Temple of Karnak, Luxor
Temple of Karnak
Temple of Karnak
5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
126 within 5 kms

Luxor Café
4
0.3 kmBar • Cafe • Fast food • Pub

Bayt Ward Restaurant & Cafe
8
0.6 km₹₹₹₹ • Mediterranean • Grill • Eastern European

Gerda's Garden
289
1.2 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • German • European • Middle Eastern

YuShanFang Royal Chinese Restaurant
6
0.7 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Chinese • International • Asian

Corniche Restaurant
43
0.9 km₹₹₹₹ • French • European

Abu Gad Restaurant
8
0.9 kmFast food • Mediterranean • Barbecue • Street Food

El Hussein Restaurant
197
1 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Middle Eastern • Egyptian • Vegetarian Friendly

Bonjour Cafe & Restaurant
3
1.1 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹

Le Bougainvillier restaurant
3
1 kmInternational
El Sabaa Restaurant
4
1 km
Attractions
53 within 10 kms

Karnak Open Air Museum
335
31 mHistory Museums

Obelisk of Thutmoses I
255
0.1 kmMonuments & Statues

Obelisk of Queen Hapshetsut,
16
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

ACE - Animal Care in Egypt
394
1.9 kmVisitor Centres • Educational sites

Luxor Museum
1,540
1.8 kmHistory Museums

Luxor Temple
4,410
2.8 kmAncient Ruins • Religious Sites

Luxor Sound and Light Show
709
1.4 kmMonuments & Statues

Avenue of Sphinxes
1,190
2.6 kmAncient Ruins • Historic Walking Areas

Tomb of Ramses VI
518
Ancient Ruins

Valley of the Kings
6,502
Ancient Ruins • Cemeteries
Contribute
Popular mentions
5.0
7,553 reviews
Excellent
6,443
Very good
969
Average
112
Poor
19
Terrible
10
Smitty09876
Carmel, IN633 contributions
Apr 2022
The Temple of Karnak is beautiful and a bit overwhelming. The entire area is quite large and given the typical temperature from April to Sept/Oct, most likely not all seen in one tour outing. But you must have a tour guide, a good one, to help you understand the meaning of Karnak. The structure is over one thousand years old and it includes the largest religious building ever built. As per the accepted mythology, this huge building, the Temple of Amun-Ra, is where god lived on earth with his wife, Mut, and his son Khonsu.
To the untrained eye, it is hard to imagine what this complex looked like when it was built a thousand years ago...the effects of flooding, the rising water table, and the obvious chemical degradation had quite an effect on what still stands and how it looks.
But this is not to be missed, MUST be seen. Take a hat, plenty of water, maybe an umbrella for the sun and a great pair of walking shoes.
To the untrained eye, it is hard to imagine what this complex looked like when it was built a thousand years ago...the effects of flooding, the rising water table, and the obvious chemical degradation had quite an effect on what still stands and how it looks.
But this is not to be missed, MUST be seen. Take a hat, plenty of water, maybe an umbrella for the sun and a great pair of walking shoes.
Written 20 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Poojapau
Leicester, UK104 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
Came here for 9am in May and absolutely loved it. The place itself is huge, so much to see and many photos options. You need a tour guide to visit or a good book to read from with a map to explain it all.
There are many people working in the grounds that can show you the quieter rooms, but they will require some tips.
There is a shop near the sacred lake where you can sit down and get a cold drink. It is recommended to visit early before the large groups arrive.
This is one of the places you can have your luxor pass made. It's a small room in the entrance lobby with a small sign above it. The guy in there doesn't speak much English and tried to do anything to make some extra cash in the side in tips. Not a great experience and he's very slow also which meant we were sat in that room for an hour before getting out.
There are many people working in the grounds that can show you the quieter rooms, but they will require some tips.
There is a shop near the sacred lake where you can sit down and get a cold drink. It is recommended to visit early before the large groups arrive.
This is one of the places you can have your luxor pass made. It's a small room in the entrance lobby with a small sign above it. The guy in there doesn't speak much English and tried to do anything to make some extra cash in the side in tips. Not a great experience and he's very slow also which meant we were sat in that room for an hour before getting out.
Written 19 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Tigertribal
Craigavon, UK964 contributions
May 2022
This massive complex houses a number of large temples & the Sacred Lake. Beside the Lake is the largest stone Scarab beetle found in Egypt?
Recently restored 1.5-mile-long Avenue of the Sphinxes (Nov 2021) connecting Luxor & Karnack Temples. A boat shrine is located in the avenue.
Café & toilets on site.
Recently restored 1.5-mile-long Avenue of the Sphinxes (Nov 2021) connecting Luxor & Karnack Temples. A boat shrine is located in the avenue.
Café & toilets on site.
Written 12 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Tinnesz
Jacksonville, FL192 contributions
Apr 2022
I have dreamed of visiting Karnak since I was a child watching the James Bond movie set in Egypt. I've watched documentaries and always thought Karnak was magical. Visiting Karnak was even better than expected. We went the first week of Ramadan so there were no Muslim tourists, and we visited early morning so the busloads of tourists hadn't arrived. It was virtually empty. What a treat! Walking among the columns all by myself fired my imagination. Loved the avenue of Sphinxes coming to Karnak, loved the rows of Rams. So many photo ops too many to list here. Pictures don't do it justice.
Written 25 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Peter Koch
Renens, Switzerland2 contributions
Apr 2022
Impressing architecture for ancient ages. Huge pillars in hight and diameter and very nicely ciseled big and small statues.
Written 21 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Musicians Mum
175 contributions
Apr 2022
Visited as part of a small group tour from UK.
Huge columns,many which have stood up even through earthquakes!
The temple complex is just a part of the whole Karnak site,each Pharoah built a new part.
There is still renovation,excavation
This is easy to access from Luxor and so I would rate this higher on the enjoyable scale as I did not have to get up in the middle of the night and travel a 7 hour round trip to see it!
Huge columns,many which have stood up even through earthquakes!
The temple complex is just a part of the whole Karnak site,each Pharoah built a new part.
There is still renovation,excavation
This is easy to access from Luxor and so I would rate this higher on the enjoyable scale as I did not have to get up in the middle of the night and travel a 7 hour round trip to see it!
Written 18 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Adrian W
Cambridgeshire, UK137 contributions
Apr 2022
Both Karnak and Luxor temples are well worth a visit, make sure you have a guide to explain the details and the history. I was there when it was around 100 degrees so very hot, make sure you take water etc
Written 18 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Pedro Pereira
Orlando, FL57 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
Karnak is a VERY big temple and totally worth the trip. If you ever come to Luxor is a must but honestly it’s worth coming just for it. Amazing visit.
Written 16 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
KingBrooklynTaylor
Washington DC, DC4 contributions
Mar 2022
. The Temple of Karnak is a BEAUTIFUL testament to the artistry, dedication, and brilliance of the Ancient Egyptian people. The sheer enormity and craftsmanship of the statues, obelisks, pillars, and walls... outstanding. That so much of it is preserved to this day is miraclous, especially despite the efforts of invaders who attempted to erase, alter or destroy so much evidence of Egyptian history. I'd like to thank our guide, Ocean of Emo Tours. He really gave great overview on everything within the temple grounds
Written 14 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Sally J
Martinsburg, WV410 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
We spent only a couple of hours here; not enough time to really explore this massive complex. It goes on and on, as many pharaohs wanted to leave their marks here by building and adding on to the temples.
It was wonderful to see some of the restoration work being done on this remarkable site.
It’s not to be missed; I want to come back soon.
It was wonderful to see some of the restoration work being done on this remarkable site.
It’s not to be missed; I want to come back soon.
Written 11 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Bonjour je voudrais savoir sur les bateaux croisière à t il de la wifi ou internet
Can someone give advice when Egypt museums, tombs, temples, are open and closed? Are things generally open on Saturday, Sunday? I don't want to schedule my trip to Lux over the weekend if there is a day I can't seen anything...thanks!
Barbara A
Goa, India413 contributions
They are open everyday. The hours vary for in season. We never purchased anything in advance but we went in January.
gezgin41
Darica, Turkey3 contributions
Arkadaşlar hayatımda ilk defa y. Dışına çıkıcam ve mısırı seçtim. Tek başıma gitcem baştan sona anlatacak birisi varsa çok ama Çoook sevinirim. Numaranız varsa ararım. 05539727859
_Marina_Sh_496
Penza, Russia188 contributions
Это стоит посмотреть
Iryna P
1 contribution
Здравствуйте
2 взрослых и 2 детей екскурсия приватная на завтра четверг в Луксор.
Сможете организовать?
Наш отель находиться в Сафаге
_Marina_Sh_496
Penza, Russia188 contributions
Здравствуйте!
Я живу в России. Но могу дать телефон хозяина экскурсионного бюро в Хургаде. Думаю, он вам поможет.
+201277288408 Мухамед
Michelle R
Belfast, UK1 contribution
What clothes are appropriate to wear at the temple
jackiemighall
Derby, UK3 contributions
Cover yourself up as the men are very insolent and eye you up and down.
Eagles egypt tours
retiredandtraveling5
New Paltz, NY474 contributions
Not sure what the question is, but I would recommend a tour to all the sights you want to know details about!
Destination721117
Austria2 contributions
How safe is it to travel from Hurghada to Luxor. It's a 3h busride and we all hear what happens to tourists and their busses in Cairo :/
Josiane C
8 contributions
Je pense qu'il n'y a pas de souci. Ai fait ce voyage d'Assouan à about simbel mais il faut faire partie du convoi.dons accompagné de militaires. Bon voyage. luxor et temple karnak magnifiques.
EmmyLouLou
Boston, MA45 contributions
When you visited Karnak for the winter solstice, did you have to purchase tickets in advance for the event?
retiredandtraveling5
New Paltz, NY474 contributions
I always feel better to know I have tickets. Not sure if it is a necessity.
Vorrei sapere se si puo venire se ce pericolo grazie
Romualdo M
Lazio, Italy1 contribution
Carissimo, troppe cose negative si dicono dell'Egitto; trattasi di Paese straordinario, carico di storia e di cultura. Tuttavia -se non vai per il mare- non andare impreparato! La gente é gentile e cortese, basta trattarla con rispetto ed educazione. Se vai, non mancare Alessandria!
nicolasl934
12 contributions
Hi guys, I'm planning to visit Karnak in the early morning in October, but I'm confused about the winter opening hour, so can anybody share the actual opening hour of Karnak in late October, thanks a lot
Chunwei W
Taiwan383 contributions
summer 6:00-17:30
winter 7:00-16:30
Frequently Asked Questions about Temple of Karnak
- We recommend booking Temple of Karnak tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2,377 Temple of Karnak tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Temple of Karnak:
- (1.27 km) Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
- (0.54 km) Karnak Hotel Luxor
- (2.33 km) Venus Hotel
- (0.60 km) Karnak Hotel
- (2.38 km) Nefertiti Hotel
- Restaurants near Temple of Karnak:
- (0.31 km) Luxor Café
- (1.18 km) Gerda's Garden
- (0.56 km) Bayt Ward Restaurant & Cafe
- (2.39 km) Al-Sahaby Lane Restaurant
- (2.03 km) Oasis Palace
- Attractions near Temple of Karnak:
- (0.03 km) Karnak Open Air Museum
- (0.06 km) Karnak Temple
- (0.12 km) Obelisk of Thutmoses I
- (0.14 km) Obelisk of Queen Hapshetsut,
- (0.14 km) Opet Travel