Hotels near Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple stands directly on the East Bank corniche, anchoring the southern end of the restored 2.7 km Avenue of Sphinxes that connects it to Karnak. Amenhotep III began the temple around 1390 BCE; Ramses II added the great pylon, the obelisk (its twin now stands at Place de la Concorde in Paris) and the colossal seated statues at the entrance. A Roman legionary chapel and a 13th-century mosque (Abu al-Haggag) sit within the complex, layering 3,500 years of religious use into one site. Visit after 6 PM in summer when floodlights bring out the carving and the temperature drops 10 C. Tickets cost 600 EGP; open 6 AM to 9 PM (10 PM April to October). Allow 90 minutes.

Pro Tip: Combine an evening Luxor Temple visit with dinner at one of the corniche rooftops afterwards - the temple stays lit until 10 PM and most rooftops face the river.