Two days in Luxor is enough for the essentials: Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then the Valley of the Kings and the West Bank temples. A third day lets you add the Valley of the Queens, Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum and the Luxor Museum at a gentler pace. Main tickets for foreign adults run from EGP 220 to EGP 750 per site.
Key Takeaways
- Luxor’s big three tickets for foreign adults: Valley of the Kings EGP 750, Karnak EGP 600, Luxor Temple EGP 500.
- Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, the Valley of the Queens and Howard Carter’s House cost EGP 220 each.
- West Bank sites and Karnak open at 6:00 am; Luxor Temple stays open until 8:00 pm, so it works well in the evening.
- The Hatshepsut Temple’s price is listed differently on two official ministry pages, so we do not quote it; check before you go.
- Luxor’s monuments are part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis”, inscribed in 1979.
East Bank and West Bank
The Nile splits Luxor in two. The East Bank, where the modern city is, holds the temples of the living: Karnak and Luxor Temple, joined by the Avenue of Sphinxes. The West Bank holds the necropolis (city of the dead): royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, and the mortuary temples (temples for the cult of a dead king) such as Hatshepsut’s, the Ramesseum and Medinet Habu. Plan one bank per day and you avoid crossing the river twice.
Tickets and opening hours
Official prices for foreign adults from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in Egyptian pounds. Children under 6 enter free.
| Site | Bank | Foreign adult | Hours (summer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnak Temple | East | EGP 600 | 6:00 am, last entry 4:00 pm |
| Mut Temple at Karnak | East | EGP 200 | Inside the Karnak complex |
| Luxor Temple | East | EGP 500 | 6:00 am, last entry 7:00 pm |
| Luxor Museum | East | EGP 400 | Check seasonal hours |
| Mummification Museum | East | EGP 220 | Check seasonal hours |
| Valley of the Kings | West | EGP 750 | 6:00 am, last entry 5:00 pm |
| Valley of the Queens | West | EGP 220 | 6:00 am, last entry 5:00 pm |
| Medinet Habu | West | EGP 220 | 6:00 am, last entry 5:00 pm |
| Ramesseum | West | EGP 220 | 6:00 am, last entry 5:00 pm |
| Howard Carter House | West | EGP 220 | 6:00 am, last entry 5:00 pm |
| Hatshepsut Temple (Deir el-Bahari) | West | Official sources disagree | 6:00 am, last entry 5:00 pm |
Luxor in two days
Day 1: West Bank
Start at the Valley of the Kings as soon as it opens at 6:00 am, before the heat and the tour buses. Continue to the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, then stop at the Colossi of Memnon, the giant seated statues by the road, on the way back to the river.
Day 2: East Bank
Spend the morning at Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, with its Great Hypostyle Hall of giant columns. Rest through the afternoon, then visit Luxor Temple in the evening: it stays open until 8:00 pm, and the lit columns are at their best after dark.
This is the plan behind our Luxor 2-day tour.
Luxor in three days
A third day turns a fast visit into a complete one:
| Day | Morning | Afternoon or evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut | Colossi of Memnon, rest |
| 2 | Karnak and the Mut Temple | Luxor Temple in the evening |
| 3 | Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, the Valley of the Queens | Luxor Museum or the Mummification Museum |
Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramesses III, keeps some of the best-preserved painted reliefs in Luxor and is far quieter than Karnak. The Ramesseum holds the fallen colossus of Ramesses II. The Valley of the Queens holds the tombs of royal wives and princes. Our Luxor 3-day tour follows this pace.
Tips for a smoother visit
- Start early. West Bank sites open at 6:00 am; the first two hours are the coolest and least crowded.
- Arrive an hour before closing at the latest. The ministry recommends it, and the big sites take time to walk.
- Carry cash and a card. Prices are set in Egyptian pounds.
- Photos: mobile phone photography is free at the sites; rules inside tombs can differ, so ask at the entrance.
- Dress: light, modest clothing, a hat and comfortable shoes for sand and uneven stone.
For single days rather than a package, see all our Luxor day tours.
FAQ
Are two days enough for Luxor?
Yes, for the highlights: one day on the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple, and one day on the East Bank for Karnak and Luxor Temple. Three days let you add Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum and the museums.
How much does the Valley of the Kings cost?
The foreign adult ticket is EGP 750. The site opens at 6:00 am, with last entry at 5:00 pm in summer.
Can you visit Luxor Temple at night?
Yes. Luxor Temple is open until 8:00 pm, with last entry at 7:00 pm in summer, which makes it the best temple to see after dark.