The Temple of Isis
Pylons and colonnades lead to the temple of Isis; in the birth room a scene shows Isis nursing her son Horus in the marshes.
Home / Attractions / Philae Temple
Aswan · Agilkia Island, between the two Aswan dams
Philae Temple
The Ptolemaic temple of Isis and the shrines around it, moved from the flooded island of Philae to Agilkia Island in the Nile at Aswan.
About Philae Temple
Philae Temple is the temple of the goddess Isis, mother of Horus, begun by Ptolemy II Philadelphus, with smaller temples, gates and kiosks around it, most of them from the Ptolemaic period. It stands on Agilkia Island in the Nile, between the old Aswan Dam and the High Dam, and is reached by boat.
It was one of the last temples of the old Egyptian religion to stay active, until the Byzantine emperor Justinian I had it closed and turned into a church, and the last dated hieroglyphic inscription was carved here in 394 CE. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, inscribed in 1979.
A short history
- First buildersThe island was sacred to Isis from early times. Its earliest known structures are those of the pharaoh Taharqa (reigned 690–664 BCE); Nectanebo II added the colonnade that still stands.
- The PtolemiesPtolemy II Philadelphus (reigned 285–246 BCE) began the Temple of Isis and Ptolemy III completed it; Ptolemy VI and the emperor Augustus built a temple of Hathor beside it.
- Roman emperorsAugustus and Tiberius added decoration that was never finished, Hadrian (reigned 117–138 CE) added a gate west of the complex, and the Kiosk of Trajan (98–117 CE) still stands without its roof.
- The last templeThe temple stayed open until Justinian I (527–565 CE) closed it and it became a church. The last dated hieroglyphic inscription, carved by the priest Esmet-Akhom, dates to 394 CE.
- The movePartly flooded behind the old Aswan Dam after 1902, the temples reemerged damaged after 1970, once the High Dam was finished. They were rebuilt on nearby Agilkia Island, leveled to look like Philae, and reopened in 1980.
What you'll see
The boat to the island
Philae is reached by motorboat from the marina; on our day tours the boat to the island and back is included.
Philae at night
At the sound and light show you walk among the lit temple columns while the legend of Isis, Osiris and Horus is told with lights and narration.
Opening hours and tickets
Opening hours
| Summer | 7:00 am · last entry 3:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Winter | 7:00 am · last entry 3:00 pm |
| Ramadan | 7:00 am · last entry 3:00 pm |
The Ministry's monuments website gives 7:00 am to 4:00 pm daily.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticketing portal, checked August 2026
Tickets, foreign visitors
| Adult | Student | |
| Philae Temple | EGP 550 | EGP 275 |
| Temple panorama | EGP 200 | EGP 100 |
- 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
Philae stands on an island, so every visit includes a boat ride. On our Aswan day tour you see the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk first, then take the motorboat to Philae; our High Dam and Philae tour leaves out the obelisk. In the evening a separate tour takes you by boat to the sound and light show. Entry and the boat are included on all three.
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 Philae Temple
What to do in Aswan in one day?
Our Aswan day tour covers the Aswan High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple, with the boat to the island included. In the evening you can add the sound and light show at Philae.
How do you get to Philae Temple?
By motorboat: the temple stands on Agilkia Island in the Nile at Aswan. On our tours the boat to the island and back is included.
Why was Philae Temple moved?
Water behind the old Aswan Dam partly flooded the temples after 1902, and when they reemerged after 1970 they were badly damaged. They were rebuilt on higher ground on Agilkia Island and reopened in 1980.
What are the opening hours?
From 7:00 am with last entry at 3:00 pm in every season, per the Ministry's ticketing portal; the Ministry's monuments website gives 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
How much is the ticket to Philae?
EGP 550 for foreign adults and EGP 275 for foreign students, as of August 2026. Children under 6 enter free.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica; UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; World Meteorological Organization.
Day tours
Tours that stop at Philae Temple
Guides
Read before you go
- Philae Temple from Aswan: the boat, the hours and the ticketsThe boat to the island, our Philae tours by day and by night, two sets of official 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.
Abu Simbel from Aswan: what the day looks likeA long road day from Aswan: the drive, the two temples, and the site's hours and tickets.
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.