# Karnak Temple Complex Guide: History, Tickets & What to See Source: https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak Language: en # Karnak Temple Complex مجمع معابد الكرنك Karnak Temple Complex is a group of temples on Luxor’s east bank, centred on the precinct of Amun-Re. Allow 2–3 hours to follow the main route through its courts, columned halls and shrines. Karnak grew over roughly two thousand years. Its main precinct honours Amun-Re, but the wider complex includes temples to other deities. Look for changes in scale, stonework and royal names: they reveal a place repeatedly adapted rather than built to one finished design. Published sources · confirm changing details before travel **Already at the site?**Keep the visit sequence and details to look for close to hand. [Open the field guide](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak/visit) In one paragraph The main visitor approach runs east from the First Pylon (a monumental gateway formed by two massive towers) through the Great Court and the Great Hypostyle Hall (a roofed hall supported by rows of columns), with its 134 columns, towards the central sanctuary area. Another axis extends south towards the Precinct of Mut. Time needed: 2–3 hours · Best time of day: The first hour after opening [How to Read an Egyptian Temple](https://luxor101.com/journal/how-to-read-an-egyptian-temple) **Type**: Temple complex **Bank**: East bank **Period**: Middle Kingdom – Roman Period **Principal deity**: Amun **Time needed**: 2–3 hours **Best time of day**: The first hour after opening **Heat exposure**: High _· Expect exposed sections. Continuous shade or a seated rest area has not been verified; plan a separate break._ **Walking**: Moderate _· Ask for the distance from arrival through the courts to the Hypostyle Hall, and separately for an extension to the Festival Hall or lake. Include the return; no measured accessible circuit is recorded._ **Guide**: Recommended **Ticket**: 600 EGP · foreign adult, per person **Photography**: The official ticket page lists mobile-phone photography as free. Confirm room-specific restrictions and rules for other equipment at the site.Online sources checked 2026-09-19 · [Karnak — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/KarnakTemple) [Karnak — Ministry monument record](https://egymonuments.gov.eg/archaeological-sites/karnak/) **Current access**: Current access not verified Dashed boxes mark information we have not verified. Check essential prices, hours and access arrangements with the official venue before travelling. FIG. 1 — PRECINCT OF AMUN-RE ## Walk east through layers of building. Numbered markers are the details in “Look for this”, below. Simplified: the precinct holds several dozen more structures than are drawn here. SCHEMATIC PLAN · NOT TO SCALE MAIN TEMPLE AXIS 1\. The First Pylon was never finished Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [The First Pylon was never finished](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#lookfor-karnak-first-pylon-unfinished) 2. [The hall is carved two different ways](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#lookfor-karnak-hypostyle-relief-change) 3. [An obelisk that was walled in rather than pulled down](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#lookfor-karnak-hatshepsut-obelisk) 4. [A room full of plants](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#lookfor-karnak-festival-hall-botanical) The entrance & the great hall 1\. The First Pylon was never finished - QUAY - RAM SPHINXES - GREAT COURT - GREAT HYPOSTYLE HALL · 134 COLUMNS Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [The First Pylon was never finished](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#lookfor-karnak-first-pylon-unfinished) 2. [The hall is carved two different ways](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#lookfor-karnak-hypostyle-relief-change) Into the inner temple 3\. An obelisk that was walled in rather than pulled down - PYLONS IV–VI - OBELISKS - SANCTUARY - FESTIVAL HALL OF THUTMOSE III Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [An obelisk that was walled in rather than pulled down](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#lookfor-karnak-hatshepsut-obelisk) 2. [A room full of plants](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#lookfor-karnak-festival-hall-botanical) South of the main axis - TEMPLE OF KHONSU - PYLONS VII–X - SACRED LAKE - TO THE PRECINCT OF MUT Text alternative for this figure Simplified plan of the Precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak, entered from the west. Along the main west–east axis: quay, avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, First Pylon, Great Court, Second Pylon, Great Hypostyle Hall, Third Pylon, obelisks, Fourth to Sixth Pylons, sanctuary and the Festival Hall of Thutmose III. The Sacred Lake lies to the south, and a second axis runs south through Pylons Seven to Ten towards the Precinct of Mut. | Look for this | Where | | --- | --- | | 1. The First Pylon was never finished | Inner face of the pylon, as you enter the Great Court | | 2. The hall is carved two different ways | Great Hypostyle Hall — compare the north wall with the south | | 3. An obelisk that was walled in rather than pulled down | Between Pylons IV and V — the standing obelisk of Hatshepsut | | 4. A room full of plants | Festival Hall of Thutmose III — the small chamber off the north-east corner | Numbered markers are the details in “Look for this”, below. Simplified: the precinct holds several dozen more structures than are drawn here. Look for this ## Details worth stopping for. Numbers match the plan above. Each entry says where it is, what you will actually see, and how confident anyone can be about what it means. 1. 1 ### The First Pylon was never finished [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#site-drawing) Inner face of the pylon, as you enter the Great Court Look back at the gateway once you are through it. The top courses are ragged, the blocks are undressed, and against the inner face there is a great bank of mud brick — the remains of the construction ramp they were still using when the work stopped. Fact — the pylon is unfinished and the mud-brick ramp survives against it. Uncertain — which ruler began it. The mud-brick ramp beside the unfinished First Pylon preserves evidence of how builders raised stonework. View it from the permitted route; it is part of the archaeology, not a visitor path. 2. 2 ### The hall is carved two different ways [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#site-drawing) Great Hypostyle Hall — compare the north wall with the south Compare raised relief, where figures stand above the background, with sunk relief, cut into the stone. Seti I’s decoration and Ramesses II’s work provide examples of both techniques; some of Ramesses II’s reliefs were recut from raised to sunk. The different techniques and recut surfaces help distinguish phases of decoration. They do not, by themselves, establish a ruler’s motive for changing the work. 3. 3 ### An obelisk that was walled in rather than pulled down [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#site-drawing) Between Pylons IV and V — the standing obelisk of Hatshepsut Look for Hatshepsut’s standing obelisk and the surviving upper section of another near the Sacred Lake. Their inscriptions connect these monuments with her kingship and her dedication to Amun. Fact — the enclosure. Interpretation — why the obelisk was hidden rather than destroyed. The surrounding masonry concealed part of the obelisk while leaving it standing. The reason for doing this, and what it reveals about Hatshepsut’s successor, remain disputed. 4. 4 ### A room full of plants [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak#site-drawing) Festival Hall of Thutmose III — the small chamber off the north-east corner The chamber reliefs show plants and birds, with unfamiliar forms mixed among recognisable ones. They are often called the botanical reliefs of Thutmose III. Fact — the reliefs. Interpretation — that they record real foreign species brought back from campaign. Compare the shapes and the care given to individual plants and birds. Scholars debate how closely these images record foreign species and how they served the king’s religious programme. Look closely, photograph only where permitted, and keep hands and bags clear of ancient surfaces. Follow barriers and conservation instructions. FIG. 2 — Who added what ## Who built and changed this place? Explore the rulers connected with this site and the work they left here. [18th Dynasty **Thutmose III** c.1479–1425 BCE Seventeen campaigns, and an empire that outlasted him by two hundred years. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/thutmose-iii) [18th Dynasty **Hatshepsut** c.1473–1458 BCE A king who was a woman, and whose name was later cut out of her own walls. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/hatshepsut) [18th Dynasty **Amenhotep III** c.1390–1352 BCE A king whose monumental building programme reshaped Thebes. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/amenhotep-iii) [18th Dynasty **Akhenaten** c.1352–1336 BCE The king who shut the temples — and whose own buildings were used as rubble. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/akhenaten) [18th Dynasty **Horemheb** c.1323–1295 BCE The general who took the throne and set about deleting the four reigns before him. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/horemheb) [19th Dynasty **Seti I** c.1294–1279 BCE A ruler whose finely worked reliefs reward a close look at Egyptian carving. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/seti-i) [19th Dynasty **Ramesses II** c.1279–1213 BCE Sixty-six years on the throne, and his name cut into everything within reach. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/ramesses-ii) [20th Dynasty **Ramesses III** c.1184–1153 BCE The king behind Medinet Habu, whose reign left records of both military ambition and economic strain. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/ramesses-iii) The rulers appear in chronological order. Select a name to explore their reign and the monuments connected with it. How to visit ## Plan your visit. ### Tickets Published prices in Egyptian pounds per person. Online sources checked 2026-09-19. **Foreign adult / student**: 600 / 300 EGP **Egyptian adult / student**: 40 / 20 EGP The published Karnak admission includes the Open Air Museum. The Mut precinct is listed separately. Recheck the official seller for your visit date, concession eligibility and any additional charges. A listed ticket does not establish which interiors are open today. Online sources checked 2026-09-19 · [Karnak — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/KarnakTemple) [Karnak — Ministry monument record](https://egymonuments.gov.eg/archaeological-sites/karnak/) ### Opening hours & timing **Daily hours**: 06:00–16:00 (last entry), all listed seasons. The Ministry lists closing at 17:00. **Time needed**: 2–3 hours **Best time of day**: The first hour after opening ### Heat & shade **Heat exposure**: High **Shade**: Low **Walking**: Moderate **Water on site**: not verified Expect exposed sections. Continuous shade or a seated rest area has not been verified; plan a separate break. ### Photography **Photography**: The official ticket page lists mobile-phone photography as free. Confirm room-specific restrictions and rules for other equipment at the site.Online sources checked 2026-09-19 · [Karnak — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/KarnakTemple) [Karnak — Ministry monument record](https://egymonuments.gov.eg/archaeological-sites/karnak/) ### Getting there Karnak lies north of central Luxor on the east bank. Confirm the current entrance and drop-off with your driver. Walking from Luxor Temple is optional and depends on access, heat and your energy; check crossings separately if you are staying west of the river. **Typical taxi fare**: not verified ### Do you need a guide? A licensed tourist guide with strong Egyptological knowledge can help connect Karnak’s building phases. Independent visits work too: choose a few landmarks and read the short history before exploring. [Choosing a guide in Luxor](https://luxor101.com/plan/do-you-need-a-guide) Access ## Check the access details you need. Access depends on the whole route: surfaces, thresholds, distance, shade and facilities. We describe these separately, but have not completed an on-site access audit. Confirm the details you need before visiting. [How we assess accessibility](https://luxor101.com/plan/accessibility) **Step-free entry**: Not verified. Check a continuous route from arrival to the areas you wish to visit. **Ground surface**: Uneven — worn paving, sand, raised thresholds between courts **Stairs**: Level changes and thresholds require checking on the actual route; a stair-free main axis is not verified. **Seating**: Designated seating has not been verified. Do not sit or lean on ancient masonry. **Shade**: Expect exposed sections. Continuous shade or a seated rest area has not been verified; plan a separate break. **Vehicle drop-off**: Current drop-off and any internal transport are unverified. Confirm the location and distance to the entrance before arranging your ride. **Sensory conditions**: Compare exposed courts with the roofed or partly roofed halls. Ask about lighting and crowding on your chosen route; current sensory conditions are unverified. **Claustrophobia**: Much of the visit is outdoors, with some enclosed or roofed areas. Check the chosen route if confined spaces are difficult for you. **Distance on foot**: Ask for the distance from arrival through the courts to the Hypostyle Hall, and separately for an extension to the Festival Hall or lake. Include the return; no measured accessible circuit is recorded. **Confirm before visiting:** Wheelchair route · Accessible toilet. Our access descriptions are planning guidance, not an on-site audit. Confirm the route and facilities you need before visiting. Photographs alone cannot establish accessibility. After the reading ## Would a licensed guide help your visit? We do not arrange guides or take booking fees. Our guide explains where local knowledge and historical context can add to a visit, and what to ask before hiring someone. [Do you need a guide in Luxor?](https://luxor101.com/plan/do-you-need-a-guide) Continue reading ## Explore the connections 1–1 / 8 [Temple · East bank ### Luxor Temple A temple of Amun in the heart of today’s city, shaped by royal ritual and the annual Opet festival. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple)[Museum · East bank ### Luxor Museum A museum that brings objects from ancient Thebes into focus, from royal sculpture to reconstructed temple reliefs. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-museum)[Temple · West bank ### Temple of Hatshepsut Terraces set straight into the cliff at Deir el-Bahari — and a reign that was later chiselled off its own walls. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/temple-of-hatshepsut)[Temple · West bank ### Medinet Habu Colour survives here wherever the roof did — on a temple built by a king fighting to hold Egypt together. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/medinet-habu)[God ### Amun The hidden god of Thebes, who became king of the gods and the state god of an empire. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/gods/amun)[God ### Mut Amun’s consort and the mother of the Theban triad — a queen among goddesses. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/gods/mut)[God ### Khonsu The moon god, and the child of the Theban triad. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/gods/khonsu)[God ### Ptah The craftsman god of Memphis, who made the world by thinking it and saying it. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/gods/ptah) Sources & further reading 10 Tier 1 Digital Karnak — Akhmenu (Festival Hall of Thutmose III) Digital Karnak, University of California Tier 1 Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — monument and site records Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Egypt) Tier 1 [Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis — World Heritage List inscription and documentation](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/87/) UNESCO World Heritage Centre Online source checked 2026-09-19 Tier 1 [Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project — epigraphic survey of the hall of Seti I and Ramesses II](https://classic.memphis.edu/hypostyle/tour_hall/interior_scenes.php) University of Memphis Online source checked 2026-09-19 Tier 1 [Survey, excavation and restoration in the temples of Karnak](https://www.cfeetk.cnrs.fr/accueil/programmes-scientifiques/projet-karnak/) Centre franco-égyptien d’étude des temples de Karnak (CFEETK) Official page indexed · checked 2026-09-19 Tier 2 The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, Richard H. Wilkinson Thames & Hudson Tier 2 The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw Oxford University Press Tier 2 The Illustrated Guide to Luxor: Tombs, Temples and Museums, Kent R. Weeks American University in Cairo Press Tier 1 [Karnak — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/KarnakTemple) Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — official ticket service Official page indexed · checked 2026-09-19 Tier 1 [Karnak — Ministry monument record](https://egymonuments.gov.eg/archaeological-sites/karnak/) Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Online source checked 2026-09-19 Source review is incomplete. Consultation dates are shown only for checked references. These references provide the historical background for the page. [Sources and review status](mailto:corrections@egyptmore.com?subject=Luxor101%20correction)