Overview

Nestled along the banks of the mighty Nile River and framed by mango plantations and desert, Luxor is a city of half a million residents that stands as the world’s greatest open-air museum. It boasts some of the most magnificent ancient monuments ever created, with its most renowned attraction being the tomb of the legendary Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Luxor is a treasure trove of ancient history, culture, and architectural marvels.

Divided by the Nile into the East Bank and the West Bank, the city dates back to 3200 B.C. and has been governed by some of Egypt's most illustrious pharaohs. Today, their tombs, monuments, and temples remain remarkably well-preserved, drawing history enthusiasts and adventurers alike. The East Bank, symbolizing life and the sunrise, is home to several grand temples, while the West Bank, associated with the afterlife and the setting sun, contains a necropolis filled with intricate tombs and afterlife complexes constructed by the ancient Egyptians.

Things to See & Do

Check out some of the different marketplaces, such as the one that takes up several streets near the Luxor Temple. This is one of the older markets and is mostly pedestrianized with shops offering souvenirs and other unique items such as alabaster bowls and vases (bargaining is a must!).

Explore the magnificent Temples of Karnak on the East Bank, and take a stroll along the corniche where you will find the Luxor Temple and the intriguing Luxor Museum. The large Ancient Egyptian Luxor Temple was constructed in 1400 BC, built by the New Kingdom Pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramesses II the Great. The temple was a major place of worship and the host of many Egyptian ceremonies, the temples here feature chapels and the Luxor Temple is one of the best-preserved in the city.

Check out the Luxor Museum, which sits on the corniche overlooking the river in a modern 2-story building. The museum opened in 1975 and displays a wide range of ancient artifacts including grave goods from the tomb of Tutankhamun, a collection of 26 New Kingdom statues found buried in the Luxor Temple, and royal mummies of two pharaohs.

Take a Hot air balloon ride to see the sunrise over the majestic mountains and ancient monuments on the West Bank of Luxor. Glide over the Valley of Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon taking in the amazing views over these important landmarks.

The city of Luxor is the world`s largest open-air museum filled with historical sites, ancient temples, and museums. Many of the city`s attractions open as early as 6 am, it gets extremely hot during the day so it`s a good idea to get out early to explore the sights. Do some temple hopping on the West Bank filled with magnificent monuments, you can explore on your own or hire a private guide.

See the massive monumental Colossi of Memnon featuring two stone statues that represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep II who reigned during the 18th-century Dynasty of Egypt. These massive statues stand in the Theban Necropolis, two faceless Colossi depict the seated king on a throne that rises to 60 feet high, weighing in at over 700 tons, both carved from a single block of sandstone. This location is a great place to visit and a photo op on the way to the other well-known archeological sites.

The West Bank features the world-famous Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Nobles, and the Valley of the Queens filled with huge rock-cut tombs of famous Pharaohs that are beautifully well-preserved.

Visit the ancient Egyptian village of Deir el-Medina where many of the artisans and craftsmen who worked on the royal tombs lived with their families. The village was called Set Maat by the Egyptians and translated to `the place of truth`, the servants who lived here were known as `Servants in the Place of Truth`. The small village was once filled with 68 households and the Temple of Hathor (Goddess of love and truth) or Deir el-Medina can be found here.

Visit the Medinet Habu, the location of the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III. This is an important temple and the best-known source of inscribed reliefs, depicting the advent and defeat of the Sea Peoples during his reign. The giant temple is beautifully decorated with exquisite paintings and colorful murals and holds architectural and artistic importance, it once contained temples, storage rooms, workshops, and administrative buildings along with a royal palace.

Explore the Mummification Museum, a small archeological museum located on the Corniche featuring everything about mummification. The museum is dedicated to the Ancient Egyptian mummification process and features a library, bookstore, lecture hall, and cafe on site. Visitors can get an understanding of the ancient practices.

Visit the Karnak Temple, the second-largest ancient religious site in the world (after Angkor Wat in Cambodia). The massive complex features several temples, massive decorated pillars, a great hypostyle hall, statues, and obelisks. There were around 30 Pharaohs who contributed to building this magnificent site which took over 2,000 years to complete. The Great Temple of Amun is the main building here and should be the first place you explore. Amun-Re was the local god of Karnak the temple stretches over 61 acres of land, and it is an awe-inspiring building to wander around.

Visit Hatshepsut, the longest-reigning female Pharaoh in Egypt, her mortuary temple was constructed in 1479 BC and was excavated in 1891 and scholars identified her remains in 1922. Hatshepsut is known as `the woman who was king` was the oldest of two daughters born to Thutmose I and his queen Ahmes, she became the queen of Egypt at age 12 and undertook Egyptian trade and oversaw building projects in the area around Thebes. She was in power for over 20 years and built obelisks to proclaim her glory. Her temple is one of the greatest architectural achievements due to its symmetry and astronomical alignment, the axis of the temple aligns directly with the Winter Solstice sunrise!!

Nile River: East Bank & West Bank

Luxor is divided into two areas separated by the Nile River: the East Bank and the West Bank. The East Bank is the lively heart of the city, centered around the ancient Luxor Temple. The center of Luxor is relatively compact and very walkable. The main street on the east bank is Corniche el Nil, or Khalid Ibn el Walid Street as it is known where it doesn't run directly on the water. this runs the length of the town from the Sheraton Luxor at the southern end to Karnak Temple and beyond at the northern. The most important point of is the Old Winter Palace on Corniche el Nil. The train station is also on this side of the Nile. This is where most of the hotels are located. It's very easy to get from one bank to another. Many motorboats parked on both banks are always readily available to bring passengers across the river.

The West Bank is where the Valley of the Kings and many other archaeological sites are found, it's a contrast to the East Bank being much more rural.