Luxor in a nutshell
This site is about Luxor in Egypt, the city on the Nile that stands on the ruins of ancient Thebes. It is not the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas. Karnak and Luxor Temple lie on the east bank. The tombs and mortuary temples of the Theban necropolis lie on the west bank. UNESCO inscribed "Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis" in 1979. That is a World Heritage listing, not a shared entry ticket. Each site sells its own.
Most visitors see the east bank on one day and the west bank on another. Add a balloon flight at dawn, a Nile cruise to Aswan or a day trip to Dendera, and a week fills up quickly. This is an independent guide. It has no link to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, to ticket sellers or to tour operators, and the prices below are those displayed in October 2026.
East bank and west bank
The Nile divides the visit in two. On the east bank, the Karnak temple complex has the Amun, Mut and Montu precincts and a great hall with 134 columns. A processional avenue about 2,700 m (1.7 miles) long once linked Karnak in the north with Luxor Temple in the south.
On the west bank you find the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, the Colossi of Memnon, Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum and the workers' village of Deir el-Medina. The west bank is spread out, so plan transport before you go. The page on where to stay compares the two banks as a base.
Our picks: Luxor tours
The West Bank with lunch, a sunrise balloon ride and a Nile cruise to Aswan.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Five-day Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan
Four nights in a cabin, meals from the first lunch to the last breakfast, an Egyptologist and the excursions in the program. Entrance fees, drinks, Wi-Fi and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Sunrise balloon ride over Luxor
The balloon ride and a transfer from your hotel or cruise ship are included. The three hours are the total duration, not the time in the air.
Check availability →
West Bank tour with entrance fees and lunch
Hotel transfer, private transport, a guide, lunch and the regular entrance fees are included. Additional tombs cost $10 each, tips are extra.
Check availability →Luxor tours and day trips
Guided visits to the temples and tombs, balloon flights, Nile cruises and day trips from Luxor, with live prices and availability.
Entry prices at a glance
Foreign visitors, single visit, in Egyptian pounds (EGP), October 2026. Students need a valid ID and may be up to 24 years old.
| Site | Adult | Student | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnak (with open-air museum) | 600 EGP | 300 EGP | 6:00–17:00, last entry 16:00 |
| Luxor Temple | 500 EGP | 250 EGP | 6:00–20:00, last entry 19:00 |
| Valley of the Kings (basic ticket) | 750 EGP | 375 EGP | 6:00–17:00 |
| Tomb of Tutankhamun (extra ticket) | 700 EGP | 350 EGP | – |
| Hatshepsut Temple | 440 EGP | 220 EGP | 6:00–17:00 |
| Dendera Temple | 300 EGP | 150 EGP | 7:00–17:00, last entry 16:00 |
The Tutankhamun ticket is paid on top of the Valley of the Kings ticket. Children under 6 enter Karnak free. The details for each site are on its own page.
Plan your visit
The main pages of this guide, in the order most people need them.
Things to do in Luxor
Fifteen experiences from Karnak and the west bank tombs to a felucca ride and a day trip to Dendera.
Luxor tours compared
East bank, west bank, Dendera and Abydos, balloon flights and Nile cruises, and what to check before you book.
Valley of the Kings
Tickets, extra tombs, opening hours and photo rules.
Karnak Temple
Entry, hours, the Mut Temple and the evening sound and light show.
Luxor Temple
Entry, an evening visit and the avenue of sphinxes.
Hatshepsut Temple
The terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, with prices and hours.
More to explore
Tombs, colossi, flights and day trips.
Tomb of Tutankhamun
The extra ticket, what you see inside and what is no longer there.
Valley of the Queens
Prices and hours, and the current status of the Tomb of Nefertari.
Colossi of Memnon
Two statues of Amenhotep III by the road, and how to reach them.
Hot air balloon
How a flight works, what it costs and what to ask the operator.
Nile cruise to Aswan
Routes, trip lengths and the difference between a ship and a dahabeya.
Dendera Temple
The Hathor temple north of Luxor, with tickets and travel times.
What to know in autumn 2026
Changes that older guidebooks do not have. Status as of October 2026.
Balloon flights are back
Press reports say flights resumed in September 2026 after a summer break. The reported restart dates differ, so ask your operator which days it flies.
Balloon guide →The Tomb of Nefertari
The tomb has been reported closed since March 2024, with no confirmed reopening date. Do not plan a visit around it.
Valley of the Queens →Winter Palace under restoration
The hotel operator announced a closure in early 2026 for a full restoration and a planned reopening in July 2027. It is not a hotel you can book today.
Where to stay →Tickets and payment
The ministry ticket platform accepts Visa and Mastercard, and its FAQ also mentions buying at the site. Online tickets are not refunded or replaced, so check the date before you pay.
Tours compared →Before you go
Three practical points for a first visit.
Heat
In the long-term average, daily highs from June to August are above 106 °F (41 °C), while January highs are about 73 °F (23 °C). Most visitors prefer November to March.
Weather and best time →Getting to Luxor
Trains and flights run from Cairo. From Hurghada you travel by bus or private transfer, as there is no train.
Getting there →Cash and the Nile
The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). Keep some cash for small expenses. The German Foreign Office advises against swimming in the Nile because of schistosomiasis.
More independent Egypt guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place in Egypt.
Nubian Aswan
Gharb Soheil, Elephantine, Philae and day trips to Abu Simbel.
Giza Pyramids
Pyramid tickets, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Saqqara.
Valley of the Kings
Tomb tickets, Tutankhamun, Hatshepsut and the West Bank of Luxor.
The Nile
Nile cruises from Luxor to Aswan, dahabiyas, feluccas and Lake Nasser.
Abu Simbel
The temples of Ramses II and Nefertari: day trips from Aswan, flights and the Sun Festival.
Karnak Temple
The temple of Amun in Luxor: tickets, the Hypostyle Hall, the light show and the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Khan el-Khalili
The great bazaar of Islamic Cairo, Al-Muizz Street, the Citadel and Cairo at night.
Philae Temple
The Temple of Isis near Aswan, the boat ride, the sound and light show and the High Dam.
Luxor Temple
Tickets, evening visits, the Avenue of Sphinxes and Ramses II on the East Bank.
Marsa Alam
Red Sea snorkeling, Dolphin House trips, dugongs and day trips to Luxor.
Hurghada
Giftun Island, snorkelling and boat trips, the marina and day trips to Luxor.
Desert safaris near Hurghada
Quad and jeep safaris, camel rides, Bedouin villages and stargazing in the Eastern Desert.
Sahl Hasheesh
The bay south of Hurghada: the pier, house reef, Sunken City and boat trips with pickup.
Sharm el Sheikh
Ras Mohammed, Tiran Island reefs, Naama Bay and trips to Mount Sinai and Dahab.
Colored Canyon
The Sinai slot canyon near Nuweiba: the hike, guided jeep tours from Sharm and Dahab.
Old Cairo
Coptic Cairo with the Hanging Church, the Citadel, Al-Muizz Street and walking tours.
Luxor: frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Luxor?
November to March is cooler. In the long-term average (1981–2010), daily highs in June, July and August are above 106 °F (41 °C), and January nights fall to about 43 °F (6 °C). The weather page has the monthly figures.
Is this about Luxor in Egypt or the Luxor in Las Vegas?
It is about Luxor in Egypt, the city on the Nile with Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple. The Las Vegas hotel is a different place and is not covered here.
Can I visit the Tomb of Nefertari?
Not at the moment. The tomb has been reported closed since March 2024, and no reopening date is confirmed. Older price lists do not show that a visit is possible.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
That depends on your nationality and route of entry. Government travel advice lists visa on arrival at 30 USD for a single entry. At Cairo airport, a QR code system with an extra 6 USD processing fee has been described since 1 September 2026. Do not assume it applies at Luxor airport. Check the rules of your own government before you fly.
Do I have to buy tickets online?
The ministry ticket platform sells tickets online and by app, and its FAQ also mentions buying at the site. Online tickets cannot be refunded. Check the date and the site before you pay.
Is this the official Luxor website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, by any cruise or balloon operator, or by any tour provider. Prices are those displayed at the time of writing.