# First time in Luxor Source: https://luxor101.com/plan/first-time-in-luxor Language: en What should I know before my first visit to Luxor? # First time in Luxor Start with the river: Karnak and Luxor Temple are on the east bank; the royal tombs and many funerary temples are on the west. Group visits by bank, start exposed walks early and leave room for a midday break. We suggest three full days for a first visit, though a shorter stay can still be rewarding. Check tickets and opening hours separately, and read a little about each place before you go. A few names and stories will help the stone come alive. ## Before you go Luxor is a living city around an ancient landscape. Karnak, Luxor Temple and Luxor Museum are on the east bank. The Valley of the Kings, Deir el-Bahari, Medinet Habu, Deir el-Medina and the Ramesseum are across the river. Both banks have places to stay; choose your base around the visits and evenings you want. Build the day around the weather and your energy. Early visits are often more comfortable at exposed sites, but an early start does not guarantee an empty temple. Keep a proper break in the middle of a hot day and check that any afternoon destination will still be open. Plan admissions before setting out. Sites and individual tombs may have different tickets, and any pass needs checking for inclusions and exclusions. Official online booking is available for a range of monuments through egymonuments.com. Confirm the date, visitor category and accepted payment method; do not assume a driver or guide has included admission. Three days gives a first visit breathing room. With one day, choose a few priorities and accept that you will leave plenty for another trip. At Karnak, a knowledgeable licensed guide can help connect the different building phases. Elsewhere, reading beforehand may suit you just as well. The city deserves the same attention as the monuments. Ask before photographing people, respect worshippers and private land, and agree prices before accepting a service. You can decline an offer politely without continuing the conversation. Bring water, sun protection and shoes suited to uneven ground. Carry a payment card as well as some cash for everyday expenses, and check arrangements for transport, toilets and any access needs in advance. **This changes.** Prices, hours and access can change. Check the official information for each site before setting out. Our site guides show what has been verified and what still needs checking; a blank field is not confirmation that a service is unavailable. Sources & further reading 2 Tier 1 Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — visitor information: opening times, ticketing and site access Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Egypt) Tier 2 The Illustrated Guide to Luxor: Tombs, Temples and Museums, Kent R. Weeks American University in Cairo Press Source review is incomplete. Consultation dates are shown only for checked references. Related ## Explore the connections 1–1 / 13 [Plan ### How many days do you need in Luxor? How many days should I allow for Luxor? ](https://luxor101.com/plan/how-many-days)[Plan ### East bank or west bank? What is the difference between the two banks, and which one should I do first? ](https://luxor101.com/plan/east-or-west-bank)[Plan ### How tickets work in Luxor Which sites and tombs need separate tickets? ](https://luxor101.com/plan/tickets)[Plan ### When to visit Luxor What is the best time of year to come, and how bad is the summer really? ](https://luxor101.com/plan/when-to-visit)[Plan ### Heat, shade and water How do I plan a Luxor day around the heat without ruining the trip? ](https://luxor101.com/plan/heat-and-water)[Ancient Luxor ### Karnak Temple Complex Two thousand years of building, rebuilding and royal ambition, gathered around the temples of Amun. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak)[Ancient Luxor ### 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)[Ancient Luxor ### Valley of the Kings The royal burial landscape of the New Kingdom: rock-cut tombs tucked into a desert valley, separate from the kings’ major commemorative temples. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/valley-of-the-kings)[Ancient Luxor ### 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)[Journal ### Before You Visit the Valley of the Kings The Valley of the Kings is a royal burial ground with tombs that vary in route and decoration. Learn the difference between a burial chamber and funerary scenes, then choose a few tombs around your interests and access needs. ](https://luxor101.com/journal/before-you-visit-the-valley-of-the-kings)[Journal ### Reading Luxor Across the River The Nile helps you read ancient Thebes: the great temples stand east of the river, while royal cemeteries and commemorative temples spread west. But “east for the living, west for the dead” leaves out the people who lived and worked on the west bank. ](https://luxor101.com/journal/east-bank-or-west-bank)[Journal ### How to Read an Egyptian Temple Start with the route from gateway to court, columned hall and sanctuary. Then read one wall scene by identifying the figures, their actions and the surrounding inscriptions. ](https://luxor101.com/journal/how-to-read-an-egyptian-temple)[Journal ### Choosing Tombs in the Valley of the Kings Choose KV34 for its distinctive Amduat drawings if the demanding route suits you, KV17 for carved funerary scenes, or KV62 for Tutankhamun’s burial setting. Confirm which tombs are open and separately ticketed before choosing. ](https://luxor101.com/journal/which-valley-of-the-kings-tombs)