When to Go
Best Time to Visit
October–April. Cool dry season; May–September is brutally hot (45°C+) and Valley of the Kings becomes unbearable.
Daily Spend in USD
Budget
Budget
$40/day
Mid-range
$110/day
Luxury
$320/day
Nile-cruise packages bundle accommodation and meals; standalone hotels are very affordable.
With Kids
Family Travel
A balloon ride at sunrise (gentle, awe-inspiring), Karnak Temple, a felucca ride on the Nile.
Together
Couples Travel
A Karnak sound-and-light show, a private felucca sunset, a Valley of the Kings dawn visit.
On Your Own
Solo Travel
Group tour booking through your hotel is the easiest entry; hostels limited but the West Bank has guesthouses.
Food
What to Eat
- Koshary. Lentils, rice, pasta, chickpeas, tomato sauce, fried onions — Egypt’s national street dish.
- Ful medames. Stewed fava beans with cumin, olive oil, lemon, tomato — the universal Egyptian breakfast.
- Molokhia. Slimy jute-leaf soup with rabbit or chicken, garlic, coriander — divisive but iconic.
- Hawawshi. Spiced minced beef baked inside flatbread — Egyptian comfort dinner.
Transportation
Getting Around
Caleche (horse carriage) and taxis for short trips; ferries cross the Nile to West Bank; tour bus for Valley of the Kings.
Sleep on the West Bank for fewer touts and a closer start to Valley of the Kings; East Bank is the busy main town.
Where to Base Yourself
Neighborhoods
- East Bank (Luxor town). Main city — Luxor Temple, Karnak, hotels, the corniche promenade.
- West Bank. Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, Colossi of Memnon — quieter accommodation.
- Karnak. Massive temple complex north of town — best at dawn or for the evening sound-and-light show.
What to Know
Safety
Generally safe for tourists; persistent touts and overpriced caleche rides are the main annoyance. Carry small bills for everywhere.