The pylon and obelisk
Ramses II's pylon carries festival scenes and episodes from his wars; in front of it stand his colossal statues and the obelisk that stayed in Luxor.
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Luxor · East Bank of the Nile, central Luxor
Luxor Temple
The temple of Amun, Mut and Khons in the center of Luxor, begun by Amenhotep III and completed by Tutankhamun, Horemheb and Ramses II.
About Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple stands in the center of modern Luxor, close to the Nile and parallel with the bank. Commissioned by Amenhotep III of the late 18th dynasty, it was dedicated to Amun, his consort Mut and their son Khons; the ancient Egyptians called it Ipet-resyt, the "Southern Sanctuary."
Unlike most Egyptian temples it faces Karnak, about three kilometers to the north, and it was the main stage of the Opet Festival, when the images of Amun, Mut and Khonsu were carried from Karnak to visit it. The site stayed in use: a Roman fort, Coptic churches, and in the Fatimid period a mosque built over a church in the court of Ramses II. UNESCO inscribed it as part of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis in 1979.
A short history
- HatshepsutThe oldest surviving structure on the site is a shrine built by Hatshepsut (c. 1473–1458 BCE).
- Amenhotep IIIReigned 1390–53 BCE. He built the core of the temple, its peristyle court and the Great Colonnade: 14 columns, 52 feet (16 meters) high, with papyrus-umbel capitals.
- Tutankhamun and HoremhebThey completed the temple and decorated the colonnade with scenes of the Opet Festival.
- Ramses IIReigned 1279–13 BCE. He added the outer court with colossal statues of himself, the great pylon with scenes of his wars, and a pair of obelisks 25 meters high; one still stands, the other has been in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since 1836.
- Romans to FatimidsIn the late third century AD the Romans built a fort around the temple and painted a hall with Emperor Diocletian and his co-rulers. Coptic churches followed, and in the Fatimid period (909–1171) a mosque to Sheikh Yusuf al-Haggag was built over the church in the court.
What you'll see
The colonnade and the mosque
Amenhotep III's colonnade of 14 columns leads to his peristyle court, ringed on three sides by a double row of papyrus-cluster columns; above the court of Ramses II rises the minaret of the Abu al-Haggag mosque.
Ramses II's statues
Colossal statues of Ramses II stand at the entrance and between the columns of his court. With last entry at 7:00 pm, the temple can be visited after dark.
Opening hours and tickets
Opening hours
| Summer | 6:00 am · last entry 7:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Winter | 6:00 am · last entry 7:00 pm |
| Ramadan | 6:00 am · last entry 7:00 pm |
The Ministry's monuments website gives 6:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticketing portal, checked August 2026
Tickets, foreign visitors
| Adult | Student | |
| Luxor Temple | EGP 500 | EGP 250 |
- 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
| Back to your Luxor hotel | 1.7 km · about 3 min |
|---|
Without traffic, from our tours' map routing
On our tours Luxor Temple follows Karnak, 3.2 km and about 4 minutes away, and entry is included. It is part of our Luxor East Bank and full-day tours, and of day trips from Aswan, from Marsa Alam by road and from Sharm El Sheikh by plane (flights not included).
Before you go
What to wear and bring
- Modest clothing
- Comfortable shoes for stone paving
- Sun protection and a hat
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 Luxor Temple
Who built Luxor Temple?
Amenhotep III, who reigned 1390–53 BCE, commissioned it. Tutankhamun and Horemheb completed it, Ramses II added the outer court, pylon and obelisks, and smaller additions came in Ptolemaic times.
Where is the other Luxor Temple obelisk?
In the Place de la Concorde in Paris, where it has stood since 1836. Its twin still stands in front of the pylon.
What was the Opet Festival?
A religious festival in which the images of Amun, Mut and Khonsu were carried in procession from Karnak to Luxor Temple. Reliefs in the great colonnade show the preparations for the procession of the sacred boats.
Is Luxor Temple open in the evening?
Yes. Per the Ministry's ticketing portal it opens at 6:00 am with last entry at 7:00 pm; the Ministry's monuments website gives 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
How much is the Luxor Temple ticket?
EGP 500 for foreign adults and EGP 250 for foreign students, as of August 2026. Children under 6 enter free.
How far is Luxor Temple from Karnak?
About 3.2 km, around 4 minutes by car without traffic. An avenue of sphinxes about 2,700 meters long once linked the two temples.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; World Meteorological Organization.
Guides
Read before you go
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.
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 trips by plane: how a one-day flight tour worksThe airport, the drives at each end, the day on the ground, and the flights that are not in the tour price.