Luxor, a city located in the southern region of Upper Egypt has been described as a city which is a living museum, and it is one indeed! It reflects the grandeur of the Ancient Egypt. Luxor stands at the site where once stood the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes and the ruins of some ancient temple complexes are now within the city precincts of this city of around 200,000. Opposite the Nile River on the West Bank lie the monuments spread across the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. It is a very popular tourist destination of the world, and city attract thousands of tourists round the year. From Luxor you may also take cruises in the Nile River, or end your cruises here if you are coming from some other direction.

Tips for: backpackers • business travelers • luxury/exotic travel • hitchhikers • families • seniors • LBG travelers • pet owners

Navigation 1 Hotels and lodging 2 Attractions 3 Shopping 4 How to Shop: Haggling and baksheesh 5 Souvenirs of Luxor 6 Maps and transportation 6.1 Getting to Luxor 6.2 Exploring Luxor 7 Practical information and resources 8 Restaurants 8.1 Text with links to user-reviews on other pages 9 Nightlife 10 Photo gallery 11 Everything else 12 External resources

Hotels and lodgingEdit

Egypt has been a special destination for as long as records have been kept, but this escalated when archaeological fever was fed by the fantastic discovery of the Tomb of King Tutenkhamen in the Vally of the Kings in Luxor. The Winter Palace Hotel was the top hotel in Luxor at that time and still operates today, supplemented a modern wing.

Nile cruises became popular very early, with traditional dahbiyyas being superseded in popularity by the current huge Nile cruisers which have serious environmental and economic implications for the local community.

Self catering accommodation has not traditionally been an option in Luxor, but in recent years, with a flurry of building of dedicated apartment blocks, self-catering apartments are widely available in locations ranging from the utilitarian and noisy downtown setting of Television Street to the peaceful more traditional west bank setting close to the Valley of the Kings.

HOTELS IN LUXOR

• Sonesta Hotel St. George Luxor A luxurious hotel, right on the banks of the Nile River, overlooking Egypt's famous antiquities.

SELF-CATERING APARTMENTS IN LUXOR

• Traditional Egypt, Luxor, Egypt: TraditionalEgypt.co.uk is a directory of private self-catering apartments or other holidayaccommodation in Luxor and other Egyptian destinations.

AttractionsEdit

Luxor, the living museum has many monuments and historical heritage of Ancient Egypt.

Historical monumnets

• Temple of Karnak
• Valley of the Kings
• Luxor Temple
• Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari
• Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari
• Temple of Amun
• Colossi of Memnon
• Temple of Medinat Habu
• Valley of the Artisans (Deir el-Medina)
• Tomb of Queen Nefertari
• Souks (Market)
• Ramesseum (Mortuary Temple of Ramses II)
• Temple of Seti I
• Tomb of King Tutankhamun (Tut)
• Avenue of Sphinxes
• Gurna Village
• Valley of the Nobles
• Tomb of Ramses III
• Tomb of Merenptah
• Corniche
• Tomb of Sennedjem
• Temple of Hathor,
• Obelisk of Thutmoses I
• Abu El-Hagag Mosque
• Tomb of Amonherkhopeshef
• Tomb of Amenophis II

ShoppingEdit

How to Shop: Haggling and baksheesh Edit

Haggling and baksheesh (tipping) are a way of life in Luxor, which can make shopping here both rewarding and infuriating. Luxor has earned the title 'hassle capital of the world', but the Egyptians are generally good natured in their persistence. The haggling can be enjoyable (it certainly is to the locals) but the begging can become irritating. However, 'tipping' is not reserved for tourists - when you understand how 'baksheesh' fits into the culture it makes coping with it easier!

Souvenirs of Luxor Edit

Souvenirs of Luxor include Papyrus, Egyptian cotton and alabaster - but there are other more unusual choices too!

Maps and transportationEdit

Getting to LuxorEdit

Flighrs

Luxor has an international airport named Luxor International Airport (IATA: LXR, ICAO: HELX) and it has flights from many major destinations of the world:

• Air Arabia from Sharjah
• Air Berlin
• AMC Airlines
• Austrian Airlines from Vienna
• Egypt Air from Aswan, Barcelona, Brussels, Cairo, Frankfurt, Hurghada, Jeddah, Kuwait, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rome, Sharm El Sheikh and Vienna
• Hapagfly from Nuremberg and Stuttgart
• Jazeera Airways from Kuwait
• Kuwait Airways from Kuwait
• LTU International from Munich
• Luxor Air from Baku and Istanbul
• Monarch Airlines [London Gatwick]
• Qatar Airways from Doha

Trains

Buses

Local minibuses run through main streets in the city (except the Corniche - the tourist promenade along the Nile) for a flat rate of 25 Piastres. This will take you from centre of Luxor to the Temple of Karnak, some 5kms to the North. Don't be afraid to hail one, ask for directions and jump in. Most locals are friendly.

Boats

The municipal ferry costs foreigners 1£Egyptian for a single Nile crossing. The departure is from the dock opposite Luxor Temple. Not as iconic as Hong Kong's Star Ferry or New York's Stanten Island Ferry, but enjoyable nevertheless for a view of Nile life at sunset.

Exploring LuxorEdit

Practical information and resourcesEdit

• Currency: Egyptian pound (LE) (EGP)
• Time zone: EET (UTC+2) [Summer (DST) - EEST (UTC+3]
• Calling code: +20
• Official language: Arabic and Masri

RestaurantsEdit

Text with links to user-reviews on other pagesEdit

NightlifeEdit

Photo galleryEdit

Add a new photo to the Luxor gallery. Vote on which images to feature in the featured images forum.

Everything elseEdit

Got something to say that doesn't fit in the other sections of this page? Add it here!

External resourcesEdit

Add links to other sites here

• Tips for holidays in Luxor Tips for holidays in Luxor: Travel Essentials, Money in Egypt, Climate, Weather & Time, Visas / Passports, Hassle, Books about Egypt / Luxor
• Sightseeing in Luxor Sightseeing in Luxor: Bazaars, Archaeology, Trips & Activities, Temples, Tombs & Archaeological Treasures, Museums, King Tutenkhamun, Egyptian Evening in Fellah's Tent
• Weather in Luxor Weather in Luxor
• Nile Boat Trips Nile Boat and Felucca Trips and Bird-watching cruises from Luxor
• Luxor Travel - a website that gives detailed information about Luxor
• Luxor Review
• Souvenirs of Luxor Buying Souvenirs in Luxor
• Self Catering Holiday Apartment, Luxor Traditional Egypt: unusual Self Catering Holiday Apartment in Luxor