Luxor (ancient Thebes) is considered the world's largest open-air museum, containing nearly a third of the world's antiquities. The city is geographically and historically divided by the Nile River into two banks: the East Bank (the city of the living) and the West Bank (the city of the dead).
Major Tourist Attractions
East Bank: The heart of the modern city and home to some of the most important ancient places of worship.
Karnak Temple Complex: The largest temple complex ever built, famous for its Great Hypostyle Hall with 134 colossal columns.
Luxor Temple: Located in the heart of the city, renowned for its captivating beauty, especially when illuminated at night.
Avenue of Sphinxes: A 2.7 km long historical promenade connecting the Luxor and Karnak temples, lined with sphinx statues on both sides.
Luxor Museum: Displays a curated collection of artifacts and royal mummies in a stunning, modern arrangement.
West Bank: Home to the royal tombs and funerary temples nestled behind the rocky mountains. Valley of the Kings: Contains more than 60 tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs, the most famous being that of Tutankhamun.
Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahari): A unique temple carved into the heart of the mountain, built by the architect Senenmut for Queen Hatshepsut.
Colossi of Memnon: Two colossal statues, each 18 meters tall, that are all that remain of a massive mortuary temple for King Amenhotep III.
Medine Habu: The temple of King Ramses III, renowned for the exquisite detail of its reliefs, which still retain their vibrant colors.