In 2027, See Luxor in a New Light
In addition to the total eclipse that will cast the ancient city in shadow, new hotels and other experiences offer fresh incentive to visit the sphinxes and temples on the banks of the Nile.
The six-minute “eclipse of the century” in August 2027 will bring an influx of astrotourists to Luxor, but the city has far more to offer than any single celestial event. Straddling both banks of the Nile, Egypt's ancient capital is entering a new chapter, with a host of high-profile openings and experiences to complement its Pharaonic wonders. The lavishly restored Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace and the new Four Seasons Hotel Luxor are both set to welcome guests next year. Also making its debut is the 80-passenger Guardian of the Nile, Egypt's first luxury tourist sleeper train, which will stop in Luxor on its way from Cairo to Aswan. Tour the 3,000-year-old temples of Karnak, then soar above them in a hot-air balloon.
(See all 25 of the destinations that made our list of the best places to visit in 2027.)
When to Go
The ancient Egyptians worshiped the sun as a divine force. Today’s visitors will surely appreciate Luxor’s reliable sunshine but may prefer it to come with a little less heat. October through April is the more temperate season, with comfortably warm days and cool evenings that make exploring temples and tombs more enjoyable. From June to August, when temperatures regularly climb over 100 degrees, it’s best to rise early and sightsee at dawn; visitors who do so will be rewarded with sparser crowds and lower room rates. Demand for the rare total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, will be overwhelming, so if you’d like to see it you should book as soon as possible.
What to Do
Ride in a Hot-Air Balloon:
At first light each morning, dozens of brightly colored balloons rise above Luxor’s West Bank. Many pass over active archaeological excavations, the Valley of the Kings, and limestone hills honeycombed with royal burial chambers. Peer over the edge of the wicker basket to spot the Colossi of Memnon, the twin 18-meter statues that once stood guard at one of ancient Egypt's grandest temple complexes, of which now only a few ruins remain.
Stroll Through the Temples:
On the East Bank, the 1.7-mile Avenue of Sphinxes—reopened in 2021 after decades of restoration—once again links the Karnak Temple Complex with Luxor Temple. Wander through Karnak's towering sandstone columns and avenues of ram-headed sphinxes, built over the course of almost 2,000 years, before continuing to Luxor Temple after sunset, when floodlights dramatically illuminate its hieroglyph-carved walls.
Sail the Nile:
Traditional dahabiyas, the sailboats immortalized in Amelia Edwards' 1877 travelogue A Thousand Miles up the Nile, still set sail from Luxor today. The city is a classic jumping-off point for a leisurely Nile voyage, with four-night voyages heading south to Aswan, much as they did in Edwards' day.
Getting Around
Luxor International Airport is the city's main gateway, with domestic flights from Cairo and seasonal international services from Europe and the Middle East. From the U.S., most visitors arrive in Cairo before continuing to Luxor by either a one-hour domestic flight or a 10-hour train journey. Two visa initiatives make arriving easier: a free summer entry visa for travelers flying on Egyptian-owned airlines and a four-day transit visa.
In Luxor, there's little need to rent a car. The East Bank is compact enough to explore on foot or by inexpensive street taxi. A public ferry provides a scenic way to cross the Nile to the West Bank. Cycling is a rewarding, often-overlooked way to explore the city, with many hotels lending bicycles and local operators offering rentals and guided bike tours.
