Luxor, Egypt will amaze you with its history! Here’s what I learned, researched, and experienced from my trip.
Why Visit Luxor?
Cairo might get a lot of the buzz because of the pyramids, but Luxor is where you will truly be amazed by the expanse of Egypt’s history. Luxor is much quieter and rural than Cairo, which can be a welcome respite from the bustle.
Quick Tips for Luxor
- Water: Keep to bottled water in Luxor.Currency: Egyptian Pound or LE. As of 2018, $1 USD is about 17 LE.
- Keep small bills around for tips.
- Religion: The majority of Egyptians are Muslim.
- Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the dates vary from year to year. During this time, Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown. Do not visit during this time or you may have trouble finding open restaurants. Also, drinking and eating in public while others are fasting could be seen as disrespectful.
- Women should bring their own sanitary products. Pads are expensive and tampons are hard to find.
- Safety: Trust your instincts and be cautious. See safety tips here.
Weather
Welcome to the desert! Luxor, like most of Egypt, is hot. You’ll find lows in the 30s and highs in the 100s. June,
Getting There
If you fly, you’ll land at Luxor International Airport. It’s a small airport with a few shops.
You could also take Go Bus, an affordable private bus company, or Egyptian Railways.
Getting Around Luxor
There’s no Uber in Luxor, so you’ll need to rely on taxis. You’ll usually find them waiting outside your hotel and at the airport. Make sure they have registration and are clearly marked. Clearly negotiate your price before the taxi starts driving and be wary of re-negotiation during the ride.
What to Wear in Luxor
The attire in Luxor is conservative and it is respectful to follow Egyptian culture while you are there. Visitors will feel more comfortable having covered knees and shoulders. I wore long, light pants with a plain t-shirt every day. Wear comfortable and closed-toe shoes.
Where to Stay in Luxor
I think it is easier to stay on the east bank because it is on the same side as the airport. We stayed at Sonesta St. George. It has three different restaurants and a spa. It wasn’t as nice as I thought it would be but we didn’t have any serious issues.
When looking at hotels, read reviews to check the condition of the room. I also looked at these hotels in Luxor:
- Steinberger Nile Palace
- Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor (this is the most well-known and fanciest hotel in Luxor)
- Cleopatra Hotel
- Nefertiti Hotel
Where to Eat/Drink in Luxor
See this post for the types of food and drink you’ll enjoy in Luxor.
Remember that Egypt is majority Muslim, and pork is rarely eaten and served.
We ate most of our meals at our hotel because of convenience but we did venture out to Luxor’s well-known restaurant Sofra. The food was great and their upstairs patio is a fun atmosphere.
What to Do in Luxor
I detailed out all the sights we saw in Luxor in this post. We did a tour with Emo Tours. I highly recommend you do a guided tour of both the West Bank and East Bank. Egyptologists have an incredible wealth of knowledge about the expansive history of Egypt and it enriched our experience by having a guide.
Conclusion
As you can see from this post, Luxor was a magical city to visit. I wish I could snap my fingers and be back here, discovering something new and being amazed by the deep history. If you get the chance to visit, I recommend it!
For more Egypt posts, see them here! See my full guide to planning your Egypt trip here.
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