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Luxor map: East Bank, West Bank and where the sights are

Last checked: October 2026

Hazy view from the Theban cliffs down over the desert and the green Nile valley
Hazy view from the Theban cliffs down over the desert and the green Nile valley

Luxor is the capital of the Luxor Governorate1, which runs along the Nile in Upper Egypt4.

Map of the attractions in this guide, numbered as in the list below. Places further out are arrows at the edge of the map, pointing their way, with the straight-line distance from Luxor (not the distance by road).

Drawn to scale from the attractions' Google Maps locations.

Rivers and roads: map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Attractions

  1. Luxor Temple Google Maps
  2. Remaining Luxor Obelisk Google Maps
  3. Mummification Museum Google Maps
  4. Avenue of Sphinxes Google Maps
  5. Luxor Museum Google Maps
  6. First Pylon Luxor Temple Google Maps
  7. El - Souk Google Maps
  8. Karnak Google Maps
  9. Karnak Open-air Museum Google Maps
  10. Colossi of Memnon Google Maps
  11. Ramesseum Google Maps
  12. Deir el-Medina Google Maps
  13. Tombs of the Nobles Google Maps
  14. Valley of the Kings Google Maps
  15. KV62 - Tomb of Tutankhamun Google Maps
  16. KV17 - Tomb of Seti I Google Maps
  17. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut Google Maps
  18. Temple d'Amon (Médinet Habou) Google Maps
  19. Valley of the Queens Google Maps

Further out (arrows at the edge of the map)

Read it as two halves. Egypt’s official tourism site calls the East Bank the land of the living and the West Bank the holy burial grounds2, and that’s still how a visit works: you sleep on one side and spend your tomb days on the other.

Where you'll sleep

East Bank: the city, Luxor Temple and Karnak

The East Bank is where you’ll sleep, eat and catch your train. It holds the city, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Karnak, museums, trains, hotels and restaurants5.

Karnak 2.5 km north of Luxor6

Karnak sits 2.5 km6 north of Luxor and takes its name from the nearby village of El-Karnak. An avenue of human-headed sphinxes6 once linked the two temples, and Egypt’s official tourism site recommends walking the newly reopened, 3,000-year-old Sphinx Avenue2.

The paved Avenue of Sphinxes running north from Luxor Temple
The paved Avenue of Sphinxes running north from Luxor Temple

The East Bank is built around four main roads7 with a web of small streets between them. The names worth knowing:

  • Corniche el-Nil: runs along the east bank of the Nile and links most of the major sights7.
  • Sharia Karnak: runs inland, parallel to the Nile and the Corniche7.
  • Sharia al-Mahatta (Station Street): links the railway station with the area around Luxor Temple7.
  • Sharia Televizyon (Television Street): in the southern part of town, an area of inexpensive accommodation7.

Choosing a base on this side? The Egypt hotel Luxor guide compares the options, and there’s a page on how to visit the Temple of Karnak.

Tombs and ruins

West Bank: the Valley of the Kings and the tombs

The West Bank holds the major ruins, including the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens5. It’s much more rural than the East Bank5, so sort out transport before you cross.

The Valley of the Kings lies on the west bank of the Nile, opposite Thebes8. It’s one of the most famous archaeological sites in Egypt5, and the page on planning your Valley of the Kings visit covers it in detail.

Wide view of the main wadi of the Valley of the Kings with tomb entrances below the cliffs
Wide view of the main wadi of the Valley of the Kings with tomb entrances below the cliffs

Crossing the Nile

How do you cross between the East and West Banks?

Take the local ferry from the landing opposite Luxor Temple1, hire a felucca, or go by road over a Nile bridge. Your options:

Local ferry EGP 20 for foreigners5

  • Local ferry: the blue ferry costs foreigners EGP 205 (under US$1) (checked October 2026). It only leaves when it is full or when another ferry arrives, and taxis wait at the terminal on both sides5.
  • Felucca: dozens of felucca owners5 offer to take visitors across.
  • Old road bridge: opened in 1998, it sits a few kilometres upstream1 of town.
  • North Luxor axis: this 19 km road, opened in May 2024, crosses the Nile on a 1,550 m bridge and carries tourist traffic from the airport to the West Bank sites10.
Feluccas and a crowded river ferry on the Nile at Luxor at dusk
Feluccas and a crowded river ferry on the Nile at Luxor at dusk

Arriving in town

Airport, station and bus stops

Everything you arrive by is on the East Bank side of the river. Flights from Cairo take about 1 hour5.

Airport about 6 km east of the centre1

Place Where it is
Luxor International Airport
About 6 km east of the city centre1
Railway station
On the main line, about 10 hours from Cairo by train5
Most long-distance buses
Behind Luxor Temple5
GoBus and SuperJet
Near the train station5

For transfers and fares, see the airport transport options in Luxor.

Down the Nile

South to Esna and the river route

Esna is on the west bank of the Nile, about 54 km south of Luxor11. A local minibus via Armant gets you there in 1 hr 30 min11 in total.

Esna about 54 km south of Luxor11

Esna is also where some slower boats start. Nour El Nil runs a 5-night, 6-day12 dahabiya cruise from Esna to Aswan. For the bigger picture, there’s a Nile cruise operators overview.

The ancient city

Where was ancient Thebes?

Ancient Thebes is under modern Luxor: Luxor stands on the ancient city of Thebes1. It lay along the Nile about 800 km south of the Mediterranean and was the capital of Egypt for long periods during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom3.

So a map of ancient Thebes looks much like today’s: the temples of Karnak and Luxor on the east bank, the royal and private cemeteries on the west3.

Seeing both banks on a tour

If you’d rather not juggle ferries and taxis, a guided day takes care of the crossing for you. One covers both banks; the other sticks to the two big East Bank temples.

Panorama of the Valley of the Kings with paths up the limestone hillside Day tour

8 hoursPickup includedFree cancellation

Nice Tours

Luxor: Full-Day Shared Tour to West and East Banks

4.6 (2,240 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

fromUS$30

See dates on GetYourGuide
Karnak's first pylon and the row of ram-headed sphinxes by the old quay Day tour

4 hoursPickup includedFree cancellation

Special Egypt

Luxor: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple Tour with Lunch

4.5 (870 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

fromUS$52

See dates on GetYourGuide

Questions people ask

Can you show me a map of Thebes, Greece?

Not here: this page maps Thebes in Egypt, the ancient city that Luxor stands on.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. Authors and licences: image credits

Checked against 12 sources · last checked October 2026
  1. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  2. Experience Egypt (official) · checked October 2026
  3. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  4. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  5. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  6. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  7. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  8. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  9. Central Bank of Egypt (official, via Frankfurter) · checked October 2026
  10. presidency.eg (official) · checked October 2026
  11. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  12. Nour El Nil (operator) · checked October 2026
Page history · last changed 23 October 2026
  • First written