
Location: West Bank
Built: c. 1470 BCE for Queen Hatshepsut
Architecture: Stunning terraced temple into cliff face
Fee: Included in West Bank ticket
Highlights: Dramatic setting, birth colonnade, Hathor chapel
Nearby: Valley of the Kings (combine visit)
Location: West Bank
Built: Ramesses III (1186-1155 BCE)
Status: Best-preserved mortuary temple in Egypt
Highlights: Massive reliefs, vivid colors still visible
Fee: EGP 140 ($5 USD)
Why Visit: Less crowded than Valley of Kings but equally impressive
Experience: Float over West Bank temples and Valley of Kings at sunrise
Duration: ~45 minutes flight + pickup (3-4 hours total)
Cost: $50-100 USD per person
Time: Pre-dawn departure (4:30-5 AM)
Worth It: Absolutely - most magical Luxor experience!
Location: West Bank, near Valley of Kings
Highlights: Tomb of Nefertari (wife of Ramesses II) - most beautiful in Egypt
Fee: General valley EGP 140; Nefertari +EGP 2,800 ($90)
Note: Nefertari tomb expensive but worth it for serious enthusiasts
Tombs: ~90 tombs for queens and princes
Location: West Bank, roadside
Built: c. 1350 BCE by Amenhotep III
Height: 18 meters (59 feet)
Fee: Free (outdoor monuments)
Tip: Quick photo stop on way to Valley of Kings
History: Guarded massive mortuary temple (now ruined)
Location: East Bank, Corniche
Collection: Beautifully curated statues, mummies, artifacts from Luxor area
Highlights: Luxor Cache statues, Akhenaten exhibits
Fee: EGP 300 ($10 USD)
Hours: 9 AM - 4 PM (winter), 9 AM - 10 PM (summer)
Allow: 1-2 hours
Discover the world's greatest open-air museum and walk among pharaonic wonders!