Edfu's pylons
Two massive pylons carved with Ptolemy XII defeating his enemies; two large granite statues of Horus as a falcon stand before them.
Home / Attractions / Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples
Aswan · Nile Valley between Aswan and Luxor
The Temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo
Two Ptolemaic temples on the Nile north of Aswan: Edfu, the temple of Horus, and Kom Ombo, the double temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder.
About Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples
Edfu and Kom Ombo are two temples of the Ptolemaic period on the Nile between Aswan and Luxor, visited together in one day. Edfu, on the west bank, is the temple of the falcon god Horus and one of the most complete temples of ancient Egypt; its simple plan along one main axis is the classic example of an Egyptian temple.
Kom Ombo, on a bend of the Nile, is a double temple of the crocodile god Sobek and of Horus the Elder (Haroeris). Because it serves two gods, two parallel passages run through its halls to two sanctuaries, one for each.
A short history
- EdfuBuilt from 237 BCE, under Ptolemy III, and completed in 57 BCE, 180 years later, on the site of an earlier temple of the 18th dynasty.
- Edfu rediscoveredSettlement debris buried the temple for millennia, which kept its walls in good condition; the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette uncovered and restored parts of it in 1860.
- Kom OmboAn earlier temple stood here in the New Kingdom. The present one dates from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods: its earliest royal name is that of Ptolemy VI Philometor (180–145 BCE), and most of its decoration was completed under Ptolemy XII (80–51 BCE).
- OmbosThe ancient town prospered under the Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 BCE) as the capital of its own province. Its name joins the Arabic kum, mound, to Ombo, from the ancient Egyptian Nubt, read as the golden city.
What you'll see
Edfu's court and halls
Past the pylons, a court lined with columns with floral capitals leads to two hypostyle halls, one showing Horus's journey in a sacred boat with Hathor, then to the sanctuary.
Kom Ombo's double temple
Two parallel passages run through the columned halls to two sanctuaries: Sobek's on the south side, on the right, and Horus the Elder's on the north side, on the left.
Kom Ombo's walls
The river has eroded parts of the pylon and court; the walls that stand carry calendars of festivals and their rituals.
Opening hours and tickets
Opening hours
| Edfu, all seasons | 7:00 am · last entry 4:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Kom Ombo, all seasons | 7:00 am · last entry 8:00 pm |
The Ministry's monuments website gives Edfu 6:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday and Wednesday and 7:00 am to 5:00 pm on other days, and Kom Ombo 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticketing portal, checked August 2026
Tickets, foreign visitors
| Adult | Student | |
| Edfu Temple | EGP 550 | EGP 275 |
| Kom Ombo Temple | EGP 450 | EGP 225 |
- 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 Aswan hotels to Edfu | 109.2 km · about 80 min |
|---|---|
| From Luxor hotels to Edfu | 111.8 km · about 84 min |
Without traffic, from our tours' map routing
From Aswan our tour drives to Edfu first, then 68.1 km, about 52 minutes, south to Kom Ombo, and 45.4 km, about 36 minutes, back to your hotel. From Luxor the tour also visits Edfu, then Kom Ombo, with lunch at a local restaurant, before the 173.3 km drive back. Entry to both temples is included.
Before you go
What to wear and bring
- Modest clothing
- Comfortable shoes for sand and stone
- Sun protection and a hat
Photos
- Photos with a mobile phone are free of charge
- Ask before photographing people
- Drones need Ministry of Defence permission
Average daily high in Aswan (°C)
The coolest months are December to February.
World Meteorological Organization climate normals (monthly averages, not forecasts)
Questions about Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples
How far are Edfu and Kom Ombo from Aswan?
From Aswan hotels to Edfu is 109.2 km, about 80 minutes without traffic; Kom Ombo is 45.4 km, about 36 minutes, from Aswan.
Can you visit Edfu and Kom Ombo from Luxor?
Yes. Our Luxor tour drives 111.8 km, about 84 minutes, to Edfu, then 68.1 km to Kom Ombo, and 173.3 km back to Luxor, with lunch included.
Who is Kom Ombo Temple dedicated to?
To two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris (Horus the Elder), the falcon god, each with his own sanctuary.
How old is Edfu Temple?
Building began in 237 BCE under Ptolemy III and was completed in 57 BCE, 180 years later.
What are the opening hours?
Edfu opens at 7:00 am with last entry at 4:00 pm, and Kom Ombo at 7:00 am with last entry at 8:00 pm, per the Ministry's ticketing portal.
How much are the tickets?
EGP 550 at Edfu and EGP 450 at Kom Ombo for foreign adults; EGP 275 and EGP 225 for foreign students, as of August 2026.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; World Meteorological Organization.
Day tours
Tours that stop at Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples
From other cities
Guides
Read before you go
Edfu and Kom Ombo from Aswan: the temples on the road northEdfu first, Kom Ombo on the way back: the drives, the two temples, their hours and the tickets.
Day tours from a Nile cruise boat in Luxor and AswanWhich Luxor and Aswan day tours pick you up from a Nile cruise boat, and how to fit one in.
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.
Planning several day tours in one Egypt tripPlan by base, avoid repeated stops, and mix long drives with short days.