Short answer: yes. If you are interested in ancient Egypt at all, Luxor is the place where you see the most of it in the least time. The city stands on the site of ancient Thebes, the religious capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom (around 1550 to 1070 BC), and the temples and royal tombs of that period lie on both sides of the Nile within a few kilometres of each other.
The East Bank: the temples of the living
The modern city is on the East Bank, and so are its two great temples.
- Karnak: not one temple but a vast complex built and extended over some two thousand years. Its Great Hypostyle Hall has 134 columns, many of them taller than a three-storey house and still carved with their original reliefs.
- Luxor Temple: in the centre of town, built mainly under Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. It is beautiful at dusk, when the lights come on.
- The Avenue of Sphinxes: the processional road of almost three kilometres between Karnak and Luxor Temple, reopened in 2021 after decades of excavation.
- Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum: two small, well-lit museums on the Corniche, ideal for a hot afternoon.
You can see both temples in half a day on our Karnak and Luxor Temple tour.
The West Bank: the tombs and temples of the dead
- The Valley of the Kings: the burial ground of the New Kingdom pharaohs, with more than sixty tombs, of which a rotating selection is open. Our Valley of the Kings tickets guide explains which tombs are included and which need an extra ticket.
- The Temple of Hatshepsut: the terraced temple of the female pharaoh at Deir el-Bahari, set against the cliffs.
- The Colossi of Memnon: two huge seated statues of Amenhotep III, the first stop for most visitors.
- Medinat Habu and the Valley of the Queens: the temple of Ramesses III, with some of the best-preserved colour in Egypt, and the tombs of royal wives and princes. See our Medinat Habu and Valley of the Queens tour.
Experiences beyond the monuments
- A hot air balloon at sunrise over the West Bank.
- A felucca ride on the Nile in the late afternoon.
- The Sound and Light show at Karnak in the evening.
How many days do you need in Luxor?
- One day: the highlights of both banks: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, the Colossi, Karnak and Luxor Temple. It is a full day, but it works. See the Luxor East and West Bank day tour.
- Two days: the comfortable option. One day per bank, with time for the museums or a balloon flight.
- Three days or more: add a day trip to the temples of Dendera and Abydos to the north, or Edfu and Kom Ombo to the south.
Short on time? Luxor can even be seen in a day from Cairo by plane.
Best time to visit
October to April is the most comfortable period, with warm, dry days and cool mornings. From June to August daytime temperatures often exceed 40 °C; if you travel in summer, plan the visits for early morning and keep the middle of the day for rest. On 2 August 2027 Luxor will be on the path of a total solar eclipse; see our solar eclipse 2027 page.
How to get to Luxor
- From Cairo: domestic flights take about an hour. There is also an overnight sleeper train, which takes around ten hours.
- From Aswan: about three hours by road, or by Nile cruise: three, four or seven nights between the two cities. Read our Nile cruise guide.
- From Hurghada: about four hours by road.
Frequently asked questions
Is one day in Luxor enough?
For the main sights, yes, if you start early and accept a long day. Two days let you see the same places at a calmer pace.
Is Luxor better than Cairo?
They are different. Cairo has the pyramids and the great museums; Luxor has the temples and royal tombs. Most first-time visitors see both.
Do I need a guide in Luxor?
No, but the sites have very little explanation on the spot, and a guide turns the reliefs and tombs into stories. Our day tours can be booked with car and driver only, or with car and guide.
See all Luxor day tours or our Luxor destination page.