13 Best Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt

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Luxor is an ancient Egyptian city on the east bank of the Nile River in Egypt. The magnificent ancient temples and ruins are what make it famous today. Plus it’s one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the country.

There are so many wonderful things to do in Luxor. You can spend weeks exploring the city, touring the banks of the Nile River, or walking through temples that are over 3,000 years old. 

This ancient city will transport you back in time and give you an experience that is impossible to forget. The best part? It’s not as hard to visit as you might think. 

So, I’ve included all of my top tips for visiting this historic city, so you’ll know exactly what to see in Luxor and can have the best trip possible.

P.S. If you’re interested in other destinations in Africa and the Middle East, I recommend Tunisia and Oman.

13 Amazing Things To Do in Luxor

So, without further ado, here are the 13 best things to do when visiting Luxor, Egypt.

1. Valley of the Kings

If you’re wondering what to see in Luxor, then the Valley of the Kings is a must. You can enter through several different gates but the most popular is the west bank entrance near modern Luxor.

The Valley of Kings was the burial ground of many pharaohs from ancient times.

This is the place where you’ll find tombs of many of the ancient royalty of Egypt, including Tutankhamen’s tomb which remains one of Egypt’s greatest treasures today.

It’s an amazing feeling to walk through the tombs of these ancient pharaohs. You can really imagine what life was like back then.

Top tip: Visit Valley of Kings as early in the morning as you can before tour buses arrive, or book a private tour for more time at the site without other visitors around.

2. Karnak Temple

Located just a few kilometres from the Valley of Kings, Karnak is one of Egypt’s most iconic ancient temples. In fact, it’s not just one of the most spectacular temple complexes in Egypt. It’s one of the largest in the world, only beaten by Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

The complex was built over many centuries. It contains some truly amazing architecture including statues that are almost as tall as small skyscrapers!

Plus there are so many hieroglyphs on these structures you could spend hours trying to decipher them all.

There are also smaller temples at Karnak like the Temple of Mut and one honouring Amun’s wife. There is even a sacred lake where ancient Egyptians would come for purification rituals!

Top Tip: Take your time exploring Karnak so you don’t miss anything! We spent several hours here and still saw things we didn’t even know existed. You can easily spend an entire day exploring this massive complex

3. Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple is a smaller temple complex located right in the centre of modern Luxor. This temple was located on the east bank of the Nile River, and it was built around 1400 BCE.

Many structures here were actually built during Ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom by pharaohs from that time period, including a lot of the temple’s obelisks. This beautiful temple will certainly take your breath away.

4. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

Also located in Luxor, this is a smaller temple. But it’s one of the most impressive temples built during the reign of Pharaoh Hatshepsut of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt.

Construction on this site began between 1479-57 BCE and it was built in honour of the Sun God, Amun. It is also considered one of Egypt’s most beautiful temples which has made it a popular destination for tourists today.

✅ Book an early morning hot air balloon ride over Luxor

5. Valley of the Queens

This is another valley on Luxor’s west bank which contains many tombs belonging to ancient queens and princesses from Ancient Egypt.

It was built by pharaohs and is the place where they laid their wives to rest when they passed away. The pharaohs themselves weren’t buried here. They were buried in the neighbouring Valley of the Kings.

The Valley of the Queens is a little smaller than the Valley of the Kings and it’s not as well preserved. But you can still see some amazing artwork on the walls and see ancient tombs.

It also houses several tombs that belonged to royal children which are very different from all other tomb designs in Ancient Egypt.

6. Luxor Museum

The Museum of Luxor is located on the corniche overlooking the River Nile’s east bank. Many of its halls contain artefacts from Ancient Egypt. You’ll find relics from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, treasures found beneath the temples, and artefacts from Egypt’s New Kingdom. 

Many of its halls are decorated with beautifully painted reliefs depicting some very important moments during Ancient Egyptian history like hunting, fishing, harvesting, and even animal mummies!

7. Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon are two huge stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. They were built during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, and have stood proudly in the Theban Necropolis since 1350 BC. 

They’re both seated and they face east towards the River Nile. This is where all ancient Egyptians would have seen them as a way to honour Pharaoh Amenhotep III.

They also contain several hieroglyphs inside their bases but only one of them is still intact. The other was destroyed during an earthquake but it’s currently being restored by archaeologists.

8. Medinet Habu

Medinet Habu, on Luxor’s west bank, is where you’ll find another temple: The Temple of Ramesses III.

It contains many beautiful reliefs which were once brightly painted but today they’re faded over time. The complex also houses an open-air museum that contains some ancient artefacts.

9. Deir El-Bahri

Also, located on the west bank of the Nile, Deir El-Bahri is actually a collection of mortuary temples. The complex is where you’ll find the Temple of Hatshepsut.

It was developed during Egypt’s Eleventh dynasty and was built to commemorate the achievements of the great Hapshetsut.

It was also built as a place to lay her when she passed away, as well as a dedication to the God Amun. The entire area is carved into some pretty impressive cliffs and is literally stunning.

10. Ramesseum

If you head to the Theban Necropolis, you’ll find Ramesseum. This is another magnificent temple in Luxor and was built as a memorial temple for Pharaoh Ramesses II.

It contains many beautiful reliefs and carvings and is one of the lesser-known things to do in Luxor

11. Avenida de los Esfinges

Avenida de Los Esfinges or Avenue of the Sphinxes is a street on Luxor’s east bank that (as you may have guessed) contains lots of smaller sphinxes.

They were made by pharaohs during Ancient Egypt as well as some local rulers who came after them. They represent fertility, power, and even the concept of royal protection.

12. Karnak Open Air Museum

The Karnak Open Air Museum is located just outside of Luxor Temple. It contains some ancient artefacts that were once used for religious ceremonies.

It’s a large museum and contains reconstructions of many ancient structures that have either been taken apart or buried, including chapels and shrines. It also has some beautiful reliefs of the pharaohs.

13. Cruise the Nile River

Of course, this city isn’t just temples! Cruising the Nile River is definitely one of the best things to do in Luxor. It gives you a beautiful view of the world’s longest river. You can book many different river cruises from Luxor, including ones that only last a few hours.

We booked a tour that stops along the banks of the Nile. It stopped at a banana plantation and for a very scenic lunch by the river.

You can book cruises from Luxor City itself or outside Karnak Temple but most cruises last a few hours.

✅ I recommend this Nile Cruise from Luxor

Is Luxor Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Luxor is one of the most fascinating cities in all of Egypt. There’s just so much to do and see!

You’ll quickly discover that Luxor is a city rich in history, culture, and tradition. You can visit some truly awe-inspiring ancient temples like Karnak Temple or The Valley of the Kings. Plus there are many museums you can visit or ancient artefacts you can check out.

But these are also things that you can do with the whole family. Whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, or with the family you’ll find plenty of things to do in Luxor that will make this one trip you’ll never forget.

How Many Days Do I Need In Luxor, Egypt?

How many days you need in Luxor all depends on what you want to do. If you want an overview of some of the top sights in the city, then 3 days is the minimum amount of time needed in Luxor.

But if you have the time and want to check out as many temples, museums, or other attractions as possible, make it 5 days or more! You won’t be disappointed.

How To Get Around Luxor

The most popular methods of transportation for tourists are tour buses and bikes. In the city, driving may be a little confusing, and taxi drivers are likely to charge tourists extra. You can also use microbuses to get about in Luxor. They cover fixed paths and will stop if you flag them down.

Compared to travelling around Europe, Luxor isn’t the easiest place to get around. However, due to it being a popular tourist destination, it’s a lot easier than other parts of Egypt. You can also get around most of the popular destinations by guided tour.

What is the Best Time to Visit Luxor, Egypt?

The absolute best time to visit Luxor is during spring (March, April) and autumn (October, November). These are considered shoulder seasons so you’ll find lower hotel rates for your trip.

Plus it won’t be unbearably hot, so you can really enjoy being outside and walking around the temples without feeling like you’re going to melt.

The worst time to visit Luxor is during the summer months of July and August. During these times, it can get incredibly hot, and uncomfortable. And, there are a lot more tour groups around which will make getting around a lot harder.

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