Hours current as of the 2026 season
Luxor has no central ticket office. Every major site sells its own tickets at its own gate, and a handful of smaller West Bank sites share one office. It’s the difference between catching the Sound & Light show or the add-on tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I, and missing them because you didn’t know where to buy the ticket.
This guide covers where to go, what each office sells, and its hours. For current prices and student rates, see our Luxor entrance fees guide.
Luxor Ticket Offices at a Glance
| # | Office | Bank | What It Sells | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luxor Temple | East | Luxor Temple only | 6:00 AM–7:00 PM |
| 2 | Karnak Temple | East | Karnak and its chapels | 6:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| 3 | Sound & Light | East | Evening Sound & Light show | Evening; times vary by season |
| 4 | Antiquities Inspectorate | West | Medinet Habu, Ramesseum, Deir el-Medina, Howard Carter House, Seti I Temple, some Tombs of the Nobles clusters | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM |
| 5 | Valley of the Kings | West | General entry, plus add-on tickets for specific tombs | 6:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| 6 | Temple of Hatshepsut | West | Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple | 6:00 AM–5:00 PM (summer); 6:00 AM–4:00 PM (winter) |
| 7 | Valley of the Queens | West | Tombs of royal wives and children | 6:00 AM–5:00 PM |
The Nile splits Luxor into the East Bank, the “Land of the Living,” and the West Bank, the “Land of the Dead” – and ticketing follows the same split.
Confirm at the gate. Hours can shift with the season and around holidays.
East Bank Offices
6 AM–7 PM
1. Luxor TempleLocation: At the entrance of Luxor Temple, on the Corniche in central Luxor.
Sells: Luxor Temple only. One of the few major sites open into the evening – go in the late afternoon if you can, as the temple is floodlit after dark.
Sells: Luxor Temple only. One of the few major sites open into the evening – go in the late afternoon if you can, as the temple is floodlit after dark.
6 AM–5 PM
2. Karnak TempleLocation: At the main gate, about 2.5 km north of central Luxor.
Sells: Karnak and its chapels, including the Mut Temple precinct. Arrive at opening to see the Great Hypostyle Hall before tour groups. This is also one of the two places that sells the Luxor Pass.
Sells: Karnak and its chapels, including the Mut Temple precinct. Arrive at opening to see the Great Hypostyle Hall before tour groups. This is also one of the two places that sells the Luxor Pass.
Evening
3. Sound & LightLocation: Near the Karnak Temple ticket office.
Sells: The evening Sound & Light show at Karnak. Start times vary by season – earlier in winter, later in summer. The show runs in several languages on a rotating schedule, so confirm the language for your date before you book.
Sells: The evening Sound & Light show at Karnak. Start times vary by season – earlier in winter, later in summer. The show runs in several languages on a rotating schedule, so confirm the language for your date before you book.
West Bank Offices
8 AM–4 PM
4. Antiquities InspectorateLocation: Near Luxor’s Antiquities Inspectorate headquarters. It isn’t on the main tourist road, so confirm the route with your hotel or driver.
Sells: Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, Deir el-Medina, Howard Carter House, Seti I Temple (Gurna – not the Tomb of Seti I in the Valley of the Kings), and some Tombs of the Nobles clusters, including the Sennefer and Rekhmire tombs and the Tomb of Pashedu.
Opens later and closes earlier than the sites themselves, so plan around it.
Sells: Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, Deir el-Medina, Howard Carter House, Seti I Temple (Gurna – not the Tomb of Seti I in the Valley of the Kings), and some Tombs of the Nobles clusters, including the Sennefer and Rekhmire tombs and the Tomb of Pashedu.
Opens later and closes earlier than the sites themselves, so plan around it.
Tombs of the Nobles are cashless. As of the 2026 season, bring a card rather than cash. Tickets are sold by cluster, and not every cluster is ticketed at this office.
6 AM–5 PM
5. Valley of the KingsLocation: At the entrance to the Valley of the Kings.
Sells: General entry, which includes your choice of three tombs from the currently open list, plus separate add-on tickets for the tombs below.
Sells: General entry, which includes your choice of three tombs from the currently open list, plus separate add-on tickets for the tombs below.
KV9 – Ramesses V & VI
Separate add-on ticket.
KV62 – Tutankhamun
Separate add-on ticket. No photography permitted.
KV17 – Seti I
Separate add-on ticket.
WV23 – Ay
Separate add-on ticket.
Choose at the window. The open-tomb list rotates and each tomb punches your ticket once, so you can’t re-enter or swap afterward. An electric tram runs from the ticket office to the tomb area for a small extra fee – worth it in the heat.
6 AM–5 PM / 4 PM
6. Temple of HatshepsutLocation: At Deir el-Bahari.
Sells: Tickets for Queen Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple. Open until 5:00 PM in summer and 4:00 PM in winter. A “taftaf” electric shuttle runs from the ticket office to the temple – worth taking in warmer months. Combine it with the Valley of the Kings or Valley of the Queens for a full West Bank morning.
Sells: Tickets for Queen Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple. Open until 5:00 PM in summer and 4:00 PM in winter. A “taftaf” electric shuttle runs from the ticket office to the temple – worth taking in warmer months. Combine it with the Valley of the Kings or Valley of the Queens for a full West Bank morning.
6 AM–5 PM
7. Valley of the QueensLocation: At the entrance to the Valley of the Queens.
Sells: Tickets for the tombs of royal wives and children.
Sells: Tickets for the tombs of royal wives and children.
Nefertari’s tomb is closed. It has been closed since March 2, 2024, with no confirmed reopening date. Check its current status before visiting if it’s a priority.
Other Ticket Windows
A few East Bank sites sit outside the seven offices above.
| Site | Where to buy | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Luxor Museum | Its own desk at the museum entrance | Split daily hours (morning and evening) |
| Mummification Museum | Its own desk | Split daily hours |
| Mut Temple | Karnak Temple office (part of the Karnak precinct) | As Karnak |
| Colossi of Memnon | Free – no ticket required | Open 24 hours |
For current hours and prices at all of these, see the entrance fees guide.
How to Buy Tickets
Cash Is Safest
PaymentEgyptian pounds in cash are accepted everywhere and are the most reliable option. Some counters take cards, but connectivity issues cause delays – don’t rely on a card except at the Tombs of the Nobles, where cash is no longer accepted.
No ID Needed
IDOrdinary site tickets don’t need ID. Bring your passport only if you’re buying the Luxor Pass, which is tied to your identity.
Go Early
TimingLines build fast at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings in peak winter season. Arriving at opening also means cooler temperatures on the West Bank.
Keep It Safe
Your ticketA lost ticket means buying a new one – there’s no reissue at the gate. Check exactly what your ticket or pass covers before you reach the entrance, since add-on tombs and museums are easy to assume are included when they aren’t.
The Luxor Pass is sold at only two places: the sales office to the left of the main ticket window at Karnak Temple, and the visitor center at the entrance to the Valley of the Kings. Payment is cash only, in US dollars or euros – no Egyptian pounds, no cards. Bring a copy of your passport’s photo page and a passport-sized photo. It can’t currently be bought online.
Plan Your Day: Which Offices You’ll Need
Tickets aren’t transferable between sites, so plan your route by bank rather than by must-see list.
An East Bank day
The Luxor Temple office, the Karnak Temple office, and – if you’re going in the evening – the Sound & Light office nearby.
A West Bank day
The Valley of the Kings office, the Temple of Hatshepsut office, and either the Valley of the Queens or the Antiquities Inspectorate office, depending on which smaller sites you’re adding.
Visit the Antiquities Inspectorate first. Its shorter 8:00 AM–4:00 PM hours mean it’s worth going before the bigger sites close for the day, not after.
Free Entry and Photography
Photography with a mobile phone is free at most sites. The exception is Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62), where no photography is permitted.
Confirm at the gate. Policies can vary by site.
Ready to plan your visit?
Check current prices before you go
See entrance fees, student rates, and the Luxor Pass cost comparison to budget your tickets.