Dendera: Hathor's columns
The temple front has six massive columns topped with the head of Hathor, framed by sistrums, the rattles of her cult. The ceiling is carved with astronomical scenes.
Home / Attractions / Dendera and Abydos
Luxor · Nile Valley north of Luxor
The Temples of Dendera and Abydos
Two temples on the Nile north of Luxor: Hathor's at Dendera, one of the best preserved in Egypt, and the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, the sacred city of Osiris.
About Dendera and Abydos
Dendera, on the west bank of the Nile in Qena governorate, was the main cult center of Hathor, goddess of the sky, music, joy and motherhood. Her sandstone temple, one of the best preserved in Egypt, dates from the Ptolemaic Period (305–30 BCE) and was completed by the Roman emperor Tiberius (14–37 CE).
Abydos, in the low desert west of the Nile near Al-Balyana, was a burial ground of Egypt's earliest kings and later the center of the cult of Osiris, where Egyptians wished to be buried near his tomb. Its Temple of Seti I, begun by Seti I and completed by his son Ramses II, is known for its seven sanctuaries, its finely carved reliefs and the Abydos King List.
A short history
- Egypt's earliest kingsUmm al-Qa'ab at Abydos was the royal cemetery of the 1st and 2nd dynasties, about 2925 to 2650 BCE; digs since the late 1970s found even older royal tombs.
- City of OsirisIn the 5th dynasty (c. 2465–2325 BCE) the cult of the local jackal god was absorbed by that of Osiris, and Abydos became a place of pilgrimage. Thousands of stelae set up by Egyptians who wished to be near his tomb have been found.
- Seti I and Ramses IISeti I (1294–1279 BCE) built his temple at Abydos, and his son Ramses II completed it; Ramses II also built his own temple to Osiris to the north, now much ruined.
- Dendera's templeThe present temple was built in the Ptolemaic Period and completed under Tiberius, on the site of older buildings that go back to the Old Kingdom.
What you'll see
Dendera: ceiling and roof
On the roof are chapels to Osiris; a zodiac and sundial found in one of them are now in Paris. Behind the temple stands a small temple of Isis, with a sacred lake to the north and two birth houses and a Christian church east of the lake.
Abydos: the Temple of Seti I
Two broad hypostyle halls lead to seven sanctuaries, for the king and the principal gods of Egypt. In a long gallery, Seti and his son Ramses make offerings to the names of 76 earlier kings, starting with Menes: the Abydos King List.
Abydos: reliefs and the Osireion
The reliefs, some still painted, show Seti I making offerings to Osiris and the gods. Only 26 feet (8 meters) behind the temple lies the Osireion, an underground hall with 10 monolithic pillars, thought to be Seti's cenotaph.
Opening hours and tickets
Opening hours
| Dendera: summer, winter and Ramadan | 7:00 am · last entry 4:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Abydos: summer and winter | 7:00 am · last entry 4:00 pm |
| Abydos: Ramadan | 9:00 am · last entry 3:00 pm |
For Dendera, the Ministry's monuments website gives 7:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticketing portal, checked August 2026
Tickets, foreign visitors
| Adult | Student | |
| Temple of Hathor, Dendera | EGP 300 | EGP 150 |
| Temple of Seti I, Abydos | EGP 260 | EGP 130 |
- Children under 6 enter free
- Students: valid ID, age 24 or under
Prices in Egyptian pounds, as of August 2026
Getting there and how the visit runs
Drive to the site
| From your Luxor hotel to Abydos | 171.2 km · about 2 h 13 min |
|---|---|
| From Dendera back to your Luxor hotel | 74.1 km · about 58 min |
Without traffic, from our tours' map routing
Our tour from Luxor drives north to Abydos first, then 108.5 km, about 89 min, back south to Dendera, and returns to your hotel. Entrance fees to both temples and lunch at a local restaurant are included.
Before you go
What to wear and bring
- Modest clothing
- Sun protection for a long day outdoors
Photos
- Photos with a mobile phone are free of charge
- Ask before photographing people
Average daily high in Luxor (°C)
The coolest months are December to February.
World Meteorological Organization climate normals (monthly averages, not forecasts)
Questions about Dendera and Abydos
How far are Dendera and Abydos from Luxor?
On our tour Abydos is 171.2 km from your Luxor hotel, about 2 h 13 min without traffic, and Dendera is 74.1 km, about 58 min, from the hotel on the way back.
What is the Abydos King List?
A relief in the Temple of Seti I showing Seti and his son Ramses making offerings to the names of 76 earlier kings, beginning with Menes.
Who was the Temple of Dendera built for?
For Hathor, goddess of the sky, music, joy and motherhood; Dendera was her main cult center. The present temple dates from the Ptolemaic Period and was completed under the Roman emperor Tiberius.
Where is the Dendera zodiac?
In Paris. The zodiac and a sundial were found in one of the chapels on the temple roof.
How much are the tickets?
Dendera costs EGP 300 for foreign adults and EGP 150 for students; Abydos costs EGP 260 and EGP 130, as of August 2026. On our tour the entrance fees are included.
What are the opening hours?
Both open at 7:00 am with last entry at 4:00 pm; in Ramadan, Abydos opens at 9:00 am with last entry at 3:00 pm, per the Ministry's ticketing portal.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; World Meteorological Organization.
Day tours
Tours that stop at Dendera and Abydos
Guides
Read before you go
Dendera and Abydos from Luxor: is the long day worth it?Three long drives, two temples and lunch: what the day holds and when it beats staying in Luxor.
West Bank or East Bank: how to split a Luxor dayWhich sites sit on each bank of the Nile, and how our Luxor day tours divide them.
Egypt day tours by city: what you can do from each baseWhat you can do from each of our 8 bases, from the Giza pyramids to the Red Sea reefs.
What is included in an Egypt day tour, and what is notPickup, car, guide, tickets, lunch, tips and flights: what our day tours include and leave out.