Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple
Walk the colonnaded courts Ramesses II built on Luxor's East Bank, then watch them glow gold after sunset — tickets and small-group tours from vetted local operators.
Typical visit
1.5–2 hours
Best time to visit
Sunset into evening (floodlit after dark)
Location
East Bank, central Luxor
Built by
Amenhotep III (c. 1400 BCE), extended by Ramesses II
Dedicated to
Amun, Mut & Khonsu (the Theban Triad)
Pairs well with
Karnak Temple, via the Avenue of Sphinxes

Luxor Temple rises directly from the east bank of the Nile in the heart of modern Luxor, built primarily by Pharaoh Amenhotep III around 1400 BCE and later extended by Ramesses II, who added the great pylon, the twin seated colossi at the entrance, and a pink granite obelisk — its twin has stood in Paris's Place de la Concorde since 1836. Unlike most Egyptian temples, Luxor wasn't a stand-alone shrine to a single god; it was built for the annual Opet Festival, when statues of the Theban triad Amun, Mut, and Khonsu were carried 2.7 km up the Avenue of Sphinxes from Karnak to be reunited here in a ritual renewing the pharaoh's divine power.

What sets Luxor Temple apart on a repeat visit is its layered history: a Roman legionary shrine still visible in the inner sanctuary, faded Coptic Christian frescoes under later plaster, and the 13th-century Abu Haggag Mosque, still active today, built directly onto part of the original temple platform. It's a rare working example of one faith's site of worship sitting on top of another's, unbroken across centuries. The temple is also one of the few major sites in Egypt open well after dark, when floodlighting turns its sandstone columns amber and the daytime crowds thin out considerably.

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Admission

Entry tickets are sold separately from guided tours — compare options below, from skip-the-queue entry only to small-group tours with an Egyptologist guide included.

Tours & Activities

These tours go beyond a straight ticket: several combine Luxor Temple with nearby sites or add context most solo visitors miss, like the temple's Roman-era shrine and the mosque built into its walls.

Plan your visit

  • Visit twice if your schedule allows: once by day to read the wall reliefs clearly, and once after dark when floodlighting makes the colonnades and colossi far more dramatic — most photos you've seen of Luxor Temple were taken at night.
  • Look for the Abu Haggag Mosque built into the temple's northeast corner — it's still active, so time your visit around prayer calls if you want to see it undisturbed.
  • The Avenue of Sphinxes connecting Luxor Temple to Karnak fully reopened to the public in 2021; walking or taking a horse-drawn caleche along it gives a much better sense of the temple's original scale than viewing it in isolation.
  • Tripods require a separate permit purchased on-site — worth knowing if you're planning long-exposure night shots.
  • Unlike Karnak, Luxor Temple sits inside the modern town, so it's walkable from most East Bank hotels — save the taxi or caleche for the trip out to Karnak instead.
  • Keep small bills in Egyptian pounds handy for the bag scan and for any informal on-site guides — agree on a rate before accepting help.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there a mosque inside an ancient Egyptian temple?

The Abu Haggag Mosque was built in the 13th century directly onto part of the temple's original stone platform, which by then was buried under centuries of Nile silt and town growth. Archaeologists deliberately left it in place during excavation, so it still functions as a working mosque today — one of the clearest examples in Egypt of a site used continuously across faiths.

Can I walk from Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple along the Avenue of Sphinxes?

Yes. The 2.7 km avenue reopened fully in 2021 after decades of excavation and is walkable end to end in roughly 30–40 minutes, or you can cover it by horse-drawn caleche.

Is Luxor Temple worth visiting at night?

Most photographers and repeat visitors say the evening visit is the better one. The temple stays open into the night, its floodlighting is considered some of the best in Egypt, and crowds are noticeably thinner than during the morning rush.

How is Luxor Temple different from Karnak Temple?

Luxor Temple is smaller, sits within the town center, and was purpose-built for the Opet Festival procession. Karnak is a much larger complex built up over roughly 2,000 years. Most visitors pair the two on the same day.

Do tours of Luxor Temple include the entry ticket?

It varies by operator — some guided tours bundle the entrance fee into the price, others meet you inside after you've bought your own ticket. Check each tour's inclusions before booking.

How much time should I plan for the visit?

Around 90 minutes covers the main axis and colossi at a comfortable pace. Add 30–45 minutes if you're returning after dark or joining a guided tour that includes the mosque and inner sanctuary.

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