The name Luxor comes from the Arabic word "al kousour" which translates to "the palaces," referring to the great number of temples and ruins present in the city. Indeed, the city is a concentration of history and monuments dating from Ancient Égypte. Considered a true open-air museum, the ancient capital of the pharaohs is an essential stop on any journey to Égypte. Discover what you need to know before visiting Luxor.

Luxor, the ancient capital of the pharaohs

Located in southern Égypte, 500 km south of Cairo, the city of Luxor is an essential stop on any journey to Égypte. With its sumptuous temples and tombs, its places of worship, its necropolis classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the ancient religious capital of the pharaohs is considered to be "the world's largest open-air museum". Founded over four millennia ago, what was then called Thebes was repeatedly the capital of Égypte. It was even the most venerated city in Égypte.

Nestled between the desert and the banks of the Nile, the city of Luxor is divided into two banks: the east bank to the east of the Nile and the west bank to the west of the Nile. The first represents life. The second represents death in Egyptian mythology. Indeed, it is in the west that the sun sets, which symbolizes, according to Egyptian beliefs, the journey to the afterlife. This is why we find the famous Theban necropolis as well as the mortuary temples representing, for the pharaohs, the departure point to eternity.

Luxor, an open-air museum

As you can see, Luxor is home to some of the most fascinating gems of Ancient Égypte. Among the must-see visits not to miss, we can mention:

• The Karnak complex: this is the largest religious complex of all antiquity. Dedicated to the worship of the gods, this majestic city extends over a 100-hectare plateau. Many pharaohs left their mark by building chapels, pylons and other structures…

• The Luxor Temple: built by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II, the Luxor Temple is worth a visit for its fascinating architecture. It features an incredible army of sphinxes, great statues of Ramesses II and a gigantic obelisk.

• The Luxor Museum: discover all the secrets of the Ancient Empire in this museum where you can admire multiple treasures such as statues, sarcophagi and mummies of ancient pharaohs…

• The Theban necropolis: located on the west bank, the Theban necropolis comprises royal tombs, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the Valley of the Artisans and the Valley of the Nobles as well as mortuary temples. Here you will find the tombs of many illustrious pharaohs of the New Kingdom such as Ramesses II and Ramesses III.

Within the Theban necropolis, do not miss out on the visits to the Deir el-Bahari funerary complex, the Ramesseum, the tomb of Pharaoh Horemheb, the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu or Deir el-Medina (the village of artisans).

Activities to do in Luxor

Beyond visiting the many exceptional sites of the ancient capital of the pharaohs, the city of Luxor is also an opportunity to treat yourself to an extraordinary experience. This includes notably a hot air balloon flight that will allow you to have a fabulous overview of the city's colossal pharaonic monuments and an impressive view of the Nile, its neighboring villages and its sugar cane fields and banana plantations.

You can also consider embarking on the Nile since Luxor is the starting point for many Nile cruises. While most cruises head to the city of Aswan, you can take advantage of an excursion to visit archaeological sites between the two cities such as the temples of Edfu, Kom Ombo, or Philae. If you're interested in the experience, also consider doing it at sunset! In any case, whether on foot, in the air or on water, visiting Luxor's jewels will leave an indelible mark on your memory…