Luxor is one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, making it rich in historic sites and cultural attractions. Although Cairo tends to attract swathes of visitors keen to see the Egyptian pyramids, Luxor is a fantastic alternative because it’s home to a huge number of impressive ancient temples and tombs. Here are five of the best things to do in Luxor to help you plan your sightseeing tour of this fascinating city.
1. Visit the tombs of ancient pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is a royal burial site that contains 63 tombs of pharaohs and nobles who lived and died between 1069 BC and 1550 AD. It is one of Egypt’s most important archaeological sites. The tombs are intricately decorated and each one is unique, but don’t expect to squeeze them all into a day trip, as access is limited to a handful of tombs at one time. An entry ticket allows access to up to three tombs in one day, but separate tickets are needed to see the most famed tombs, such as those of Tutankhamun, Ay, Ramses VI, and Seti I.
2. Explore the ancient temples of Karnak
Karnak is an incredible 247-acre ancient temple complex. Its construction began in 1971 BC and continued for more than 1500 years, with 30 successive pharaohs overseeing its development. Ancient Egyptians used the site to pray to the Theban Triad, a trio of deities. Only one portion of Karnak, the Precinct of Amun-Re, is open to the public, but it’s the largest part of the complex and you can expect to spend hours exploring the impressive structures.
3. Take a dahabiya cruise on the River Nile
Luxor lies on the eastern bank of the River Nile, with the Valley of the Kings on the western bank. Ferries serve as the simplest way to travel back and forth across the water, but to really make the most of the longest river in Africa, consider taking a cruise on a dahabiya – a traditional sailing boat that was originally created to transport royalty.
4. See the house where Carter lived during his search for Tutankhamun
Howard Carter is the famed archaeologist and Egyptologist who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. His house, characterized by its domed roof, has been carefully restored and now serves as a museum dedicated to the excavation. There’s also a very detailed replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb here, which is designed to help reduce footfall to the real tomb in order to preserve it as much as possible.
5. Admire ancient artifacts at Luxor Museum
Luxor Museum has a varied collection of antiquities that can give even more insights into life in ancient Egypt than the temples and tombs. You can expect to see carvings, statues, artworks, royal mummies, ancient tools, technology and weapons. The museum also offers some peaceful relief from the blazing sun, so visit during the mid-afternoon when Luxor’s at its hottest.
Plan your tour of Luxor
Now you’re up to speed with the best things to do in Luxor, you can get started planning your holiday itinerary – just make sure to include each of these must-see attractions and activities.
Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.