Luxor

Ancient wonders on the Nile

Luxor stands as one of Egypt’s most significant ancient sites, located along the Nile River in southern Egypt. The city is home to vast temple complexes like Karnak and Luxor Temple, where stone columns and carvings tell stories from thousands of years ago. Tombs carved into the Valley of the Kings reveal detailed artwork depicting royal lives and beliefs about the afterlife. Markets offer local crafts alongside fresh produce, while river cruises provide views of both modern life and historic ruins along the same waters that sustained ancient civilizations.

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City in Egypt

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.8

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	1

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and by guides. Most signage at major sites is bilingual. Communication is easy for tourists, but learning a few Arabic greetings is appreciated.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Luxor Summary

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World-class for ancient Egyptian history. Explore monumental temples and tombs, visit vast archaeological sites, cruise the Nile and discover pharaoh-era art and architecture.

Place score

7.6

Best at:

Historic sites

Ruins

Architecture

Museums

Guided tours

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 4

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

🛡️ 6

Travel Beginners

Egypt – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Egyptian Pound (EGP) £1 ≈ EGP 74.69
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common in Egypt, especially in tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and businesses, but cash is still preferred in many places. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is common in Egypt, with a 10-15% tip in restaurants being standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also appreciate small tips.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in Egypt, and alcohol consumption is limited to licensed establishments like hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is permitted in outdoor public spaces and licensed indoor venues such as cafes and bars, but it is prohibited in public transport and closed areas.

Revolution Day (25 January)	National holiday celebrating the 2011 revolution
Eid al-Fitr (dates vary)	Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 122 (Police), 123 (Ambulance), 180 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber
Other:	Egypt is known for its ancient history, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and numerous archaeological sites. It offers a rich cultural experience combined with desert landscapes and the Nile River.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Luxor, Egypt

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Mar

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Nov. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Christmas and New Year week is the busiest and most expensive time

Valley of the Kings and other open-air sites are best visited at opening time from April to October

Don't miss

🏺 Explore the ancient tombs of the Valley of the Kings
🏛️ Visit the vast and impressive Karnak Temple complex
🌙 Marvel at the majestic Luxor Temple by night
🏯 Discover Queen Hatshepsut's breathtaking mortuary temple
🌅 See the massive Colossi of Memnon statues at sunrise
🎈 Take a hot air balloon ride over Luxor at sunrise

You've been here?

Why travel to Luxor?

If you’re fascinated by history, Luxor is a bucket-list destination. The East Bank dazzles with the grand Temples of Karnak and Luxor, while the West Bank hides the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens and hauntingly beautiful tombs. Beyond the ancient sites, you can sail the Nile in a felucca, wander vibrant markets and soak up the city’s unique energy. Just be ready for intense heat, especially in summer and expect touts and scammers around major attractions. Dress modestly, respect local customs and always agree on prices in advance. Despite the hustle, the awe of standing beneath 3,000-year-old columns or inside a pharaoh’s tomb is unforgettable.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Valley of the Kings
This ancient necropolis houses the final resting place of pharaohs, carved directly into sandstone cliffs. Visitors explore royal tombs filled with vibrant hieroglyphics and treasures. The site offers a profound glimpse into Egypt's New Kingdom history and burial traditions within the Valley.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Luxor Museum
2 Colossi of Memnon
3 Valley of the Queens
4 Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
5 Karnak Temple Complex
6 Luxor Temple
7 Mummification Museum
8 Avenue of Sphinxes

🎡Places for activities

1 Karnak Temple Square

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Banana Island

🛍️Shopping

1 Souk de Louxor

🎈Events

Karnak Sound and Light Show
Luxor African Film Festival
Ramadan festivities
Eid celebrations
Coptic Christmas
Nile flood celebrations (Wafaa El Nil)
Local folklore festivals
International Marathon
Tourist Day
National holidays

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Start at sunrise; midday heat hits hard year-round.
Split your days by Nile banks: East Bank temples, West Bank tombs and cliffs.
Carry small cash and agree prices early for taxis, calèches and guides.
Do Karnak at opening, then return at dusk for softer light and fewer large tour groups.

How to travel to Luxor

Luxor International Airport has direct flights from Cairo and some international destinations. Trains connect Luxor to Cairo and Aswan and Nile cruises are a scenic (if slow) way to arrive. Buses run from major Egyptian cities, but trains or flights are more comfortable. Taxis and pre-arranged transfers are best for airport-city trips.

Access summary

From Luxor International Airport (LXR): taxi or transfer, usually about 15–25 minutes.
From Cairo: domestic flights about 1 hour; overnight sleeper trains available.
From Hurghada: intercity buses or private transfer across desert road, roughly 4–5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Luxor

Luxor offers everything from luxury Nile-side resorts and historic hotels to budget guesthouses and family-run stays. Most accommodations are on the East Bank, close to restaurants and the main temple sites. Book ahead in high season (winter and spring) and check for air conditioning-summer heat is intense.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Iberotel Luxor

8.7

Steigenberger Nile Palace

8.9

Jolie Ville Hotel & Spa Kings Island Luxor

8.5

Aracan Eatabe Luxor Hotel

8.2

Steigenberger Resort Achti

8.6

Sonesta St. George Hotel - Luxor

9.1

Pyramisa Luxor Hotel and Suites

7.8

Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Luxor

Most sites are split between the East and West Banks. Taxis, ferries and organized tours are the main ways to get around. Walking is possible in central Luxor, but distances between major attractions are long. Negotiate fares before getting in a taxi and consider hiring a guide for the West Bank. Public buses are limited, but private drivers and group tours are widely available.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-71 %

Daily expenses in Luxor are around 71% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-55 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EGP) is 55% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is a lot cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£12	£44	£149
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£3	£21	£77
🍝 Food per day	£8	£23	£69
🚕 Transportation per day	£0	£1	£4

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.30
🍟 Fast food combo	£2.30
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£3.10
☕ Cappuccino	£1
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.06
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£2.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.20

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£1.90
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£6
🤧 Cold medication	£2.30
💇 Basic haircut	£1.60

Safety information overview

General safety

Luxor is generally safe, with low violent crime. Petty theft and scams can occur, especially in tourist areas. Be cautious with touts and aggressive vendors and keep valuables secure in crowds and on transport.

Health & Medical

Medical care is available, but standards vary. Pharmacies are common. Tap water is not safe to drink — use bottled water. Heatstroke and dehydration are risks; carry water and avoid midday sun.

Accessibility

Most major sites are partially accessible, but uneven ground, steps and sand can be challenging. Some hotels and newer museums offer good facilities, but check ahead if you have mobility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe for drinking. Use bottled water, which is widely available. Avoid ice and raw foods washed in tap water. Stay hydrated — heat and sun are intense year-round.