Egypt was my first solo trip and it changed travel and how I see the world. Egypt allowed me to enter a world very different from my own and captured my heart. The temples in Egypt are a way to literally be transported through time. There are a wide variety of tombs, ruins, and temples throughout the country – how do you choose? So, I partnered with fellow travel bloggers and Egypt lovers to bring you the ten best temples in Egypt to visit!
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Abu Simbel Temple
Recommended by Me, The Directionally Challenged Traveler
One of the most impressive and best temples in Egypt is Abu Simbel. Not only is it a colossal temple, but it’s also an impressive engineering feat! When the Aswan Dam was being built in the early 1960s, engineers realized that Abu Simbel would be buried in the Nile River. Due to this realization, UNESCO embarked on its first-ever international rescue effort. (They’d go on to save over 1,000 cultural and natural sites around the world due to the success of Abu Simbel.) If you look really closely at the temple, you can see how they took apart the temple brick by brick and reassembled it later.
Abu Simbel actually has two temples, one for the pharaoh Ramesses II and his favorite wife, Queen Nefertari. The main temple (photo below) has four statues of Ramesses II. The other has six smaller statues of Nefertari. It is uncommon for a pharaoh’s wife to also have a temple, let alone one that is this prominent and large.
Even before the temples were built, the site was considered sacred. The site was considered sacred to the goddess Hathor. It’s believed that this is why Ramesses II chose this spot for his temple. The temples are also east-aligned so that on February 21 and October 21 the sanctuary of the Great Hall is illuminated.
Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Amenhotep III
Recommended by Me, The Directionally Challenged Traveler
The Colossi of Memnon are actually two MASSIVE statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The two statues stand in front of the temple of Amenhotep III.
The pharaoh is in a seated position facing east towards the river. The pharaoh’s mother and wife are also carved into the throne. Amenhotep III ruled in the 14th century BC.
Since these two statues are over 3,500 years old, they have suffered extreme damage, with the majority of the damage being on the top half.
You can visit the statues and the temple from the city of Luxor. It’s a 35 minutes drive from the city. There is no admission to see the Colossi of Memnon. This stop is often included on tours of Luxor as well.
Dakka Temple
Recommended by Ruma of The Holiday Story
The Temple of Dakka is located on a cliff by the Nile in the Nubia region of Egypt. King Arqamani built it in 220 B.C to honor the god of wisdom, Thoth of the Sycamore Fig. The earliest structure of this ancient monument consisted of just a single small chapel. Through the years, this Greco-Roman temple was modified to form a temple fortress with multiple towers and a stone wall barrier.
The temple had to withstand multiple river floods and natural calamities. It was moved to Wadi es-Sebua in the 1960s due to the Aswan Dam construction. The best way to visit this temple is by booking a Lake Nasser cruise tour. These cruise tours will take you around all the stunning pyramids of ancient Egypt in the Aswan and surrounding regions. You can also book a water taxi from Aswan, only 4 km away.
The well-preserved temple gives visitors an idea of Egypt’s glorious and dynamic history. Graffiti on the temple walls in Meroitic, Greek, Demotic, Roman, and other languages shows the different races that ruled Egypt in ancient times.
Its unique architecture, including the 12 m high pylon, is fascinating. There are no entry fees of any kind in the temple area. However, hiring a knowledgeable guide will make your trip more worthwhile.
Edfu Temple
Recommended by Milijana of World Travel Connector
The impressive temple of Edfu is also the second-largest temple in Egypt (after Karnak) and the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. It is one of the most famous Egypt landmarks.
The monumental Edfu temple was dedicated to Horus. Horus was the ancient Egyptian god of the Sky and one of the most worshipped deities of ancient Egypt. Horus is popularly known as ‘the falcon god’ since he was pictured as a falcon. The famous symbol of Horus was the Eye of Horus, used for protection and health.
Horus temple in Edfu is the largest ancient Egyptian temple dedicated to Horus.
Edfu was the seat of Horus. The name of Edfu means ‘place of the throne.
The temple was built in-between 237 BC and 57 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty in the Hellenistic period.
Two massive pillar towers dominate the temple of Edfu, while two falcon-god statues guard the entrance to the temple. The doorway takes visitors into the temple with the big Peristye court with columns on the sides, two Hypostyle Halls, the Transverse Hall, and the Sanctuary.
The temple of Horus is in the town of Edfu on the west bank of the Nile River. Edfu is halfway between Aswan and Luxor. Edfu is 2 hours by car from Aswan and 2 hours by car from Luxor. Taxis are available for hiring in Luxor and Aswan for visiting Edfu on a day tour. But the best way to visit Edfu temple, with other temples along the Nile River, is by a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor.
Hatshepsut Temple
Recommended by Joanna of The World in My Pocket
The temple of Hatshepsut is one of the most unique temples on the left side of the Nile. It is dedicated to Hatshepsut, the woman who ruled as a king, and who has a fascinating story. It is one of the temples that you must visit if you choose to spend two days in Luxor.
To get to the temple you would need to hire a private guide or a taxi. It is recommended to go there with a guide, in order to understand the temple, as well as the meaning of the paintings on the wall. The temple is unique because it was built on the side of a mountain. It is both a mortuary temple dedicated to her and a sanctuary for the God Amun-Ra.
The story says that after the death of her husband, Hatshepsut made up a story helped by the high priest of the time, claiming that she is the chosen child of God Amun-Ra to rule of Egypt. She proclaimed herself King of Egypt and ruled peacefully, conducting expeditions abroad and bringing exotic things to the country. In front of the temple, there are two roots of two myrrh trees that were supposed to be brought into Egypt for the first time, in one of these expeditions.
After her death, her stepson, who was sent to the Military as a child, came to the throne. He tried to erase all her existence from history, so a lot of the paintings and sculptures inside the temple have been destroyed. Not just in this temple, but all around Egypt.
The entrance fee to visit the temple of Hatshepsut is 140 EGP.
Karnak Temple
Recommended by Me, The Directionally Challenged Traveler
Karnak Temple in Egypt was one of my favorite temples to visit! The temple is easy to get to when visiting Luxor, the old capital of Egypt (pre-Cairo). Luxor is covered in tombs, temples, and ruins. It’s considered the center for Amun, the god of the sun, which made it one of the most-visited places in ancient Egypt.
Construction started 4000 years ago and didn’t finish until about 2000 years ago. The construction stopped when the Romans conquered Egypt. During these 2000 years, every Egyptian ruler left their mark on the temple. A guided tour is recommended so you can see this impressive history in the engravings.
Another reason to visit is because of the preservation of the temple. The Avenue of Sphinxes leads the way to the temple, most of which are in really good condition. The Hypostyle Hall is home to over 130 columns, some of which are capped by huge open papyrus blossom tops. To know that these were each hand-built and hand-carved is awe-inspiring.
The entrance fee is 150 Egyptian pounds (around $8). While it is more expensive than other temples, it is one of the largest temples in Luxor!
Kom Ombo Temple
Recommended by Katie of KatieCafTravel.com
Kom Ombo Temple is one of the most underrated temples you can visit in Egypt. Located right off the Nile, Kom Ombo is a popular stop for Nile Cruises making the trip from Luxor to Aswan.
The name Kom Ombo means “Plenty of Gold”, it was named such because the town used to be famous for its wheat farmers. Later, it became known for being the trading hub between Egyptians, Ethiopians, and Nubians.
Kom Ombo temple was constructed in Ancient Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, between the pharaohs of Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy XIII. Kom Ombo is dedicated to multiple deities, but most notably the ancient Egyptian god Sobek, who is also known as the “crocodile god”.
Priests of the god Sobek would always have a living crocodile that they believed was the incarnation of Sobek himself. When the crocodile died, they would mummify the animal. Today you can see dozens of mummified crocodiles at Kom Ombo temple in its adjoining crocodile museum.
The best way to get to Kom Ombo is by taking a Nile River Cruise that stops off at multiple locations on its way down the Nile. If you’re not taking a cruise, you can arrange for a taxi from Luxor.
It’s only 3 hours from Luxor by car, but it’s too far for Uber or Careem (Egyptian Uber) to travel, so you will have to arrange transportation with a private driver for the day.
Luxor Temple
Recommended by Me, The Directionally Challenged Traveler
Luxor Temple is probably one of the most famous temples in Egypt due to its location in the city of the same name. Not only is it one of the most fascinating places in Egypt, it’s also been really well preserved. (Pro tip: It also lights up at night for a really cool show!)
Luxor was actually the capital of ancient Egypt for over 1500 years! It’s a great place to literally walk through history. Four pharaohs utilized Luxor Temple for coronations, storing royal valuables, and hosting the Feast of Opet. The Opet festival was an annual celebration where Amun, Khonsu, and Mut statues were moved from Karnak. Some pharaohs used it as a burial site as it was believed to be the home of Amun. It’s the largest open-air museum in Egypt which is an impressive archeological site.
Entrance into Luxor Temple is around 140 Egyptian pounds, or $9 USD. Unless you’re really good with Egyptian history, a guide can help understand the vast history of the area.
Medinet Habu Temple
Recommended by Steph of Big World Small Pockets
Most famous for housing the tomb of the last great Pharoah of Egypt, Ramesses III, Medinet Habu is undoubtedly one of the most impressive temples in Egypt and an absolute must on your Luxor itinerary.
Located on the outskirts of the city, this enormous complex is best visited as part of a guided tour of Luxor’s West Bank, as this will allow access to the historical knowledge of a guide.
With a tour, you’ll also get driven to the temple in an aircon minivan – very handy given the heat and lack of public transport connections!
Open from 6 am to 5 pm, the cost to enter Medinet Habu is just $6. Tickets can be bought onsite at the time of your visit.
Surrounded by a huge mudbrick enclosure, a number of chapels dedicated to the God Amun can be found once you step inside. You’ll also encounter a giant courtyard and a huge stone ramp that sweeps up 3 giant layers of the temple, each of which is adorned with enormous statues, many of the late Pharoah himself.
Amazingly you can walk up the ramp, right up to the statues and inside the temple – which makes visiting Medinet Habu even more special.
Don’t miss the iconic artwork that depicts Ramesses II’s victory over the infamous Sea People – a mysterious group of marauding invaders that eventually contributed to the fall of Egypt; it put Medinet Habu well and truly into the history books.
Philae Temple
Recommended by Maggie of Pink Caddy Travelogue
One of the most picturesque temples in Egypt is Philae Temple. Dedicated to the goddess of love, Isis, Philae’s beauty and fascinating history is a can’t-miss part of any Egypt itinerary.
Philae Temple is situated on an island in the middle of the Nile. Not its original home, but close – like its more famous neighbor, Abu Simbel, Philae had to be relocated block by block when the Aswan Dam was built.
The oldest structure on the island, the Temple of Isis, dates back to 380 BC. But the complex was continually added to by Greek, Roman, and Byzantine rulers. Other buildings include the Temple of Hathor, the Gateway of Hadrian (commissioned by the Roman emperor Hadrian), and a monastery from the Christian era. The temple was used for the worship of Isis up through the 6th century AD. It was then closed and repurposed by the Christians, the only temple in Egypt that was officially used as a church (keep an eye out for the Coptic crosses carved into buildings throughout the complex).
The easiest way to visit Philae is with a tour. Many companies offer it as part of an Abu Simbel day trip, or as a tour of Aswan. You can also go independently by taking a taxi to Marina Philae Temple, where boats wait to transport visitors to the island. Admission costs 50 EGP, and the boat ride costs about 10EGP, depending on your haggling skills.
Valley of the Kings
Recommended by Deirdre of Build & Board Travel
Valley of the Kings is an archeological site dating back to the 18th-20th dynasty in Egypt. More than 60 royal tombs can be found at this UNESCO World Heritage site, including those of various kings and queens. The most notable of these is Tutankhamen, the child king.
These tombs are unique in that they have been preserved in a much better manner than most other tombs and temples across Egypt. Despite their age, the tombs have maintained their original color.
Located approximately 28km from Luxor, the Valley of the Kings is situated in the midst of the ancient Egyptian culture. Due to the lack of public transportation, organized tours or taxis are the best way to get to the site. Another option is to take a 10-minute Felucca boat ride across the Nile and continue by taxi from the other side of the river.
The entry ticket costs 244 Egyptian pounds, which entitles you to access three of the eight tombs that have been opened. Among them are Ramesses 1X, Seti 11 and Siptah.
Visiting additional tombs, including Tutankhamun’s, costs 300 Egyptian pounds extra
It was once forbidden to take pictures in the Valley of the Kings. Over time, these rules have been relaxed, although taking photos or videos with anything other than a cell phone will require an additional pass. These additional passes cost 300 Egyptian pounds.
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Wow! This is packed full with info! Thanks for all the help in understanding more about the temples.
I am definitely bookmarking this and re-visiting it when I plan my Egypt trip! I hope to spend some time there next year and this will be so helpful!