Things to do in  Luxor

Egypt’s New Kingdom ruling class built elaborate crypts in the barren river valley west of Luxor, an area now known as the Valley of the Kings. While famous pharaohs such as Tutankhamun were buried here, the site was also the resting place of Egypt’s queens, high priests, and nobility between the 18th and 20th centuries. Tours put the spotlight on the treasure-filled tombs, and the ongoing archaeological work that continues today.

Ancient architecture goes monumental at this landmark in Luxor, which houses magnificent statues, columns, and the largest place of worship ever constructed—just a stone’s throw from downtown traffic. Construction of Karnak Temple spanned more than 1,000 years, and it shows in the diverse art and architecture of this Egyptian site.

Fiery limestone cliffs are a dramatic backdrop for the Temple of Hatshepsut, a monument to the female pharaoh who was once king of ancient Egypt. The temple’s smooth colonnade has been reconstructed, and the facade alternates between glowing columns with deep shadows. Venture inside to find relief carvings, hieroglyphics, and sanctuaries.

An ancient sanctuary surrounded by honking taxis, touts, and strolling families, Luxor Temple’s grandeur has endured more than 3,000 years on the East Bank of the Nile. Linked to Karnak Temple via the Avenue of Sphinxes, Luxor Temple boasts soaring colonnades, elaborate columns, statues, and images of Amenhotep III and Ramses II.

Two giant statues of the New Kingdom pharaoh Amenhotep III, the Colossi of Memnon, tower 59 feet (18 meters high, making the perfect introduction to the grandeurs of Luxor’s West Bank. Each weighs around 1,100 tons (1,000 tonnes and they once guarded the entrance to a funerary temple archaeologists are still excavating today.

Vast and beautifully preserved, complete with its original roof, the Temple of Horus (Edfu Temple still dominates the little Nile-side town of Edfu. Completed by Cleopatra’s father in the first century BC, it’s dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus and is one of Egypt’s largest ancient temples.

Vivid wall paintings keep watch over the Tomb of Tutankhamun, where King Tutankhamun’s linen-wrapped mummy is preserved in a glass case. While most of Tut’s treasures are on display at the National Museum in Cairo, visit the tomb to see where the young king’s body lay for thousands of years.

Measuring a mighty 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometers) from end to end, the Nile is the longest river in the world. It's also the lifeblood of Egypt, flowing through the heart of the Sahara desert and passing through cities including Aswan, Luxor, and Cairo, before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea at the vast Nile Delta. A Nile River cruise is a quintessential Egypt experience.

Despite the name, the rugged Valley of the Queens doesn’t just house the tombs of ancient pharaohs’ wives: Their children and some high officials are buried here too. Four of the 70-odd graves are open: the tombs of Nefertari, Titi, Khaemwaset, and Amenherkhepshef. There is an extra charge to visit Nefertari’s tomb.

Extending for around 125 meters (410 feet), the Tomb of Ramses III—also known as KV 11— is among the longest and best-preserved tombs in the Valley of the Kings on Luxor's West Bank. The interior walls are adorned with hieroglyphs and colorful bas-relief art depicting scenes from ancient funerary texts.

An ancient sacred city, even older than the Giza Pyramids, Abydos was already a burial ground over 6,000 years ago. While many tombs at the site are still being excavated, highlights of it include the ruined Temple of Ramses II, the Temple of Seti I with its gorgeously decorated chapels, and the Osireion, dedicated to the god Osiris.

From royal mummies to King Tut’s sandals, the Luxor Museum’s magnificent collection contains some of Thebes’ most impressive treasures. This is where to find many artifacts excavated from the Valley of the Kings and other Luxor sites, but the exhibits extend from the ancient world all the way to the Islamic Mamluk period.

On Luxor’s West Bank, Ramses III built his magnificent mortuary temple with intricate relief carvings and shrines. With its wonderfully preserved art, Medinet Habu represents the pharaoh's royal legacy and is among Luxor’s most important ancient sites. Images of hunting trips, prisoner executions, and battles with the Sea Peoples offer a window into ancient history.

Also known as KV8, the Tomb of Merneptah in the Valley of the Kings is the final resting place of Pharoah Merneptah, the son of Ramesses II and Queen Isis-Nofret. It was rediscovered in 1902, a good decade before the tomb of the more famous King Tutankhamun was found, and gets fewer crowds than some of the other major tombs in the Valley.

Building Luxor’s monuments took an army of artists, stone-cutters, and builders, and many of them lived in Deir el-Medina. An ancient village here is a window into their lives, complete with homes, tombs, and irrigation pipes. It’s a fascinating place to visit, and it’s a refreshingly human contrast to the West Bank’s royal landmarks.