Luxor Attractions — Temples, Tombs and the World's Greatest Open-Air Museum

Luxor Attractions — Temples, Tombs and the World's Greatest Open-Air Museum

Luxor attractions 2026 — Hatshepsut Temple West Bank Egypt

Luxor Attractions — Complete Visitor Guide 2026

Luxor divides the ancient city into two halves along the Nile. The East Bank was the land of the living — temples, palaces and the city. The West Bank was the land of the dead — the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, and dozens of noble tombs cut into the limestone cliffs. Every attraction listed here is visited on a Nile cruise or Cairo and Nile cruise package.

East Bank Attractions

Attraction Highlights Time
Karnak Temple Great Hypostyle Hall · Sacred Lake · Avenue of Sphinxes · built over 2,000 years 2–3 hours
Luxor Temple Ramesses II colossi · entrance obelisk · illuminated at night 1–2 hours
Luxor Museum Best-curated Egyptology collection outside Cairo · royal mummies · statues 1–2 hours

West Bank Attractions

Attraction Highlights Time
Valley of the Kings 65 royal tombs · Tutankhamun · Ramesses II · Seti I · painted burial chambers 2–3 hours
Temple of Hatshepsut Three colonnaded terraces carved into the cliff · Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh 1–2 hours
Colossi of Memnon Two 18-metre guardian statues of Amenhotep III · free to visit 20 minutes
Valley of the Queens Tomb of Nefertari (QV66) — the most beautiful ancient paintings in Egypt 1–2 hours
Hot Air Balloon 45–75 min sunrise flight over the West Bank · $120 pp · Full guide 3 hours total
All Luxor attractions are visited on a Nile cruise. See our Cairo + Luxor packages from $899.

Written by Ahmed Emam — Egypt travel specialist since 2010.