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Luxor, Egypt
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Chris-s at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The East Bank of Luxor is the central part of Luxor township, centred on the twin foci of the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak.
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Largely the work of Amenhotep III and Ramsses II the Great (whose colossi and obelisk stand at the entrance). Also to be seen is the small "hanging" Mosque of Abu al-Haggag, its position a reflection of the ground level that had built up before excavation of the temple precinct. Also good from the outside, if you already spend your budget at Karnak, due to the low surrounding barrier. If you have a good zoom lens, there is a great shot from the northern end outside. This temple is more compact, has more of the large statues but is not as vast and has not so great obelisks. Opt for Karnak if you need to choose.
A church with impressive large dome. You need a passport to get in.
commonly referred as Karnak Temple
Another large temple complex. Very crowded during sunset, when the sun is very low. But also good then.
An off-shoot to the Karnak temple complex, accessed just before the Second Pylon at left, featuring an amazing array of statuary and reconstructed temple structures. Don't miss this! Ticket to be bought from the Karnak ticket office.
There is a separate light show in the evening, without access to temple, but with a view from a nearby hill.
Contains at least six temples: the Mut Temple, the Contra Temple, and Temples A, B, C, and D. All in a pretty bad shape. There is also a sacred lake Isheru surrounding the Mut Temple from the three sides.
The main features are the Temple of Montu, Temple of Harpre, Temple of Ma'at, a sacred lake and the Gateway of Ptolemy III Euergetes / Ptolemy IV Philopator, which is the most visible structure on the site and can be easily seen from inside the Precinct of Amon-Re. Most monuments are poorly preserved.
A small but quality collection of antiquities, mainly from the Luxor region. Includes most of the remarkable collection of pharaonic statuary found in a hidden cache within Luxor Temple in 1989, displayed in a special annex.
A small but fascinating collection devoted to mummification practices.
An Egyptian temple dedicated to the worship of Monthu. Because of Montu's strong association with raging bulls, the temple was a major centre of worship for bulls, containing many statues of bulls for worship and reliefs. Most of these statues are now located in various museums around the world. The temple consists of an open forum with a tower and enclosing two mounds that housed the chapels of worship.
The site of an Ancient Egyptian town and a temple to the Egyptian god Monthu.
Tasty chicken dishes in this Egyptian fast food chain. Chicken and rice for LE30, a fries wrap for LE20.
'Chain' feel, red uniforms. Offers fresh simple and cheap food such as shwarma and hawashi for LE5 or less. Note that they have an Arabic menu with the 'correct' prices, and an English menu (or no menu at all) with higher prices, such as LE10-25 for shawarma. Prices as of December 2022. Therefore, reading Arabic is necessary to get the local price, or ask for the Arabic version and compare.
Provides cheeseburgers and a safe haven from the nearby souk.
Specialises in Egyptian food with a groovy decor of Egyptian antiques (and antique-like furnishing). Gives you a Western-style experience with Egyptian food. Very friendly service that can be a little slow at times. It's expensive for Egypt with starters around LE10-25, mains around LE30-60 and juices LE10-20 (Prices as of January 2019). Because it's the top pick of a very well-known guidebook series, you really do need to book here otherwise you'll be turned away at the door.
A clean, air-conditioned establishment with roof terrace, serving a range of mid-priced Egyptian and international dishes of above average quality including Cajun chicken (LE22.50), tasty jacket potatoes (LE9-13) and a safe salad bar. Prices as of December 2017. Operated by two owners, Mr Hamdy and Mr Amer.
Small cafe run by Thai owner.
A licensed Indian Tandoori restaurant with a good selection of international dishes including steaks. Good selection of vegetarian dishes. Quite popular restaurant owned by English ex-pat.
The restaurant is on the rooftop of Nefertiti Hotel.
Excellent English-run restaurant serving both English and Egyptian food to a very high standard at reasonable prices.
or Boomerang
One of the highest rated budget places in town with friendly owner and great breakfast. Though a little loud at a small side road, and the Internet is very slow.
Not as cosy as Bob Marley Peace Hotel, but equally friendly, fast Internet, and only loud at 7:30AM when the nearby schoolchildren arrive.
Clean and friendly, breakfast included, do haggle over the price.
breakfast and internet included. Lovely breezy rooftop where tea and cake are served daily at sunset. Big rooms with firm beds and ceiling fans. Super close to train station - good for stumbling in after deboarding an overnight train. The internet is often turned off at night because it needs to 'rest'. Also, prices among the guests widely vary for a room - bargain hard. Moderately decent place to stay. When they say free tea with breakfast, they mean just the first. Same with the tea after sunset. You may be unpleasantly surprised with a bill if you think it is free after the first one.
breakfast, internet, Wi-Fi, bike rental, student discounts, helpful staff for trip organisation.
This two-bedroom apartment is situated on the 4th floor of a typical building where locals live, ideal for leisurely exploration of Luxor. Air conditioned with spacious rooms furnished to accommodate up to four people. Consists of a living room with comfortable settee, table and satellite TV. Bathroom with shower, a double room and a twin room with French doors leading to a small balcony. Grocery, fruit and vegetable shops, restaurants, pubs and coffee shops are close. Luxor airport is 10-15 minutes away and if you wish your airport pick up can be arranged for you. Clothing can be laundered cheaply if requested. Trips and excursions can also be arranged. The owner who speaks English and has an extensive knowledge of the local area, antiquities, sites and activities.
A boutique hotel, tucked away in a quiet residential area behind the train station. The decor is Arab/Mamluk style and quite charming. Serving the Salahadeen Feast only to in-house guests.
Clean and friendly. Roof terrace with view over the Nile, pool table, internet (unreliable) in rooms and lobby, simple breakfast included.
A good mid-range hotel, well-located with a rooftop garden, bar and pool.
Basically comfortable, the hotel has more than 60 single and double rooms. All rooms overlook the swimming pool and the garden. Hotel offers home-cooked Egyptian buffet.
A nice comfortable hotel with 332 rooms & suites. All the rooms are bungalow style, with satellite TVs, direct dial telephones, mini-fridge, private baths with showers and bath and individually controlled air conditioning. There are also terraces which usually face large garden areas and sometimes unusual for Egypt, non-smoking rooms. Recreational activities include an outdoor swimming pool, four tennis courts with flood-lighting, a jogging track, football pitch, table tennis, bicycles, a billiards room, volleyball courts, gymnastics, massages and felucca sailing. The main restaurant is good for breakfast but the dinner buffet is expensive.
Closed as of May 2026 for a much needed renovation and change of management. Colonial-style hotel with landscaped garden and pool. Built in 1886 during Queen Victoria's reign, this is the place to stay in Luxor. It is very central, well-appointed, and has good service and quite a bit of history. It was on the bulletin board in the lobby that Howard Carter first announced his discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. There is a more modern annex called "the Pavillon" with more rooms than the original hotel. Often block-booked by tour groups, so reserve well ahead or be prepared to be flexible with dates.
The same stuff you can buy everywhere else, but at a fixed price of €2.
The East Bank of Luxor represents the central part of Luxor as a locality, the part of the town that the vast majority of tourists will first arrive in, whether by land, river or air, and where many will find…
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