Why visit
Luxor is ancient Thebes. Karnak's temple complex, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, and a Nile bank where you can hot-air balloon at dawn.
Egypt at a glance
Country center
27.0°, 30.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
1,002,450 km²
387,048 mi²
Country population
114.5 million
114/km²
Subregion
Northern Africa
Currency
Egyptian pound (£)
EGP
Dial
+20
Language
Arabic
Demonym
Egyptian
Internet
.eg
UN
Member state
ISO code
EG / EGY
Where in the world
27.0° · 30.0°
Egypt
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Did you know
- Modern Luxor sits on the site of ancient Thebes, capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom.
- The Valley of the Kings contains 63 royal tombs, including Tutankhamun's, which was found almost intact in 1922.
- Karnak Temple's Great Hypostyle Hall has 134 columns, each up to 21 m tall, and is the largest religious building ever constructed by area.
- The Giza Pyramid was the tallest human-made structure on earth for ~3,800 years, until the Lincoln Cathedral was finished in 1311.
- Cleopatra lived closer in time to the moon landing (1969) than to the building of the Great Pyramid.
Bordering Egypt
Traveler notes
- Balloon over West Bank at sunrise
- Karnak + Luxor temples east bank
- Fly or overnight train from Cairo
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Luxor
What currency is used in Luxor?
Luxor uses the Egyptian pound (£), ISO code EGP.
What languages are spoken in Egypt?
The primary language is Arabic.
What is the international calling code for Egypt?
The calling code is +20.
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