# Luxor Temple Guide: History, Tickets & What to See Source: https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple Language: en # Luxor Temple معبد الأقصر Here, ancient columns meet the life of the modern city. The temple housed Amun in his form Amenemopet and welcomed the divine procession from Karnak during Opet. Luxor Temple brings divine worship and royal renewal together. During Opet, the images of Amun, Mut and Khonsu travelled from Karnak to visit. The standing buildings also preserve later Roman, Christian and Islamic layers, each with its own history. 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/luxor-temple/visit) In one paragraph You enter through Ramesses II’s pylon (a monumental gateway formed by two massive towers) into his court, then pass into the older building: the great colonnade, Amenhotep III’s sun court, a hypostyle hall (a roofed hall supported by rows of columns), and behind it the smaller, lower, darker rooms of the sanctuary. The temple is about 260 metres long and the whole of it is on one axis except for the bend where the two builds meet. Time needed: 1–1.5 hours · Best time of day: Late in the day, for the low light on the sandstone [How to Read an Egyptian Temple](https://luxor101.com/journal/how-to-read-an-egyptian-temple) **Type**: Temple **Bank**: East bank **Period**: New Kingdom – Roman Period **Principal deity**: Amun **Time needed**: 1–1.5 hours **Best time of day**: Late in the day, for the low light on the sandstone **Heat exposure**: Medium _· Expect exposed sections. Continuous shade or a seated rest area has not been verified; plan a separate break._ **Walking**: Easy _· Check the route from your drop-off point through the courts and back. A visit along the Avenue of Sphinxes adds a separate walking decision; no measured accessible circuit is recorded._ **Guide**: Optional **Ticket**: 500 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 · [Luxor Temple — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/LuxorTemple) **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 — LUXOR TEMPLE · THE PROCESSIONAL AXIS ## One temple. A turn through centuries. Follow the changing axis from the entrance to the inner shrines. A simplified plan, rotated to read across the page; numbered details connect to the guide below. SCHEMATIC PLAN · NOT TO SCALE MAIN TEMPLE AXIS 1\. A doorway that opens into thin air Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [A doorway that opens into thin air](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#lookfor-luxor-temple-mosque-doorway) 2. [Roman paint over Egyptian relief](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#lookfor-luxor-temple-roman-painting) 3. [The front of the temple is not square with the rest of it](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#lookfor-luxor-temple-axis-bend) 4. [The festival, carved along the colonnade](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#lookfor-luxor-temple-opet-procession) The entrance & the bent axis 1\. A doorway that opens into thin air - COURT OF RAMESSES II - GREAT COLONNADE - ENTRANCE Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [A doorway that opens into thin air](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#lookfor-luxor-temple-mosque-doorway) 2. [The front of the temple is not square with the rest of it](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#lookfor-luxor-temple-axis-bend) 3. [The festival, carved along the colonnade](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#lookfor-luxor-temple-opet-procession) The courts & inner temple 2\. Roman paint over Egyptian relief - COURT OF AMENHOTEP III - HYPOSTYLE HALL - INNER SHRINES - ROMAN LAYERS Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [Roman paint over Egyptian relief](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#lookfor-luxor-temple-roman-painting) Text alternative for this figure One temple. A turn through centuries. | Look for this | Where | | --- | --- | | 1. A doorway that opens into thin air | North-east side of the Court of Ramesses II — look up at the mosque of Abu el-Haggag | | 2. Roman paint over Egyptian relief | Beyond Amenhotep III’s hypostyle hall, look for the inner chamber adapted during the Roman period, with remains of painted plaster over earlier Egyptian decoration. | | 3. The front of the temple is not square with the rest of it | Stand just inside the pylon and sight down the length of the temple | | 4. The festival, carved along the colonnade | The side walls of the great colonnade, both sides — the journey out on one, the return on the other | Follow the changing axis from the entrance to the inner shrines. A simplified plan, rotated to read across the page; numbered details connect to the guide below. 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 ### A doorway that opens into thin air [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#site-drawing) North-east side of the Court of Ramesses II — look up at the mosque of Abu el-Haggag An old doorway of the mosque opens out of a blank wall several metres above the paving you are standing on, with nothing beneath it. It was at ground level when it was built, on top of the silt and rubbish that had filled the court. It is the clearest measure anywhere in Luxor of how deeply these buildings were buried before they were dug out. The excavators stopped at the mosque and left the ground under it alone, because it is a working mosque and it has been one for centuries. 2. 2 ### Roman paint over Egyptian relief [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#site-drawing) Beyond Amenhotep III’s hypostyle hall, look for the inner chamber adapted during the Roman period, with remains of painted plaster over earlier Egyptian decoration. In one inner hall the Egyptian wall was plastered over in the Roman period and painted with figures in Roman dress. Where the plaster has fallen away, the pharaonic relief underneath shows through it. Fact — the Roman plaster and painting, and their date. Interpretation — the identification of the room as a chamber of the imperial cult (the worship and rituals devoted to a deity or royal figure). Two religions, two empires and about fifteen hundred years are visible in the same square metre of wall. 3. 3 ### The front of the temple is not square with the rest of it [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#site-drawing) Stand just inside the pylon and sight down the length of the temple Ramesses II’s court and pylon sit at a clear angle to the colonnade behind them. Sight along the columns and the kink is obvious. Interpretation Fact — the change of alignment. Interpretation — that it was made in order to meet the processional route. The older temple faced the river; the newer front was turned to meet the processional road coming down from Karnak. The bend is a building responding to a route, and it is the sort of thing you only notice if someone tells you to look. 4. 4 ### The festival, carved along the colonnade [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple#site-drawing) The side walls of the great colonnade, both sides — the journey out on one, the return on the other A continuous, crowded relief: barges towed along the river, soldiers, musicians, acrobats, offering bearers, cattle, and the shrines of the gods carried shoulder-high on their poles. Seeing the temple with the Opet procession in mind helps connect its courts and colonnade with Karnak. Current visiting hours and evening access still need checking. 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 **Amenhotep III** c.1390–1352 BCE A king whose monumental building programme reshaped Thebes. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/amenhotep-iii) [18th Dynasty **Tutankhamun** c.1336–1327 BCE A short reign, a remarkable burial and an extraordinary legacy for the study of ancient Egypt. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/tutankhamun) [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 **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) 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**: 500 / 250 EGP **Egyptian adult / student**: 40 / 20 EGP 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 · [Luxor Temple — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/LuxorTemple) ### Opening hours & timing **Daily hours**: 06:00–19:00 (last entry), all listed seasons. **Time needed**: 1–1.5 hours **Best time of day**: Late in the day, for the low light on the sandstone ### Heat & shade **Heat exposure**: Medium **Shade**: Low **Walking**: Easy **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 · [Luxor Temple — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/LuxorTemple) ### Getting there In the centre of modern Luxor, on the corniche, a few minutes on foot from the souk and from the ferry landing — which makes it the easiest site in the city to reach without arranging anything. The Avenue of Sphinxes runs north from it to Karnak, 2.7 km away. From the west bank, take the ferry and walk. **Typical taxi fare**: not verified ### Do you need a guide? A guide can connect the temple’s rituals and later layers. For an independent visit, read the overview and choose a few scenes to examine. [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) **Ground surface**: Ancient paving and packed sand, worn and uneven, with raised thresholds between the courts **Stairs**: The ancient floor lies several metres below modern street level, so the approach descends; there are steps and level changes inside the temple as well **Shade**: Expect exposed sections. Continuous shade or a seated rest area has not been verified; plan a separate break. **Sensory conditions**: Daylight and an evening visit give different lighting conditions across the courts and colonnades. Check the current route, lighting and crowding for your planned time. **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**: Check the route from your drop-off point through the courts and back. A visit along the Avenue of Sphinxes adds a separate walking decision; no measured accessible circuit is recorded. **Confirm before visiting:** Step-free entry · Wheelchair route · Seating · Accessible toilet · Vehicle drop-off. 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 complex · East bank ### Karnak Temple Complex Two thousand years of building, rebuilding and royal ambition, gathered around the temples of Amun. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak)[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)[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)[Person ### Amenhotep III A king whose monumental building programme reshaped Thebes. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/amenhotep-iii)[Person ### Tutankhamun A short reign, a remarkable burial and an extraordinary legacy for the study of ancient Egypt. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/tutankhamun)[Person ### Horemheb The general who took the throne and set about deleting the four reigns before him. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/horemheb) Sources & further reading 7 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 [The Epigraphic Survey — the recording of Medinet Habu and Luxor Temple](https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/epigraphic-survey) Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, University of Chicago 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 Thebes in Egypt: A Guide to the Tombs and Temples of Ancient Luxor, Nigel and Helen Strudwick British Museum Press Tier 1 [Luxor Temple — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/LuxorTemple) Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — official ticket service Official page indexed · 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)