Location: Luxor
Top Things to do in Luxor
Top 10 Monuments & Statues in Luxor, Nile River Valley
The Luxor in Las Vegas is to the actual CITY of Luxor, Egypt, as marshmallow fluff is to fois gras. (We’re sure you knew that. We just enjoy analogies.) Sure, the hotel/casino in Vegas might have a beam of light visible from space, but we bet you'll find a hot-air balloon ride over the Valley of Kings much more illuminating. (Editor's note: Our list was compiled before political unrest prompted many countries to issue travel warnings for Egypt. If you're currently planning a trip to Egypt, please consider the risks and monitor your government's travel alerts.)
Restaurants in Luxor
1. Botanical Garden of Thutmosis III
2. Tomb of Queen Nefertari
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 333 reviews
Reviewed By Busy_chap - Sydney, Australia
Simply the most beautiful place I have ever been. This tomb has been wonderfully conserved, so the wall paintings are bright and vivid. Its absolutely worth the price of the special ticket to see this wonderful tomb, and the extra trip around to the Valley of the Queens. Photography is strictly forbidden, although one guardian did try to solicit a tip for a sly photo, but it was really worth just focussing on the experience of this wonderful space. A must for any visit to Egypt.
3. Obelisk of Queen Hapshetsut,
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By WImom - Fond du Lac, United States
Would highly recommend this site! Parked in the parking lot but in order to board the included shuttle, you will need to walk through the "Valley of the Vendors." They are relentless in pursuing you, if you show an interest in their goods. There is no charge to take photos with your cell phone or regular cameras. Absolutely, there is no shade. Great to get a photo shot with the temple in the background before you investigate the interior. It is helpful to have a guide to explain things to you. Would recommend about 1.5 to 2 hours here. If you do or don't have a guide, it is helpful to read up on the temple before you arrive. It is an immense temple that rises amid the limestone cliffs, built about 1473-1485 BC.
4. Obelisk of Thutmoses I
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 249 reviews
Reviewed By lovetoootravel
These obelisks were chiseled out of one piece of granite then transported here from a quarry many many Km's away! They are smooth with carvings. Just incredible how the craftsman of the day using what we would call primitive tools could create such a structure.
5. Temple of Mut
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By 97biancaw
I have been to Karnak many times & was excited to go visit the Precinct of Mut. Mut, like Sekhmet is generally depicted with the feline features, yet Sekhmet is generally standing (warrior like), Mut seated (mother aspect - you don't mess with the feline mother). There is only a small fraction of the statues that were originally there, yet you get a sense of the place. Each statue was to the ancient Egyptians a depiction of a different aspect of Mut, so each statue is a different degree of the neter (nature) of Mut. There is so much to see at Karnak, yet somewhere smaller like the Temple of Mut you can take the time to soak up the little details & ponder, if you are that way inclined!
6. Temple of Hatshepsut
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By Addicted-to-trips - Cairo, Egypt
Great spot for those who love history and architecture. A must-see place. Don't forget to wear comfy shoes, sunglasses and your sunblock.
7. Luxor Sound and Light Show
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 696 reviews
The Karnak Sound and Light Show highlights the dramatic history of ancient Thebes. The show narrates the achievements of some great Pharaohs, with poetic descriptions of the ancient treasures. As visitors walk through the complex, the pharaohs arise to tell the story of their interesting lives, as haunting music mysteriously flows through this ancient city. Ancient and poetic voices tell the visitors about the birth of Karnak temple and the heroic achievements of the pharaohs and the god Amun. It is an enchanting and supernatural experience to listen to sound effects and gaze at the magnificent ruins illuminated during the well-presented show.
Reviewed By DEK_29 - Brisbane, Australia
The sound and life show at Karnak temple an inspiring piece of theater that provides information into the building of Karnak temple and what brought about the dedication to the unseen god Amun. It was a clear winter's night which turned out to be the coldest night in Luxor's recorded history. The soundtrack and the visuals to the show were at times difficult to understand. We had to look around a lot to see what was being lit up. The best part of the show was at the end of the program when seated on the stands gazing across the sacred lake. I would suggest that anyone purchase the DVD of the show as it is very well done and has better colors than the actual show, plus it helps to figure out what you may have missed from the show.
8. Luxor Temple
A temple built for the ritual practices exercised at the most important Ancient Egyptian festival, The Festival of Opet.
Reviewed By WImom - Fond du Lac, United States
Luxor Temple is a must see in Luxor. It is best to go early in the morning as the crowds are less and the temperature is not so hot. Best to have a guide to explain things. Spent about 1.5 hours here which was the right amount of time. It is also recommended to view the temple at night from across the street when the temple lights are lit in the evening. Mostly built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279-12-13 BC), it is an ancient monument surrounded by a modern town. Note that in ancient times there were two majestic obelisks standing in front of the temple. Only one remains today while the other is on the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Be aware of scammers outside the temple in the area that pretend to work at one of the cruise ships. They pretend that they are doing an errand for the ship and ask if you want to walk along. Soon, you are riding with them on a horse-drawn carriage (which you are expected to pay later) as well as stopping by several vendors (spice, Papyrus) where they pressure you to buy. They are very smooth operators which can con even the most sophisticated traveler.
9. Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari
A mortuary temple dedicated to the longest ruling female of Ancient Egypt, Queen Hatshepsut. The temple is decorated with statues, sphinxes, and reliefs, which have been meticulously restored over time.
Reviewed By MagpieDR - Luperon, Caribbean
A must see both for its location and size, the guides and locals all laugh about calling it hot chicken soup For me the trick to any temple is avoiding crowds so go early or late in the day.
10. Colossi of Memnon
Two enthroned statues of Amenhotep III, each soaring more than 60 feet into the sky, are the first monuments visitors see on arriving in the West Bank.
Reviewed By DEK_29 - Brisbane, Australia
At the time of my first visit in 2010, the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities had undertaken a dig in the location behind the colossi and had found dozens of statues, including a red granite double statue featuring Amenhotep III with the falcon-headed sun god Re-Horakhti. In fact I saw a documentary last year that showed more than twelve statues some of which were five metres high. Another was in pieces and would be at least as large as the colossi. With this dig going on, access to the back of the colossi is still curtailed. The Colossi of Memnon, sculptured and built for Amenhotep III (known as Amenhotep the Magnificent and father to Akhenaten) are an imposing duo. I'm 1.9 metres tall and these statues are huge compared to me (have a look at the photographs to see the size comparison). Originally set in front of Amenhotep’s vast mortuary temple which was said to be 100 meters wide and 600 meters long. It only takes a short time to photograph these great statues. However while I was there, I pondered on the idea that these remnants of a by-gone era have stood there for four millennia gazing across the fields towards Thebes while the ground level steadily grew. When visiting these silent sentinels, stop, photograph and think, I’m sure Amenhotep would appreciate it. Tip: Watch the 1966 movie Khartoum which has a fantastic opening showing what Egypt was like back in the 1880s and in pharaonic times. It shows the landscape around the colossi flooded as it did every yer during the time of the Pharaohs.
