Luxor is one of Egypt‘s most prominent and ancient cities, which is why it attracts a large number of tourists every year. Known by many people as the World’s Most Famous Open-Air Museum, exploring Luxor offers the best experiences into Egypt‘s fascinating ancient history, giving travelers a glimpse into the achievements of one of humanity’s biggest and most culturally advanced civilizations in ancient times.
Located on the Upper Nile, Luxor was once the most prominent cultural hub in ancient times, attracting travelers from as far as Syria and Crete who made their way to trade with Egypt’s superior goods and see how far Egypt’s residents had come in many different ways. Now it’s one of the best sites alongside Aswan to explore and experience Ancient Egypt’s famed culture and architecture, which still mesmerizes people from all over the world to this day.
Alongside its history, Luxor is a great place to travel to with its bustling environment, unique culinary delicacies, and the overall local vibe that’s hard to find elsewhere. For those thinking of traveling to Luxor soon, we’ve made a thorough pre-travel checklist to help you make the best of your time in Luxor. Whether it’s picking out famous culinary delicacies at hidden restaurants, finding out the best tourist attractions tucked away in the city, or figuring out where to stay, exploring Luxor with your travel details planned is a fail-proof way to help you have an unforgettable time in Egypt’s “Gem of the Nile”.
A Complete Pre-Travel Checklist: Everything You Need to Know About Exploring Luxor
Luxor, as a famous travel destination, offers a lot of activities for tourists from all over the world. Whether it’s eating tasty falafels at the Al-Sahaba restaurant or going for a trip to the Valley of the Kings, it’s important to make a thorough and perfect pre-travel checklist that will allow you to spend the best and most luxurious time in Luxor. Here are some necessary steps you should take before traveling to Luxor:
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Research Destinations
The number one thing before planning a trip to Luxor or any trip in general, is to figure out which of the city’s tourist destinations offer the best experiences. Luxor is an ancient city that offers a lot of history-related tourism activities that are appealing to history lovers and normal tourists alike. Some of the top destinations in Luxor are:
Valley of the Kings
One of the most renowned archaeological sites in the whole world, Valley of the Kings offers the best chance to explore the history of Ancient Egypt in LUxor. Situated on the West Bank, the valley contains the intricately decorated tombs of Egyptian pharaohs such as Tutankhamun and Ramses. One of the unique features of the tombs was that they were filled with foods and other everyday stuff at the time, as the pharaohs believed they would need it in the afterlife.
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Valley of The Queens
A more beautiful counterpart to the tombs of the Kings, Valley of the Queens contains the beautifully preserved tombs of the former queens of Ancient Egypt. Excavated in the 1900’s by an Italian archeologist, the interior of the complex is lavishly adorned with wonderful artworks and various hieroglyphs.
Karnak Temple
A political and religious hub of Ancient Egypt, Karnak Temple is one of the largest temple complexes that’s still vastly intact from ancient times. The temple is still fully intact, and visitors can go in and have a look at the magnificent interior of the complex.
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Luxor Museum
Luxor Museum is one of the most highly-visited destinations in Luxor and contains various types of cultural artifacts dating back to thousands of years. The museum contains various sculptures, artifacts, and inscriptions from the New Kingdom era of Egypt. Some of the museum features are the displays of mummies of various important people and the skillfully preserved statue of Tutankhamun.
Medinet Habu
Located on the West Bank of Luxor, Medinet Habu is one of the best archaeological sites one can visit in Luxor. It contains evidence and artifacts depicting the everyday life, and military victories of the Egyptians some millennia ago. The site is also famous for containing the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III, whose military victories can still be found today on the inscriptions found in the temple.
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Look Up Transportation Modes
While exploring Luxor, one of the most important aspects here is looking up and choosing the best transportation choices available. Luxor, being a popular tourist city, offers lots of options for travelers, whether it’s by bus, taxi or rental car. Here are some of the best transportation modes you can choose while traveling in Luxor:
Bus
Traveling in Luxor by bus is normally one of the best experiences you can have in the bustling city. Bus fares in Luxor are not that high such as a bus trip from the city center to Karnak temple can go as high as 0.06 to 0.08 USD and are available nearly at all times.
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Taxi
Taking a taxi offers a more private and relaxing experience than a city bus and is another good option for transportation in Luxor. A taxi ride from the city center to the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank can cost you from $ 3 to $4, saving you from the stress of waiting at a bus stop and ultimately giving you a more private experience.
Private Car
A completely personalized and flexible way of traveling in Luxor is by hiring a rental car. There are a lot of options in Luxor regarding rental cars and are generally between $15 to $25 per day. By taking a rental car, travelers usually have more convenience with their luggage and have more freedom in taking their time to fully explore the tourist attractions in Luxor.
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Choose the Best Accommodation Options
Another important aspect of exploring Luxor is choosing the best accommodation options before deciding to travel there. In a popular tourism destination like Luxor, there are a plethora of options available for accommodation, whether you’re choosing budget options or luxurious ones. Down below are some of the best options you can choose:
Aracan Eatabe Luxor Hotel
Aracan Eatabe Hotel is one of the best budget options you can choose from and offers a ton of amenities such as a sauna, a swimming pool, laundry service, and many more. Moreover, it’s in the middle of the city, giving you good access to all the facilities in the city and allowing you to have a stunning view of the Nile from your room due to its proximity to the river.
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Sonesta St. George Hotel
For those looking for a more luxurious and relaxing experience, the Sonesta Hotel is another good option you can choose for accommodation in Luxor. For $84 a night, you have access to its luxurious hot tub, spa, and fitness center, and the hotel throws in a free breakfast as well. The rooms are comfortable, fitted with air conditioning, and also have a private balcony in some cases, giving you a spectacular view of the city at night from your room.
Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor
If you want a highly luxurious end to the day after spending a day in Luxor, the Sofitel Hotel is the number one option you can choose. The hotel is highly rated and offers all kinds of amenities like free WiFi, complimentary breakfast in the mornings, an outdoor pool, and a hot tub. The hotel is located in the city center, which means you can enjoy the vibrant life in the city that’s not far from your accommodation.
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Explore Different Restaurants and Cuisines
Exploring and eating delicious and fascinating local foods and cuisines is another important perk of traveling. Before traveling to Luxor, it’s necessary to do some research and choose the best restaurants available in the city. Luxor has a wide range of cuisine options, from traditional Egyptian food to European or Indian cuisines, which can make your stay there unforgettable with all kinds of delicacies if you know where to find them. Here are some of the best restaurants offering various cuisines you can choose while staying in Luxor:
Al-Sahaby Restaurant- Egyptian Cusine
One of the city’s most popular places to eat, Al-Sahaby restaurant will make you love Egyptian food more passionately than any other cuisine. The restaurant sells many culinary delicacies, including knafeh, kofta, shish tawook, and the mouthwatering grilled kebab.
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The Lantern Room Restaurant-British Cusine
Situated in the Sonesta Hotel, the Lantern Room offers a delicious fusion of traditional Egyptian cuisine and British. The hotel has a variety of culinary options, from vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. making sure that it caters to serving everyone’s needs.
Jamboree Restaurant-Indian Cusine
For those who love eating spicy food, Jamboree restaurant in Luxor will fulfill all your spicy food dreams with its delicious and diverse options that leave people wanting for more. From delectable biryani to butter chicken, you can sate your spice-craving tastebuds right in the heart of Luxor.
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Explore Luxor With Luxury Facilities for an Unforgettable Travel Experience
Luxor can rightfully be called one of the jewels of the Nile River, considering its wonderful history and relation with the ancient river. Its natural beauty, and vibrant life combined with its wonderful history, and unique architecture all make Luxor one of the best travel destinations in Egypt to visit for a traveler. Whether you’re a history buff, a food lover, or a luxury seeker, Luxor offers a unique and unforgettable experience for all.
So, are you ready to embark on a wonderful journey to the Gem of the Nile, where you’ll find a wonderful history of one of humanity’s greatest civilizations? iLinkTurkey offers a diverse range of guided tour packages for destinations in Egypt. Head over to our packages and select our best-selling Egypt packages now.
