650 km south Top Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt
Luxor, ancient Thebes, was once the capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom empire and is often called the “world’s greatest open-air museum” — nowhere else on earth holds this concentration of temples and tombs in one place. The city sits on both banks of the Nile, each side with a distinct character.
East Bank: The City of the Living
The East Bank, where the sun rises, was considered the domain of the living in ancient Egyptian belief. Its two great temples remain among Egypt’s most spectacular sites:
Karnak Temple — the largest religious complex ever built, expanded by pharaohs over 2,000 years, home to the famous Hypostyle Hall of 134 towering columns. Read our full Karnak Temple guide →
Luxor Temple — built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, connected to Karnak by the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes, and especially striking when lit at night. Read our full Luxor Temple guide →
Luxor Museum — a smaller, well-curated museum holding treasures including reconstructed wall reliefs from Akhenaten’s temple at Thebes.
West Bank: The City of the Dead
Across the Nile, where the sun sets, lies the Necropolis of Thebes — the domain of the dead, and home to Egypt’s most famous royal tombs:
Valley of the Kings — burial site of New Kingdom pharaohs including Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses VI. Read our full Valley of the Kings guide →
Valley of the Queens — known in antiquity as “the Place of Beauty,” home to the tombs of royal wives and children, including the tomb of Queen Titi. Read our full Valley of the Queens guide →
Temple of Hatshepsut — a dramatic mortuary temple built directly into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari.
Medinet Habu & the Ramesseum — impressive, less-crowded mortuary temples of Ramses III and Ramses II.
Beyond Luxor: An Hour Away
Dendera Temple, dedicated to Hathor, goddess of joy and love, and Edfu Temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus, both make excellent half-day additions from Luxor.
An Evening in Luxor
For a different way to experience the city after dark, the Karnak Sound and Light Show brings ancient Thebes to life through narration, music, and lighting across the temple complex.
