The Luxor Museum brings together a carefully selected collection of pieces from Thebes and its region, spanning the Old Kingdom to the Late Period. Royal statues, funerary furnishings, military equipment and everyday objects are presented in understated scenography, labeled in English, across three levels.

Why visit Luxor Museum

Unlike the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which accumulates thousands of pieces, the Luxor museum favors an airy presentation of carefully chosen works. This allows you to observe each statue, each relief and each object under lighting and spatial arrangements that highlight the craftsmanship of Theban sculptors.

The collections cover the height of the New Kingdom, the period when Thebes was the political and religious capital of the country and the seat of the cult of Amun-Ra. For those preparing for or extending visits to the grand monumental complexes of the East Bank and West Bank, the museum provides a coherent reading of the historical and artistic context.

History of the museum

The museum project was approved by the Ministry of Culture in 1962 and entrusted to Egyptian architect Mahmud El-Hakim. The land, donated by the Department of Antiquities, is located on the Nile corniche. Construction spanned from 1964 to 1969, followed by the installation of collections from 1972 to 1975. The official opening took place in December 1975.

In December 1991, an extension designed by Italian architects was added to house 17 of the 24 statues unearthed in the courtyard of Luxor Temple during the 1987–1989 restoration work. A final extension opened in May 2004, as part of a national program to modernize Egyptian museums.

What to see at the museum

The Cache Room

To the right of the entrance, a ramp descends to the Cache Room, which houses the royal statues discovered beneath the courtyard of Luxor Temple. Notable pieces include a sphinx bearing the likeness of Tutankhamun, statues of Amenhotep III and Horus enthroned, a sculpted procession of Amenhotep III, and Horemheb kneeling before the god Atum.

The date these works were buried is debated. Some archaeologists place the burial at the beginning of Roman occupation; others attribute it to the period of Assyrian expansion in Égypte, roughly 900 years earlier.

The first level

The ground floor opens with a statue of the adolescent Tutankhamun and the gilded head of the cow goddess Mehit-Weret, mother of the god Ra. Further on, a colossal head of Amenhotep III precedes an elevated platform housing other stone pieces: Sesostris II, the bureaucrat Yamo-Nedjeh, the crocodile god Sobek, and the lioness-headed goddess Sekhmet.

"The Glory of Ancient Thebes"

This section is dedicated to the military arsenal of the New Kingdom. According to ancient sources, Thutmose III allegedly moved up to 20,000 soldiers over 400 km in nine days—a figure that relies more on historical estimation than verified data. The use of draft oxen reportedly allowed Ramesses II to extend his tactical reach to 2,000 km.

Highlights include Tutankhamun's war chariot, a relief showing Amenhotep II at archery, and several royal bows. Additionally on display are a statue of Horemheb with his wife, transferred from Memphis (see also Horemheb's tomb in the Valley of the Kings), an alabaster sculpture of Seti I, and a granite head of Ramesses II. Two mummies are exhibited: that of Ahmosis I, who expelled the Hyksos, and a mummy attributed to Ramesses I, repatriated from a museum in Niagara Falls.

Top floor

The upper level displays boat models from the tombs of Meir, gilded statuettes from Tutankhamun's tomb, and tools belonging to the architects of the village of Deir el-Medina. A series of talatat blocks illustrate the Sed festival of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. A multimedia presentation rounds out the display, covering papyrus-making and hieroglyphics.

Practical information

Allow an average of 1.5 to 2 hours to tour all three levels. Signage is bilingual in Arabic and English, and the building is accessible to people with reduced mobility. A bookstore in the hall offers illustrated guides useful for preparing or enhancing your visit.

Admission fees and hours are regularly updated by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Budget moderately for entry, with reduced rates for students with valid identification. Check current hours before your visit, as they vary by season and may change during Ramadan.

When to visit

The climate in Luxor is dry year-round, with very hot summers (often above 40 °C from June to August) and mild winters. October to April remains the most comfortable period to combine the museum with open-air sites such as Karnak or the Valley of the Kings.

The museum is typically open with a midday break and an afternoon reopening, making it a practical stop during the hottest hours or early evening, when interior lighting enhances the statues.

How to get there

The museum is located on the Nile corniche, downstream from Luxor Temple, a short distance from the ferry landing. From downtown, you can walk along the corniche, take a taxi, or cross the river by ferry from the West Bank and walk to the entrance.

Luxor is served by an international airport about 6 km from the city center, as well as direct trains from Cairo and Aswan. Road connections also link the city to the Sinai Peninsula, notably via Route 75M toward Sharm El Sheikh.

Nearby

The museum is part of a collection of major sites accessible within one to several days:

• Karnak Temple, a few kilometers to the north on the same Nile bank.
• Horemheb's tomb, on the West Bank, in the Valley of the Kings.
• The temples of Aswan, about 220 km to the south, accessible by train or Nile cruise.
• The temples of Abu Simbel, further south, on a day trip from Aswan.

Frequently asked questions

Include the museum in your trip

Luxor Museum fits naturally into an itinerary combining Karnak, the West Bank, and a Nile cruise toward Aswan. To build a custom itinerary with our specialists, explore our trips to Égypte.