Luxor Temple 🇪🇬

Located on the east bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt, Luxor Temple offers you an unforgettable journey through ancient Egyptian royal history. Constructed around 1400 BCE from Gebel el-Silsila Nubian sandstone, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was known in ancient times as ipet resyt, or "the southern sanctuary." Unlike other Theban complexes, this temple was dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship and the cult of the Royal Ka.

As you explore, you will walk in the footsteps of legendary rulers, from Amenhotep III and Tutankhamun to Ramesses II and Alexander the Great, who claimed his coronation occurred here. You can marvel at the entrance's clever optical illusionism, where obelisks of unequal heights were arranged to look visually symmetrical.

Beyond its ancient pharaonic roots, you will discover layers of history spanning over 3,400 years of continuous worship, including Roman fortress structures, a chapel turned church, and the active Abu Haggag Mosque standing directly on ancient temple columns. You can also view the 2.7-kilometer Avenue of Sphinxes that connected this site to Karnak Temple during major celebrations like the annual Opet Festival.

What to see at Luxor Temple

• Entrance obelisks engineered with visual illusions to appear equal in height
• Colossal seated Ka-statues of Ramesses II standing before the entrance
• The 2.7-kilometer Avenue of Sphinxes lined with human-headed statues
• Chapels constructed by Amenhotep III and Alexander the Great
• The active Abu Haggag Mosque built directly upon ancient temple columns

Visiting tips

Observe the entrance obelisks carefully to see how ancient architects used clever spatial positioning to create the illusion of equal height against the wall.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Luxor Temple is easy to reach on Luxor’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Thebes and Karnak Temple Complex. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Luxor travel guide.