Cost per day · Egypt
Luxor on $25, $70 or $300 a day
How much does Luxor cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $25 a day, mid-range trips run around $70, and luxury starts near $300 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Luxor the 10th cheapest of 100 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 100 ranked.
Ancient Thebes holds a third of the world's great monuments in one place: Karnak's forest of columns and Luxor Temple on the east bank, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's terraced temple and the Colossi of Memnon on the west. Dawn balloons rise over the tombs, and Nile cruises leave from the waterfront for Aswan.
Luxor's rooms and food are cheap; the monuments are the cost, and they are worth it. Guesthouses on the west bank, the public ferry and koshary from a street counter keep a day well under budget.
🗺️ What to Do
Skip-the-line entry to the temple in the heart of town, best lit at night
Get tickets on Tiqets →Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple with a guide
Get tickets on Tiqets →Drift over the tombs and temples of the west bank at sunrise
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
West-bank hotel with a rooftop terrace and pool facing the river
Check prices on Klook →Friendly family-run hotel with a rooftop terrace, a few minutes from Luxor Temple
Mud-brick guesthouse on the west bank by Medinet Habu
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: East bank temples ~$30
Day 2: West bank ~$45
Day 3: Tombs of the nobles ~$35
Stay on the west bank for cheap guesthouses near the tombs and cross by the public ferry for pennies. The Valley of the Kings ticket covers three tombs; Tutankhamun's and Seti I's cost extra. Go at opening to beat heat and coaches.
Mid-range buys a Nile-view hotel, an Egyptologist guide for both banks, a balloon flight at dawn and a felucca at sunset.
🗺️ What to Do
Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple with a guide
Get tickets on Tiqets →Drift over the tombs and temples of the west bank at sunrise
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Big Nile-front hotel with pools, a walk from Luxor Temple
Garden bungalows on a Nile island south of town
Infinity pools above the Nile near Karnak
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Both banks with a guide ~$120
Day 2: Balloon and museum ~$150
Day 3: Dendera or Edfu ~$120
Hire an Egyptologist guide for at least one day — the tombs make far more sense. Book the dawn balloon over the west bank. See Karnak again at the evening sound and light, or Luxor Temple lit after dark.
Luxury Luxor is a Nile suite at the Winter Palace, a private Egyptologist with special tomb tickets, a private balloon and a dahabiya sailing to Aswan.
🗺️ What to Do
Both great east-bank temples with a private Egyptologist and lunch
Get tickets on Tiqets →The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi with a private guide
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Ottoman-style courtyards and gardens on the edge of the west-bank fields
Check prices on Klook →The Winter Palace's garden wing, sharing its pools and grounds
The 1886 Victorian palace on the Corniche, with old gardens and Nile views
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Private Thebes ~$650
Day 2: Balloon and queens ~$750
Day 3: Board a dahabiya ~$800
The Sofitel Winter Palace is where Carter announced Tutankhamun. Buy the add-on tickets for Seti I and Nefertari's tombs. A dahabiya — a private sailing boat — is the most beautiful way to reach Aswan.
About Luxor
Desert: warm sunny winters (22–24°C by day, cool nights), very hot dry summers (40–42°C). It almost never rains.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15° | 17° | 21° | 26° | 30° | 33° | 33° | 33° | 31° | 27° | 21° | 16° |
| 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d | 0d |
| high | high | high | mid | low | low | low | low | low | mid | high | high |
The east bank is walkable along the Corniche. Cross to the west bank by public ferry or motorboat, then hire a taxi or driver for the day. No metro.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Egypt — data plans start at $5.50 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
The Nile promenade between Luxor Temple and Karnak, with the big hotels, cruise boats and the museum.
Best for midrangeThe streets behind Luxor Temple: the souk, cheap hotels, cafés and the train station.
Best for budgetAcross the river among sugar-cane fields and mud-brick villages, close to the tombs, with guesthouses and calm.
Best for budgetThe riverbank north of Karnak, with resort hotels and gardens away from the town's bustle.
Best for luxuryThe west-bank village by the ferry dock, with small hotels and riverside restaurants.
Best for budgetAround the Winter Palace gardens, steps from Luxor Temple and the Corniche.
Best for luxury- ✓Carry small notes for baksheesh — it is part of daily life
- ✓Agree the price before every taxi, carriage or felucca ride
- ✓Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, in town and at sites
- ✓Start sightseeing at opening to avoid the heat and the coaches
- ✓Accept tea when offered in a shop — it does not oblige you to buy
- ✓Use your right hand to eat and to hand things over
- ✗Use flash photography inside tombs
- ✗Pay "guardians" to touch or photograph in restricted areas
- ✗Drink tap water
- ✗Ride horses or camels that look unhealthy
- ✗Show public affection or drink alcohol in the street
- ✗Lose patience with touts; a firm, smiling "la, shukran" works
Travel Insurance for Luxor
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Luxor. Safety is rated Safe for visitors, but persistent touts, horse-carriage drivers and felucca captains are part of every walk. Agree prices before any ride or service, and carry small notes. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Most Western passports can buy a visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa in advance, usually valid 30 days.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Luxor →FAQ: Luxor Travel Questions
Is Luxor safe to visit? ▾
Safe for visitors, but persistent touts, horse-carriage drivers and felucca captains are part of every walk. Agree prices before any ride or service, and carry small notes.
When is the best time to visit Luxor? ▾
October–April. December–February is coolest and busiest; summer is extremely hot (40°C+), though early mornings are still possible. Desert: warm sunny winters (22–24°C by day, cool nights), very hot dry summers (40–42°C). It almost never rains.
How much does a trip to Luxor cost per day? ▾
- budget: $25–$45/day
- midrange: $70–$140/day
- luxury: $300–$700/day
Do I need a visa to visit Egypt? ▾
Most Western passports can buy a visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa in advance, usually valid 30 days.
How do I get around Luxor? ▾
The east bank is walkable along the Corniche. Cross to the west bank by public ferry or motorboat, then hire a taxi or driver for the day. No metro. Taxi base fare ~$2. Day pass ~$1.
Is tipping expected in Luxor? ▾
Baksheesh is expected everywhere: tip guides, drivers, felucca crews and tomb guardians, and add 10–15% in restaurants.
What currency is used in Egypt? ▾
The local currency is EGP, and the official language is Arabic.