The sights in Luxor, Egypt, will overwhelm you. It’s not enough to tour it all in a day - you need at least three days to fully take in the beauty of all Luxor has to offer. There’s a reason why many tourists still flock to Egypt, despite the bombing of 1997. In fact, they expect about 20 million more visitors by 2020.
Some attractions were closed for about two decades and have just recently been reopened to the public. Come see the ancient world with these tombs and temples that will awe you. Here is our list of the top things to do in Luxor, Egypt!
1. Valley of the Kings (from USD 50.0)
This is a valley where the kings of the 18th to 20th dynasties are buried. About 63 tombs rest here, including that of King Tutankhamun, the boy king who ruled Egypt for about 10 years. The Valley of the Kings will let you explore the different royal tombs of the ancient people – something you shouldn’t miss when you’re in Egypt.
There is vibrant wall art inside, but you are not allowed to take photos. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the Valley of the Kings.
Private Guided Tour to Valley of the Kings
Duration: 4 hours
2. Luxor Temple (from USD 140.0)
This temple in the East bank was built by Amenhotep and completed by Horemheb and Tutankhamun. To this day, Luxor Temple is still used as a place of worship. The chapel of Alexander the Great is also found inside this temple.
Package deal Hot Air Balloon Ride & Full Day Luxor Tour w/Guide Lunch
Duration: 10 hours 50 minutes
3. Medinet Habu
Medinet Habu is one of the most beautiful attractions found in the West Bank. It contains a small, old temple that was built in the 18th dynasty. Medinet Habu is Arabic for the Temple of Ramses. It ranks second in size, just after Karnak Temple and it’s a better preserved mortuary site.
Medinet Habu
Address: Al Bairat, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
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4. Tombs of the Nobles
If you want to know how Egyptians go about their daily life, visit the Tombs of the Nobles. It’s the burial site for the powerful people of Egypt. The tomb paintings will show how Egyptians live their lives and there are about 400 tombs here. You won’t be able to see them all, but visit the Tomb of Mennan, Khonson, Nakht and Benia, as they are the most beautifully painted tombs. Nakht was once a priest in the 18th dynasty and his tomb has been excellently preserved.
Tombs of the Nobles
Address: Qesm Al Wahat Al Khargah, New Valley Governorate, Egypt
Luxor Tour Guide
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5. Temple of Deir el-Bahri
Deir el-Bahri is Arabic for the Northern Monastery. The temple of Deir el Bahri is a complex of tombs and temples built by Queen Hatshepsut. The temple is built of limestone and is magnificent. It’s located right at the foot of a cliff and the inside contains interesting inscriptions and statues. Do not miss this if you’re visiting Luxor.
Temple of Deir el-Bahri
Address: West bank of the Nile
6. Ramesseum
This is a mortuary temple dedicated to Amun and built by Ramses II. It’s only about a kilometer and a half (.9 miles) from the Temple of Deir el Bahri and is one of the largest mortuary temples in Egypt. Taking about 20 years to be built, the temple isn’t fully preserved, but it is still worth a visit. Ramses’ reliefs from his battle with the Hittites are found in the north tower, while the reliefs from the Battle of Qadesh are found in the south tower. You’ll see the figure of the king in the First Court and you’ll never believe it weighs about 1,000 tons.
Ramesseum
Address: Luxor, New Valley Governorate, Egypt
7. Deir el Medina or the Valley of the Artisans
This place is also called the Worker’s Village (in Arabic) or the Egyptian Village. The people who worked on the tombs of the kings and queens of the 18th to the 20th dynasties are buried here. This temple is worth a visit for its colorful paintings.
The Valley of the Artisans
Address: Qesm Al Wahat Al Khargah, New Valley Governorate, Egypt
8. The Valley of the Queens
There are about 80 tombs here from the queens of the 19th and 20th dynasty. The Valley of the Queens is famous for Queen Nefertari’s tomb, which has been recently reopened. Her real name is Nefertari Meritmut and she was the first wife of Ramesses the Great. Nefertari means “beautiful companion” and during ancient times, they called the Valley of the Queens “Ta Set Neferu”, meaning a place of beauty. It’s located about 600 meters (1968.5 feet) from the Valley of the Artisans.
The Valley of the Queens
Address: Luxor, New Valley Governorate, Egypt
9. Karnak Open Air Museum
This museum holds several chapels that were built, removed and reconstructed with a grander design. The Amenhotep II Chapel is found inside the Open Air Museum and Senusret I’s White Chapel is also found here. Inside, there are also several shrines and temples that are worth a visit.
Karnak Open Air Museum
Address: North of Amon-Re at the Karnak Complex
10. Temple of Karnak (from USD 90.0)
This is the largest religious building in the world, built over 2000 years ago. It’s so enormous that it holds about 10 cathedrals and it is also known as the City of Temples. It contains the great temples of Amun, Khons, and Tuthmosis III. Other attractions include the Avenue of Sphinxes, the Sacred Lake, and Hypostyle Hall. The complex is so impressive that you’ll need to stay for about three hours to appreciate its sheer size.
Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride In Luxor
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
One final attraction...
Egypt is synonymous with mummies and we’ve seen several feature films about them – but how do Egyptians actually do it? Thankfully, the Mummification Museum will teach you how this ancient Egyptian practice works. It’s a small museum, but a fascinating one. Visit this attraction and the others on this list and you’ll be sure to have a well rounded, amazing trip to Luxor!
History
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