The entrance to the Luxor Temple is lined with huge statues of Ramses II and lines of tall columns.

6 Must-See Temples In Luxor (A Local’s Guide)

Luxor is home to the most incredible temples of Ancient Egypt – from mortuary temples to monuments to the sun god.

It’s a bucket list destination for lovers of Ancient Egypt and anyone who spent their childhood watching National Geographic.

You could easily spend a lifetime exploring Luxor (and many Egyptologists have).

The enormous tall columns line the hypostyle hall inside Karnak Temple in Luxor. Dee stands at the base of the columns with her tour guide holding a camera.
My tour guide and I during a full-day tour of Karnak Temple.

But Luxor can also be overwhelming. It’s packed with temples, tombs and historical sites.

And it’s hard to know where to start.

Visitors often complain of getting “templed out” because there’s so much to see.

I’m a travel planner living for over a decade in Egypt and I’ve visited Luxor numerous times. I’ve explored the city’s iconic temples and treasures off the beaten path.

And this is my ultimate guide to all the must-see temples in Luxor – including my insider tips and hidden gems!

Must-see temples in Luxor:

1. Karnak Temple

Enormous columns filled with hieroglyphs line the hypostyle hall inside Karnak Temple in Luxor.

Karnak is the undisputed masterpiece of Ancient Egypt.

It was built by a whopping 30 pharaohs over 1,500 years – and it’s simply mind-blowing.

Karnak Temple is like a giant game of architectural Tetris where each pharaoh added their own showstopper to outshine their predecessor.

It’s a treasure trove of history with a towering hypostyle hall that feels like walking through a forest of brightly colored columns. And it’s the world’s second-biggest temple (after Angkor Wat).

An obelisk rises up against a blue sky with a square dark entrance in the foreground at the Karnak Temple in Luxor.

Insider’s tip: To avoid temple overload, grab a cold hibiscus tea at the cafes alongside the sacred lake and explore the temple in sections.

Don’t miss the famous obelisk erected by female pharaoh Hatshepsut, and an avenue lined with sphinx statues that leads straight to Luxor Temple.

If you’re visiting in the summer, go early to avoid the heat. Karnak opens at 6 am and the cooler air is so worth that early wake-up call.

There’s also an atmospheric Sound & Light show that’s a bit dated but still an unforgettable experience.

Dee walks in the courtyard of Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo wearing a scarf, sweater and skirt. The courtyard has white marble floors and white columns.

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2. Luxor Temple

An enormous statue of Ramses II at the Luxor Temple in Egypt lit up at night in golden light.

Luxor Temple isn’t your typical tribute to Ancient Egyptian gods.

This temple was the hub of ancient Egyptian royalty. And it was the spot where pharaohs got crowned and celebrated rollicking festivals.

Luxor Temple is all about the pharaohs themselves. Think giant statues and towering gateways all built to glorify the rulers.

Enormous tall columns lit up in the evening at the Luxor Temple in Egypt.

Insider’s tip: Luxor Temple is open until 10 pm so it’s a great to visit just before sunset and catch the temple illuminated at night.

Luxor Temple was built around 1400 BCE and it’s been a place of continuous worship for over 4,000 years.

That’s because it was used by both Christians and later Muslims who built a mosque in the 13th century right inside the temple (you can still visit it today).

3. Hatshepsut Temple

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Columns run a straight line at the Hatshepsut Temple in Luxor, Egypt.

Hatshepsut wasn’t your average ruler. This powerful female pharaoh carved her own stunning temple right against the cliffs of Thebes.

The Temple of Hatshepsut is an architectural masterpiece dedicated to both her reign and the sun god Amun.

Picture this: colonnades with beautiful carvings, statues of Hatshepsut herself and an altar dedicated to the sun god Ra.

There are even reliefs showing off Hatshepsut’s accomplishments like her adventure to the mysterious land of Punt where she gathered exotic treasures.

A row of identical enormous statues of Hatshepsut at her temple in Luxor.

Insider’s tip: Skip the long (and dull) walk up the hill and hop into one of the long golf carts that do the rounds between the entrance and the temple.

Some of the temple was defaced by Hatshepsut’s bitter stepson, who wanted to erase her from history. But the temple has stood the test of centuries.

Hatshepsut Temple has clean lines and symmetrical columns that look almost modern. It’s striking to see such craftsmanship right inside the rugged cliffs of the West Bank.

4. Temple of Amenhotep III

Two enormous statues known as the Colossi of Memnon stand at the entrance of the temple of Amenhotep in Luxor. There are hills behind them and a palm tree in the foreground. Two people look at a sign in front of the statues.

Everyone flocks to see the giant Colossi of Memnon statues. But those statues are only the beginning.

The two enormous colossi actually guard the entrance to the Temple of Amenhotep III, which was once the biggest funerary complex in Thebes.

Much of the temple is now gone because of Nile flooding and earthquakes. But you’ll still spot some incredible remnants.

And you’ll see some Egyptology in action because there are often excavations going on in the area.

Statues stand in the grass with hills behind them at the temple of amenhotep III in luxor, just beyond the Colossi of Memnon.
(@chrisnaunton)

Insider’s tip: you can’t walk past the Colossi, but keep an eye out as you drive past the temple on the way to the Valley of the Kings. You’ll likely see archaeologists digging, and they’re constantly finding new treasures.

Egyptologists have unearthed hundreds of statues here including jackals and sphinx crocodiles used in ancient ceremonies.

5. Ramesseum

The enormous colossus at the ramasseum in luxor lays on the ground next to an upstanding statue.
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Ramses II was an Ancient Egyptian building machine (see Abu Simbel and Karnak). And his mortuary temple the Ramesseum is a monument to his own greatness.

The Ramesseum is covered with reliefs of the pharaoh’s greatest moments from conquering the Hittites at Kadesh (or at least according to him) to raiding what was likely Jerusalem.

Insider’s tip: The Ramesseum is off the beaten path compared to other Luxor temples. If you’re an Ancient Egypt buff (or just need a break from the tourist crowds) then it’s definitely worth a visit.

A fallen head of a statue of Ramses II lays on the ground alongside a row of standing statues at the Ramasseum in Luxor.

The Ramesseum is also a reminder that even the greatest empires eventually crumble.

The Ramesseum once had a colossal statue of Ramses himself called the Ozymandias that rivaled the Colossi of Memnon. Now it’s just a pile of rocks in the sand.

And it’s a real-life example of “how the mighty have fallen.” This fallen statue inspired the despairing poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

6. Temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu

The temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu in Luxor is shown from above during a hot air balloon ride.
(@creating.travel)

This mortuary temple of Ramses III is a giant tribute to the New Kingdom pharaoh’s greatest triumphs.

The Temple of Ramses III is a gem off the beaten path. It gets fewer crowds than superstars like Karnak or Hatshepsut. But it’s still very impressive with colorful, well-preserved reliefs and majestic columns.

A gateway at the Medinet Habu temple in Luxor shows colorful reliefs in oranges and blues.
(@centerofegyptology)

The temple is best known for the fascinating reliefs that depict the epic Battle of the Delta, where Ramses III crushed mysterious invaders called the “Sea Peoples.”

Historians think these warriors might have come from modern-day Turkey or Greece.

Beyond Luxor: a list of Ancient Egyptian temples

The enormous temple at Abu Simbel with statues of Ramses II at the entrance in Egypt.

Egypt has lots of ancient temples all across the country from Luxor to Aswan and all along the Nile.

Read 14 Incredible Ancient Egyptian Temples To Visit for a full list.

An ultimate Nile Cruise guide

A cruise boat on the Nile River in Egypt speeds off into a golden sunset.

A Nile cruise is the best way to see Ancient Egypt’s most iconic temples.

It’s also the easiest way to navigate from one temple to the next. And you’ll get some gorgeous Nile River scenery inbetween.

Read An Ultimate Nile Cruise Guide (And 8 Essential Tips!) for all my insider advice to plan your trip.

BOOK YOUR TRIP:

The enormous tall columns line the hypostyle hall inside Karnak Temple in Luxor. Dee stands at the base of the columns with her tour guide holding a camera.

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