Luxor, Egypt, is often referred to as the world's greatest open-air museum, and for good reason. As a seasoned traveler, I can confidently say that Luxor offers an unparalleled glimpse into ancient Egyptian history.
Nestled along the banks of the majesticNile River, this iconic city boasts some of the most breathtaking archaeological sites in the world. Whether you're an avid history buff or simply in search of awe-inspiring landscapes, the best places in Luxor are destinations that have something for everyone. From the awe-inspiring Valley of the Kings to the grandiose Karnak Temple, the Temple of Luxor, and the monumental Colossi of Memnon, there is no shortage of cultural landmarks to explore.
One of the most striking aspects of Luxor is its blend of ancient wonders with modern conveniences, making it an accessible yet immersive experience. While the Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum provide intriguing insights into the ancient Egyptian world, the citys rich heritage comes to life through daily experiences.
Thehot air balloon rides over the Nile provide a unique vantage point to witness Luxor's incredible landscape, while exploring the local souks offers a taste of the citys vibrant culture. Luxor isnt just about the sights; its about stepping back in time, walking in the footsteps of pharaohs, and uncovering the magic of Egypts most ancient treasures.
10 Amazing Places to See in Luxor, Egypt
Below we tell you which are the essential visits (and other more atypical and original ones, perfect for those who have a few extra days). Objective: to feel like a modern Indiana Jones and get to know this Egyptian enclave like the back of your hand, which will inevitably transport you to a legendary world.
1. Luxor Temple
Dedicated to the god Amun, this temple is one of the most impressive in all of Egypt, thanks in particular to its faade , guarded by 6 colossi of Ramses II . The temple remained hidden and half-buried until 1884. In fact, you can still see the level where the sand reached
How? Look up until you find the mosque , which is still in operation. It was indeed built right on top of the temple, when it had not yet been discovered. By the way, inside the temple you can also see the remains of a Christian chapel .
2. Avenue of the Sphinxes
From the Temple of Luxor begins the recently inaugurated (and quite an inauguration ) Avenue of the Sphinxes, which after travelling 2.7 km , connects with the other beautiful temple of Luxor, Karnak.
The most striking thing is that along the avenue you will find hundreds of statues of sphinxes (mythological beings with the body of a lion and a human head, except that in the case of Luxor, many are of a ram).
Is it worth doing the whole route? For us, NO. The path is not very pleasant, there are no garden areas and shade that would make it attractive. So we recommend doing the first few meters from the Temple of Luxor, which is the most beautiful part.
3. Karnak Temple, one of the jewels to see in Luxor
Not only is it one of the must-see sites in Luxor, but it is also one of the most impressive temples in all of Egypt. In fact, it should be referred to as a complex, as it is made up of different buildings.
Among all of them, the one that stands out is undoubtedly the Hypostyle Hall , where you will feel like you are in an immense forest of stone columns covered with hieroglyphics. Don't miss the enormous obelisks (Hatshepsut's, at almost 30 metres, is apparently the largest in Egypt, and has recently been put back upright, although only the upper fragment), the doors and the stone scarab that you will have to walk around 7 times according to tradition.
At night they put on a sound and light show (we accidentally got in on our first trip) although according to what we were told it's not really worth it.
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4. Valley of the Kings
On the other side of the Nile and occupying a valley at the foot of a pyramid-shaped mountain, we will reach another of the great jewels to see in Luxor. It is a large necropolis with more than 60 tombs where some of the most important pharaohs in the history of Egypt (New Kingdom) were buried. This is the case of Ramses II, Seti I or the famous Tutankhamun.
New burial sites are still being discovered, so we cannot rule out surprises in the coming years. At the moment, there are 10 tombs open to the public, and they are amazing: they are rooms dug into the rock , with an entrance corridor with walls full of incredibly beautiful polychromatic hieroglyphics , which leads into the main room where the sarcophagus with the treasures was placed.
With the entrance ticket you will be entitled to visit 3 tombs . We visited the tombs of Ramses I and Merenptah together and then we split up to see a different one each, Ramses III and Ramses IX . All 4 are brutal, really.
Grave robbers and the birth of a legend
Unlike the ancient tombs (in the form of a pyramid), these are completely unobserved and almost blend in with the terrain. There is a very clear reason for this evolution: grave robbers ! The burial place of the pharaohs was TOP SECRET so that no one could steal the treasures they were buried with (which, as you can imagine, were extremely valuable).
The truth is that the secrecy did not matter: the thieving thieves found them and promptly looted all the funerary treasures... Well, there was a tomb that remained hidden until 1922, when Howard Carter discovered it (it was actually found by the son of a worker on the expedition, but we already know how history works).
We are obviously talking about the tomb of Tutankhamun , perhaps the least important pharaoh of his time, but the most famous of ours. The reason is well known: Tutankhamun's treasure. Nothing of it remains in his tomb, but it is on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo .
- Entrance: 240 LE. There are several tombs that have an extra cost: the Tomb of Tutankhamun (300 LE, as we were told, not worth it), the Tomb of Seti I (1000 LE must be a lot), and the Tombs of Ramses V and Ramses VI (100 LE).
5. Hatshepsut Temple, one of the best things to see in Luxor
Not far from the Valley of the Kings is another of the must-see places in Luxor: the Temple of Hatshepsut, who was one of the few female pharaohs in the history of Egypt . With a peculiar structure, it is a temple completely different from the rest of those we will see on our trip through Egypt .
First of all, the location, in the middle of a desert plain with a spectacular mountain in the background. And then, its layout on three different levels , connected by a large central ramp. On its terraces there are rows of enormous columns, and behind them, reliefs and paintings of great value.
The Temple of Hatshepsut became sadly famous throughout the world in 1997, when the Luxor massacre took place , an attack during which 62 people died under terrorist fire.
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6. Colossi of Memnon
Little remains of what was once another incredible temple in Luxor, but what remains still catches the eye (and selfies) of every tourist who passes by. We're talking about the Colossi of Memnon, which depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III looking out over the Nile. Don't expect to see any handsome faces, poor Amenhotep is pretty battered by time
The statues are 18 metres tall and once had a special power: they sang . There is actually an explanation for this: the wind apparently passed through some cracks in the statues and produced a soft, whispering sound. Unfortunately, after an earthquake, the statues were damaged and the song of the wind can no longer be heard.
7. Balloon ride, one of the best things to do in Luxor
There are few things we like less than getting up early, but it is worth fighting the urge to stay trapped under the blankets to enjoy one of the best experiences to have in Luxor : flying over it in a balloon.
In Lety's case, it was her first time (Rober had already done it in Cappadocia ), and we both went crazy. The sunrise was spectacular , we saw the Nile, the green fields of crops, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut from above. Seriously, don't think twice.
8. Dine at Al Sahaby Lane Restaurant
It's not all about monuments and experiences, having a happy stomach is essential to enjoy a trip. And in Luxor there is a restaurant where you can eat, or better yet, have dinner at sunset , wonderfully and cheaply! The food is delicious but the best thing is its rooftop , with beautiful views, especially during the sunset.
We had dinner here on two nights and everything was delicious. We recommend trying the moussaka, falafel, hummus and kobeyba, delicious fried meatballs.
9. Old Souk
Another thing to do in Luxor is to take a stroll through the Old Souk, preferably after sunset (so you don't get hit by all the buzz). Honestly, we found it to be the prettiest bazaar we visited in Egypt , with interesting products (not just the typical magnets and postcards) and sellers who are a little less annoying than usual.
10. More things to see and do in Luxor
We did not have time to visit other places, but if you are traveling on your own and have several days, these are other places we suggest to visit in Luxor:
- Valley of the Queens
- Ramesseum Temple
- Valley of the Nobles
- Temple of Seti I
- Excursion to the temples of Abydos and Dendera
- Temple of Ramses III
- Luxor Museum and Mummification Museum
Here are our recommendations for the must-see places and experiences to live in Luxor . As you can see, there is a lot to discover.
We only have two last pieces of advice left to give you:
- If you don't visit the city on a cruise (oh, what a shame, it's so cool, we'll leave it there), do the visits with a guide . Seeing the temples and the Valley of the Kings without someone to explain the basics of these places is pointless. At least for us.
- Please don't use the horse-drawn carriages , poor things.
Have you been to ancient Thebes? Do you know more things to see and do in Luxor ?
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