Karnak Temple at a glance
Karnak lies in Luxor on the eastern bank of the Nile. At its centre is the precinct of Amun. Further precincts belong to Mut in the south and Montu in the north, and Akhenaten's Aten temple once stood to the east. Karnak is part of the World Heritage property Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis, listed in 1979, together with Luxor Temple and the western necropolises.
The easiest way in is from Luxor town or the airport. A taxi from Luxor Airport to the temple is roughly 10 to 13 km and 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the route. Agree the fare before you get in or ask the driver to switch on the meter.
What this guide covers
This guide covers the temple and the day around it. It explains the Karnak Temple tickets and opening hours, compares Luxor tours, describes the evening sound and light show and gives the background on the history and the key facts. Separate pages cover the Great Hypostyle Hall, the Avenue of Sphinxes, Hatshepsut's obelisk and the Sacred Lake, and the Open Air Museum. Further pages cover Luxor Temple, balloon flights, the Valley of the Kings, a day trip from Hurghada, getting there, the weather and where to stay.
Prices are in Egyptian pounds (EGP) or US dollars and carry a year. They are the tariffs for 2026 and they can change, so check the amount when you buy.
Our picks: Luxor and Karnak tours
The balloon-and-sightseeing package fits a lot into one day and includes Karnak. The half-day East Bank tour with entries and the Avenue of Sphinxes is the straightforward way to see Karnak with a guide. For an evening, take the English-language show ticket, or the felucca combination if you want the Nile at sunset first.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Balloon flight and full-day sightseeing tour
- Balloon flight
- Entry tickets and parking fees
- Sightseeing day with Karnak
The flight comes first, then a day of sightseeing that includes Karnak. Ask before booking whether a guide is part of it.
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Sunset felucca ride and Karnak sound and light show
- Sunset felucca ride
- Karnak show
- Entries and guide
A private evening that starts on the Nile at sunset and moves on to the Karnak show, with transfers. Ask for the pickup time and the language of the show before you book.
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Private tour of Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum
- Tickets for both museums
- Private guide
- Lunch included
Four hours with a private guide through two museums. The Luxor Museum is not the Open Air Museum at Karnak.
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East Bank highlights with the Avenue of Sphinxes
- Karnak and Luxor Temple
- Entry tickets and guide
- Air-conditioned transfers
Four hours on the East Bank with the Avenue of Sphinxes on the programme.
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Karnak sound and light show ticket in English
- English-language show
- Private return transfer
- Representative on site
Entry to the English-language show with a private air-conditioned transfer from the East Bank. No tour guide is part of this one, and the show time is confirmed when you book.
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Private afternoon tour of Luxor Temple and the old souk
- Luxor Temple entry
- Private guide
- Air-conditioned hotel transfers
Three hours with a private guide through Luxor Temple and the old souk. This tour does not go to Karnak.
Check availability →Karnak and Luxor tours
Guided visits to Karnak Temple, combinations with the Valley of the Kings and other Luxor sights, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit to Karnak
Start with tickets and hours, then pick the parts of the temple you want to see.
Karnak Temple tickets
Prices for foreign and Egyptian visitors, opening hours and what the ticket includes.
Luxor tours
Guided visits to Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the East Bank.
Sound and light show
Show times, ticket prices and what to know before you book.
Karnak Temple history
From the earliest traces to the Ptolemaic and Roman additions.
Karnak Temple facts
Columns, pylons, obelisks and the builders behind them.
Great Hypostyle Hall
134 columns, painted reliefs and a roof that has mostly gone.
Avenue of Sphinxes
The processional way between Karnak and Luxor Temple.
Obelisk and Sacred Lake
Hatshepsut's standing obelisk and the lake where priests purified themselves.
Open Air Museum
The White Chapel, the Red Chapel and rebuilt shrines, included in your ticket.
Around Karnak: Luxor and the West Bank
Other sights, the journey and the practical pages.
Luxor Temple
A separate temple about 3 km south, open until 20:00.
Hot air balloon flights
Early flights over the West Bank, depending on weather and season.
Karnak and the Valley of the Kings
A day plan that crosses the Nile between the two banks.
Day trip from Hurghada
The road to Luxor and what fits into one long day.
Things to do in Luxor
Temples, museums and the West Bank beyond Karnak.
Luxor Airport to Karnak
Taxi, transfer and train options.
Luxor weather
Monthly averages and the best months to visit.
Where to stay in Luxor
East Bank or West Bank: which side suits your plans.
A few things to know before you go
Four points that save time and money at the gate.
The Open Air Museum is in your ticket
The tariff for foreign visitors covers the temple and the Open Air Museum. There is no extra museum fee. Mut is the exception: its precinct is sold separately.
Ticket prices →Buy tickets at egymonuments.com
Tickets are sold online at egymonuments.com, and general information about the sites is on egymonuments.gov.eg. Visa and Mastercard are accepted online and at the counters, and tickets are non-refundable.
How to buy →The show has its own ticket
The sound and light show is a separate evening event at 19:00 and 20:00, with its own price list. Your day ticket does not cover it.
Show times →Karnak and Luxor Temple are two sites
They are about 3 km apart on the East Bank and have separate tickets. The Avenue of Sphinxes linked them in antiquity.
Luxor Temple →Beyond the temple
Guides to the wider area.
For the city as a whole, including hotels, museums and the West Bank, see a general Luxor guide. The royal tombs have their own pages at the Valley of the Kings. If you plan to travel by water, Nile cruises are covered separately. This site stays with Karnak and the sights around it.
More independent Egypt guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place on the Nile.
Luxor
Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Nile cruises to Aswan.
Nubian Aswan
Gharb Soheil, Elephantine, Philae and day trips to Abu Simbel.
Giza Pyramids
Pyramid tickets, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Saqqara.
Valley of the Kings
Tomb tickets, Tutankhamun, Hatshepsut and the West Bank of Luxor.
The Nile
Nile cruises from Luxor to Aswan, dahabiyas, feluccas and Lake Nasser.
Abu Simbel
The temples of Ramses II and Nefertari: day trips from Aswan, flights and the Sun Festival.
Karnak Temple: frequently asked questions
How much is the Karnak Temple ticket in 2026?
EGP 600 for foreign adults and EGP 300 for foreign students. Egyptian adults pay EGP 40 and Egyptian students EGP 20. The foreign ticket includes the Open Air Museum. See the ticket page for the Mut precinct and the conditions.
What are the opening hours?
Every day from 06:00 to 17:00, with no weekly closing day. Last entry is earlier than closing, at about 16:00, so arrive in good time. In summer, an early start also helps with the heat.
When is the best time to visit Karnak?
Long-term averages put daily highs above 41 °C from June to August and at about 23 to 30 °C from November to March. The cooler months are easier for walking the open site. See the weather page.
Is Luxor Temple part of the Karnak ticket?
No. Luxor Temple is a separate site about 3 km to the south with its own tariff of EGP 500 for foreign adults. Read more on the Luxor Temple page.
Can I visit Karnak in the evening?
The day ticket covers the opening hours until 17:00. In the evening there is the sound and light show, sold separately, at 19:00 and 20:00. See the show page.
Is temple-of-karnak.org the official Karnak website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no link to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the show operator or any tour company.