A trip to Luxor Temple in Egypt.
It doesn’t quite have the majestic feeling that the Great Hypostyle Hall does in Karnak…
However, the giant statues guarding the entrance are pretty epic!
Let’s explore Luxor Temple.
By this point in your Egypt trip, you will have already explored some of its ancient treasures, especially if you started your trip in Cairo, as I did.
However, Luxor Temple is one of the most popular temples in Egypt, and home to some fascinating history, which features some of the world’s greatest historical figures.
This blog details how you can visit Luxor Temple, along with an introduction to its main areas, and some of its history.
The practical details for your visit is a great place to start!
Selfie time in Luxor Temple.
How you can visit Luxor Temple.
Luxor Temple is located right in the heart of Luxor’s East Bank and is reachable by foot from many of the other popular activity spots in Luxor.
It is only around 1 kilometre from the main railway station in Luxor to the temple, and I found most of the accommodation options to be between the two.
Taxis, horse carriages, and tuk tuks are also available to flag down throughout the city, so you won’t have any issues reaching Luxor Temple.
From the West Bank, you will require a taxi, rental car, or an official tour to reach the temple, as it is across the Nile.
How to get to Luxor?
Egypt is a huge country, so getting between the cities can take some time, however, Luxor does have good transport connections.
From Cairo, you can catch the night train to Luxor, which is an authentic travel experience, although I wouldn’t expect much sleep!
You can also catch an internal flight from the major cities in Egypt which only takes around an hour, and is a reasonable option if booked in advance.
Many tourists visit Egypt to experience the river Nile, so they enjoy a cruise down from Cairo to Luxor, which can take up to two weeks, but will stop at many of the famous sites down the country.
If you only want a shorter experience of a Nile cruise, then Aswan to Luxor is only 3 days!
The entrance sign.
Entrance information for Luxor Temple.
Opening hours:
6am - 10pm everyday.
Entrance fees:
Adults - 160 EGP (£2.75).
Students 80 EGP (£1.35), Identification is required.
A Luxor Pass does include Luxor Temple, alongside other Luxor landmarks.
Luxor Temple ticket office.
The entrance is guarded by Colossi.
Some brief history about Luxor Temple.
Luxor Temple is the product of influence from different Pharaohs, but Amenhotep III, and Ramses II offered the biggest contributions to the complex.
The temple was expanded over time, from front to back as extra courts and entryways were added to its core structure.
Ramses II’ additions of the pylon entrance, giant statues and twin obelisks were the final touches for one of ancient Egypt’s finest temples.
Unlike the other temples in the area, Luxor temple is not dedicated to a cult god, but instead to the rejuvenation of kingship.
This was carried out with processions and religious festivals, such as the annual ‘Festival of Opet’, where statues of the god Amun, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu were carried along the Avenue of Sphinxes from Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple.
I found it pretty cool to stand at the start of the Avenue of Sphinxes and imagine the scenes from thousands of years ago.
Pretty mind blowing!
An information board.
The different areas of Luxor Temple.
There are various courts, chapels and other parts to the temple.
Here they are:
First Pylon.
Avenue of Sphinxes.
Roman Camp.
Mosque.
Birth Chamber.
Chapel of Khonsu.
Chapel of Amun.
Court of Amenhotep III.
Chapel of Mut.
Court of Ramses II.
A map of Egypt.
Entering the temple.
As I walked past the giant colossi guarding the entrance I could see the similarities with the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank, which I had seen earlier in the day.
Our guide was telling us that the seat statues flanking the entrance depict none other than Ramses II himself.
Apparently the famous Pharaoh wanted imposing structures of himself to display dominance to the visitors of the temple.
I feel like this worked, as all of these thousands of years later, the grand statues captured my attention instantly!
They are definitely some of the most iconic parts of any temple I visited in my Egypt trip.
The Colossi are giant.
Is it safe to visit Luxor Temple?
Luxor Temple is generally considered safe to visit, with many International tourists visiting the East Bank treasure every day.
Egypt does have a turbulent past across its famous sites, so it is always important to keep up to date with the current guidelines.
All of the temples, and other famous sites in Egypt do have a high security presence, including scanners, armed guards and heavy surveillance.
The Egyptian government understands that tourism is a vital part of the country's economy and works hard to improve safety conditions for visitors.
I personally felt safe throughout my time in Luxor.
When is the best time to visit Luxor Temple?
Due to its geographical location, Luxor is a city which can reach extremely hot temperatures in summer months, therefore, some pre-planning is important.
There is a lot of walking involved when visiting the archaeological sites in the city, which can be very difficult in certain months.
I visited in September and experienced temperatures of over 40 degrees celsius.
I witnessed a tourist faint at Valley of the Kings!
The shoulder seasons (February to April and September to November) offer more comfortable weather than the summer months, with manageable crowds.
Visiting at opening time is the absolute best time to avoid crowds and the midday heat.
You'll have the temple complex nearly to yourself also.
Another great time to visit Luxor Temple is at night, when it is beautifully illuminated, creating a unique experience.
However, it can also be more crowded in the evenings, especially during peak season.
Wall carvings can be found throughout the temple.
The best tour for Luxor Temple.
I travelled to Egypt on a solo journey down the Nile, so selecting the right tour was essential to enhance my experiences in Luxor.
This West Bank and East Bank Tour was an ideal choice, as I got to share my exploration of the temples with other like minded travellers.
Our tour guide ‘Mo’ (pictured below) was awesome and charismatic, and an absolute expert on Egyptology, and the history around the different sites.
I loved the fact that the logistics of the tour were all covered in the price, including entrance tickets, and return transport to and from my hotel.
A hands on history lesson in the best temples in Egypt is a great way to learn about the ancient world.
Mo certainly added some fun into the detailed explanations also.
Check the shared West Bank and East Bank Luxor tour prices & availability on GetyourGuide.
Our cool tour guide.
What is a Luxor Pass?
A Luxor Pass is a convenient and cost-effective way to explore the many historical sites in Luxor, which lasts multi-days, and covers entrance fees into all of the main temples, tombs and other archaeological sites in the city.
Luxor Temple is included with the pass.
Purchasing the pass will save you time purchasing individual tickets at each site, as you can just show your pass and enter.
I didn’t personally purchase one as I was booked on an official tour including entrance tickets, however, if you prefer to explore independently, and plan to visit all of the major sites, the Luxor Pass is a no brainer!
You can purchase the Luxor Pass in and around the city, and at most of the main attraction’s ticket offices.
Facts about Luxor Temple.
Here some important ancient facts about Luxor Temple for you to learn before you visit:
A City Within a Temple.
Luxor Temple wasn't just a place of worship; it was a bustling mini-city. Priests resided within the complex, workshops produced offerings, and granaries stored provisions. I can only imagine the daily life that unfolded within these sacred walls.
Evolving Legacy.
Construction of Luxor Temple spanned centuries, beginning with Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC and continuing through Roman times. I noticed that the temple reflects various architectural styles and the beliefs of different rulers.
The Missing Obelisk.
Originally, twin obelisks adorned the temple's entrance. One remains, standing tall, while the other was gifted to France in the 1830s and now graces Paris' Place de la Concorde. Imagine the temple's grandeur with both obelisks standing as a pair.
A Sanctuary for Sphinxes.
Statues of imposing sphinxes line the temple's entrance, some dating back to Ramses II's reign. These mythological creatures, with a lion's body and a human head, were believed to guard against evil spirits and symbolise pharaonic power.
A Place of Festivals:
Luxor Temple played a central role in the annual Opet Festival, a grand celebration rejuvenating the divine spirit of the pharaoh. Imagine the temple brimming with joyous crowds and elaborate processions during this festive occasion.
Some great influences on Luxor Temple.
Luxor Temple has had many different influences on its construction and development, similar to other popular temples in Egypt.
Its construction began in 1400 BC and it is said to have taken 180 years to finish.
Here are my favourite historical figures which contributed towards its design:
Amenhotep III.
The original construction was carried out by Amenhotep III, who was the grandfather of the famous Tutankhamun. He laid the strong foundations of the temple including a courtyard, hypostyle hall, and inner sanctuary.
He is said to have built the chapels to the rear of the temple also.
Ramses II.
Ramses II is credited with building my favourite part of the temple.
The First Pylon was added to the structure during Ramses II’ reign in the 19th Dynasty, which gives Luxor Temple and element of awe, even after thousands of years.
It is thought that Ramses significantly transformed the temple, and he made sure that his legacy would be remembered forever, with inscriptions showcasing his reign throughout the complex.
King Tut.
Despite only reigning for 9 years, Tutankhamun still had some involvement in the construction of Luxor Temple. He constructed 130 Criosphinxes from the tenth pylon to the Temple of Mut.
If you're interested in Tutankhamun's legacy, visit his tomb in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor.
It is an awesome experience!
Alexander the Great.
By the time Alexander the Great arrived in ‘Thebes’ (Luxor), the temple was already very well established and developed, so he only added small scale modifications.
He didn't construct grand new features, but rather adapted an existing space to bolster his claim to pharaonic power and acceptance by the Egyptian people.
The specific area associated with Alexander is a small chapel dedicated to the barque (sacred boat) of the god Amun, However, this chapel likely existed before Alexander's arrival in Egypt.
Hieroglyphics in the Luxor Temple.
An interesting tale about two obelisks.
One aspect of the temple which I found fascinating is the ancient obelisk which stands tall to the left of the main entrance.
Mo was explaining that it looks asymmetrical as it was originally one of a pair of 75 feet high obelisks, when they were originally constructed over 3000 years ago.
The ancient structure displays hieroglyphics depicting the reign of Ramses II, one of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs.
The other obelisk was donated to France in 1829 and now resides in Paris at ‘Place de la Concorde’.
Egyptian donations have been a common theme historically, with only 8 ancient obelisks now remaining in Egypt.
There is something special about seeing the obelisks in the original spot where they were constructed.
If you want to see the scale of the obelisks from a different perspective, you should head to Aswan to see the unfinished obelisk.
Only one of the two original obelisks.
Sphinx Avenue.
The avenue of Sphinxes was once a grand walkway connecting Karnak and Luxor Temple.
Stretching over 2.5km, the walkway is flanked either side by hundreds of sphinx statues, and although many have been damaged, there are still some original statues on display for visitors to admire.
In November 2021, the famed walkway was fully opened to visitors, after a clean up operation, removing overgrown greenery etc.
Although it is not as glamorous of a walk that it once was, it is a nice walk between the two temples, in the cooler months!
In ancient times, the avenue of sphinx was the grand processional way for the Opet Festival, along with other major processions and royal gatherings.
The famous Avenue of Sphinx.
Other popular temples in Egypt.
Egypt is abundant with iconic temples.
So you won’t struggle to fill your Egypt itinerary with some awesome day trips, especially when you visit Luxor and Aswan.
Here is a short summary of five of my other favourite temples for you to consider visiting as well as Luxor Temple:
Karnak Temple - Luxor East Bank.
Karnak Temple is the most famous in Egypt, and it went through the longest construction of the temples, with it taking over 1000 years of continuous development by over 30 different pharaohs before being considered finished.
The Great Hypostyle Hall is the highlight, with some giant carved columns taking centre stage.
Philae Temple - Aswan.
The Temple of Philae is located on Agilkia Island in Aswan, following its relocation half a century ago due to rising Nile flood waters from the construction of Aswan High Dam.
This is one of my favourite temples, as it has a paradise feeling to it, and a picture-perfect setting.
Abu Simbel Temple - Abu Simbel
The Abu Simbel temple complex is one of Egypt’s most southern wonders, which is located close to the Sudan border and around 3 hours from the city of Aswan.
The iconic 20 metre high Colossi statues are my favourite feature of the temple. Abu Simbel makes for an awesome day trip from Aswan.
Medinet Habu Temple - Luxor West Bank.
Medinet Habu Temple is an underrated gem on the West Bank of Luxor, which is famous for vibrant hieroglyphics and battle inscriptions, showcasing Ramses III’ battle victories.
Make sure you choose a tour which includes this spot.
Temple of Hatshepsut - Luxor West Bank.
Another iconic temple, which is built into the Deir el-Bahari cliffs on the West Bank of Luxor, and features three levels.
There is some controversial history behind this one also.
Where is the best place to stay in Luxor?
Luxor is a unique city which spans across both sides of the river Nile, and the East Bank and West Bank offer different vibes.
The East Bank is your best option for easy access to Luxor & Karnak Temples, popular restaurants, and the tourist market.
Here are some good accommodation options for you to consider on the East Bank side:
Bob Marley Hotel & Restaurant - I had a comfortable stay and found the owner to be fun and very helpful for information about the tours. Luxor and Karnak Temple are within walking distance, as is the main train station.
Lotus Luxor Hotel - located along the main corniche in the city, right next to the river Nile and Luxor Temple. There are two outdoor swimming pools, and access to felucca boats on site.
Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor - A classy hotel which has its fair share of history, dating back over a century. It has the feeling of a private oasis with palm trees and secluded pools.
Prefer pyramids?
If you are heading to Egypt to marvel at the mystical pyramids instead of the temples, then you should head to Cairo for your Egyptian adventure.
The capital is one of the best cities in Egypt for history, culture, and it is home to two of the world’s most famous pyramid sites.
The Pyramids of Giza are on most people’s bucket lists, and for good reason!
I loved entering inside them, riding around all three pyramids by camel, and climbing onto the Great Pyramid.
You need to be careful of the local scam artists though!
If you want a quieter, but equally fun experience of Egyptian pyramids, then head to Saqqara Necropolis, which is around 45 minutes drive from Cairo.
The ancient site is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser - the oldest pyramid in the world!
It is uniquely designed with a ‘step structure, so completely different to the polished Giza style pyramids.
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