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ancient corridor and columns of Karnak temple complex in Luxor city Egpyt during sunrise

© Theerawat Kaiphanlert / Getty Images

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Overview

Luxor is often called the world’s greatest open-air museum, but that comes nowhere near describing this extraordinary place. Nothing in the world compares to the scale and grandeur of the monuments that have survived from ancient Thebes.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Decorated columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall in the Amun Temple enclosure in Karnak, Egypt; Shutterstock ID 2287618019; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI 2287618019

    Amun Temple Enclosure

    Luxor

    Amun-Ra was the local god of Karnak (Luxor) and during the New Kingdom, when the princes of Thebes ruled Egypt, he became the preeminent state god, with a…

  • Medinet Habu temple.

    Medinat Habu

    Luxor

    Ramses III’s magnificent memorial temple of Medinat Habu, fronted by sleepy Kom Lolah village and backed by the Theban mountains, is one of the west bank…

  • The Luxor Museum.

    Luxor Museum

    Luxor

    This wonderful museum has a well-chosen and brilliantly displayed and explained collection of antiquities dating from the end of the Old Kingdom right…

  • LUXOR, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 5 2016 - Unique shot of the Ramesses VI tomb in Valley of the Kings. Obtaining permission for taking images there is painstaking but worth it.; Shutterstock ID 467883095; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Southern Egypt temples article africa, ancient, archaeology, architecture, art, burial, culture, editorial, egypt, egyptian, faraon, great, heritage, hieroglyph, history, interior, kings, luxor, monument, of, pharaoh, ramesses, ramses, stairway, the, tomb, tourist, travel, valley, vi, walkway

    Valley of the Kings

    Luxor

    The west bank of Luxor had been the site of royal burials since around 2100 BC, but it was the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period (1550–1069 BC) who chose…

  • Ramesses VI tomb in Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt.

    Tomb of Ramses VI (KV 9)

    Luxor

    With some of the broadest corridors, longest shafts (117m) and greatest variety of decoration, KV 9 is one of the most spectacular tombs in the valley…

  • Ram-headed sphinxes ,Karnak Temple, Luxor, Egypt. 179121524 old, ram, sky, amun, tomb, rock, amon, wall, blue, path, stone, ruins, egypt, sheep, luxor, place, cairo, nobody, karnak, travel, thebes, statue, yellow, africa, famous, temple, sphinx, museum, culture, history, african, tourism, antique, ancient, sunlight, alphabet, landmark, corridor, entrance, building, egyptian, outdoors, religion, monument, sandstone, archeology, horizontal, destinations, civilization, architecture

    Karnak

    Luxor

    Karnak is an extraordinary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks dedicated to the Theban triad but also to the greater glory of pharaohs…

  • Statues of Amenemopet, the Chief Steward of Amun, and his wife in his tomb, Valley of Nobles in Thebes, Luxor, Egypt.

    Tombs of the Nobles

    Luxor

    These tombs are some of the best least-visited attractions on the west bank. Nestled in the foothills opposite the Ramesseum are more than 400 tombs…

  • Reliefs showing the mistress of the house and the chantress of Amun at the tomb of Sennefer in Luxor, Egypt.

    Tombs of Sennofer & Rekhmire

    Luxor

    The most interesting parts of the tomb of Sennofer, overseer of the Garden of Amun under Amenhotep II, are to be found deep underground, in the main…

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