Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and a hot-air balloon at dawn over the Nile, Luxor is the world's largest open-air museum. Here's how to explore it in 2 or 3 days.
Luxor at a glance
Population
500,000
Airport
LXR
Ideal stay
2 to 3 days
Budget / day
€35-220
Flight Paris
~5h via Cairo
Time diff
+1h winter, 0h summer
Current climate
Best season
In brief
Book the dawn hot-air balloon
€60 to €100 for 45 min above the west bank, takeoff before sunrise. The most beautiful way to take in the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple.
Karnak early morning or late afternoon
750 EGP (~€14) entry. A vast site, allow 3 hours minimum. Sound-and-light show in English some evenings (250 EGP), book at the gate.
Valley of the Kings: base ticket + premium tombs
Standard ticket 750 EGP for 3 tombs among those open. Tutankhamun extra (700 EGP), Seti I (1,800 EGP) and Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens (1,800 EGP) are the most stunning.
Carriage, taxi or bike to get around
East bank is compact (walk from Luxor Temple to Karnak). West bank is best by taxi day-fare (1,200-1,800 EGP for half a day) or by rental bike (150 EGP) for the more adventurous.
Cairo-Luxor night train to save
First-class sleeper cabin on ENR or Watania ~€80/person, 10-hour ride. A hotel night saved and a scenic trip. Book 2 weeks ahead.
Must-see
The largest religious complex ever built, 30 pharaohs over 2,000 years. Hypostyle hall with 134 giant columns, Hatshepsut's obelisks.
At the heart of town, magnificent at night when lit. 3 km Avenue of Sphinxes reconnected to Karnak in 2021. Colossi of Ramses II at the entrance.
63 royal tombs carved into the rock, including Tutankhamun's. Standard ticket covers 3 tombs among those open; Seti I and Ramses VI are the finest.
Terraced temple cut into the cliff by the queen-pharaoh of the 15th century BC. Spectacular view, almost modern lines.
Smaller and quieter than the Valley of the Kings. Nefertari's tomb (Ramses II's wife) extra at 1,800 EGP, the finest Egyptian painting preserved.
Ramses III's mortuary temple, one of the best preserved in Egypt. Bas-reliefs still in color, far less crowded than Karnak.
Two 18-m monumental statues, remnants of Amenhotep III's temple. A quick stop on the west-bank road, free, in open fields.
Small modern museum on the corniche, refined selection of royal statues and mummies including Ahmose I. Ideal late afternoon.
45 min at 350 m above the west bank. Sunrise over the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Nile. Book 2-3 days ahead.
Traditional sailboat at sunset. 1 to 2 quiet hours, crossing to Banana Island or a simple loop. To negotiate on the corniche.
Choose your district
Along the Nile, near Luxor Temple. Hotels with views, walking distance to the temple and restaurants. From €30/night.
★ Recommended
Around the market and train station, local vibe, few tourists. Handy for the night train. From €20/night.
Local
5 min from the Colossi of Memnon, small guesthouses in the villages. Quiet, daily Nile ferry. From €25/night.
Quiet
Hilton, Sofitel Winter Palace, Hilton Karnak Resort. Pools and gardens along the Nile, away from downtown. From €120/night.
Chic
Getting around
Day-rate taxi
The benchmark for the west bank. 1,200-1,800 EGP half-day, 2,000-2,500 EGP full day with driver waiting. Negotiate the day before.
Hantour (horse carriage)
To link Luxor Temple to Karnak (4 km along the corniche), picturesque but bargain mandatory. 200-300 EGP for 2 hours.
Rental bike
150 EGP a day at the hotel or on the corniche. Ideal for the manageable west-bank distances, provided you skip midday heat.
Local west-bank ferry
5-min crossing between the two banks every 10 min, 10 EGP. Simplest and most picturesque, boards facing the Winter Palace.
Climate & crowds
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Winter
Nov to Mar · 12-25°C, dry · Ideal: warm days, cool nights, perfect skies
Spring
April · 18-32°C, hot · Fair, watch for khamsin (sandstorms)
Summer
May to Sep · 28-42°C, scorching · Avoid: 42°C by day, sites impossible after 10am
Autumn
October · 22-32°C, hot · Good, still hot but doable early and late
How much
Backpacker
€35
per day
Comfort
€100
per day
Premium
€280
per day
Our tested itinerary
Day-by-day program.
Around
1 h by car · Temple of Khnum with restored astronomical ceilings
1h30 away · Temple of Hathor, best preserved in Egypt, intact colors
2h30 away · Temple of Seti I and the king list, sacred site of Osiris
3 h by train · Nubian feluccas and the gateway to Abu Simbel
FAQ
Thomas Bernard ✓
·Geographer & traveler
Last updated: June 9, 2026.