Luxor has so much to offer that the locals call it the “City of Palaces.” It rests peacefully on the banks of the Nile and is divided into two parts, the West and East Banks, to deliver a remarkable historic vibe that is second only to Cairo. This is due to the combination of well-preserved monuments, burial sites, palaces, and ancient temples.
It is also considered the world’s finest open-air museum, which should come as no surprise given that it is among the most beautiful Egyptian cities.
So, here is a Luxor Travel Guide with everything you need to know before travelling including the top things to do, best time to visit and much more!
Top things to do in Luxor
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Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor
Planning for a sunrise hot air balloon ride is one of the most exciting ways to start your day in Luxor. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see why Luxor is known as the world’s finest open-air museum.
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The Luxor Temple
Amenophis III built the Luxor Temple, the first temple you see when you are Luxor. It is dedicated to Amun, his consort Mut, and their son, Khons who is the moon god. Many pharaohs, including Amenophis IV, Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses II, greatly expanded the temple, and it is evidently seen in the ruins. It is recommended to explore the temple grounds after 6 p.m. when it is lit up with hundreds of lamps!
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The Valley of Kings
The Valley of the Kings is a phenomenal place to visit because it serves as the final resting place for pharaohs from the 12th to 16th centuries BC. There are 63 tombs here, the most iconic being the tomb of the legendary boy-king Tutankhamun. It is better to visit early in the morning to avoid crowds and the heat of the sun.
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Temple of Karnak
The Karnak Temple, Egypt’s most holy temple complex, is both mesmerizing and mystical at the same time! To make it more intriguing, you will feel like an ant going through a gigantic world when you explore the Karnak Temple with its fine spaces such as the Festival Temple of Tuthmosis III, the Great Temple of Amun, and the Temple of Khons.
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Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple
Also known as Deir el-Bahri, this temple is splendidly positioned at the foot of Luxor’s crest hills, almost white and built of limestone. The most notable portrayal in this temple is of Queen Hatshepsut, who became pharaoh in 1473 BC. She attributes a male pharaoh, such as a beard and a short apron to convey that she contained all the power of a king.
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Queens Valley
Another impressive attraction is the Valley of the Queens, which contains approximately 80 tombs of Luxor Queens from the 19th and 20th dynasties. Only four of them are open to the public, with the Tomb of Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramses II being the most well-known.
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Temple Medinet Habu
This temple is one of the must-sees in Luxor’s West Bank. It is ornately decorated, and the temple complex includes the great Temple of Ramses III, which is linked to a royal palace and memorializes the pharaoh of the same name.
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Tomb of Nobles
The Tomb of Nobles is exactly what it sounds like, as it contains over 400 tombs of various diplomats dating from the 6th dynasty to the Ptolemaic period. The drawings in the tombs represent how Egyptians are going about their daily lives. When you’re here, make sure to visit the Tomb of Sennofer, Tomb of Rekhmire, Tomb of Khonsu, and Tomb of Benia.
Best time to visit Luxor
Luxor is best visited between March and April, and between October and November. These relatively short seasons provide delightful temperatures, fewer crowds, and lower hotel rates.
Places to Stay
If you are looking for places to stay in Luxor, consider Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa, Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, Nefertiti Hotel, and Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Hotel.
