Egypt's temples span more than two thousand years, from the Old Kingdom valley temple beside the Sphinx to the Ptolemaic and Roman temples of Edfu, Dendera and Philae. Most of the great ones stand along the Nile between Luxor and Abu Simbel, which is why a Nile cruise or a few days in Luxor and Aswan reaches more of them than any other route. This guide lists the temples on our site, what each was built for and how long to allow, with links to every temple and the tours that visit it.
The main kinds of Egyptian temple
- Cult temples were the houses of the gods, where priests served a god's statue every day: Karnak and Luxor for Amun, Edfu for Horus, Dendera for Hathor, Philae for Isis.
- Mortuary temples kept the memory of a dead king alive and stand on Luxor's West Bank, near the royal tombs: Hatshepsut's temple, the Ramesseum of Ramesses II and Medinet Habu of Ramesses III.
- Rock-cut temples were carved into the cliffs of Nubia, most famously Abu Simbel, along with Beit el-Wali.
- Ptolemaic and Roman temples (Edfu, Dendera, Kom Ombo, Esna, Philae, Kalabsha) are the best preserved, with roofs, colours and inscriptions still in place.
Egyptian temples at a glance
| Temple | Where | Built for | Period | Allow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Temple of Khafre | Giza | King Khafre's funeral rites | Old Kingdom | 30 min |
| Karnak | Luxor, East Bank | Amun-Ra, Mut and Khonsu | Middle Kingdom to Ptolemaic | 2–3 h |
| Luxor Temple | Luxor, East Bank | Amun | New Kingdom | 1–1.5 h |
| Hatshepsut's Temple | Luxor, West Bank | Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut | New Kingdom | 1 h |
| Ramesseum | Luxor, West Bank | Mortuary temple of Ramesses II | New Kingdom | 45 min |
| Medinet Habu (Ramesses III) | Luxor, West Bank | Mortuary temple of Ramesses III | New Kingdom | 1–1.5 h |
| Dendera | North of Luxor | Hathor | Ptolemaic and Roman | 1.5–2 h |
| Temple of Seti I | Abydos | Osiris and the gods; Seti I | New Kingdom | 1.5 h |
| Esna | Esna | Khnum | Ptolemaic and Roman | 45 min |
| Edfu | Edfu | Horus | Ptolemaic | 1–1.5 h |
| Kom Ombo | Kom Ombo | Sobek and Haroeris (a double temple) | Ptolemaic | 45 min–1 h |
| Philae | Aswan | Isis | Ptolemaic and Roman | 1.5 h with the boat |
| Kalabsha | Aswan (New Kalabsha) | Mandulis, a Nubian god | Roman | 1 h |
| Beit el-Wali | Aswan (New Kalabsha) | Rock-cut temple of Ramesses II | New Kingdom | 30 min |
| Abu Simbel | Abu Simbel | Ramesses II and Nefertari | New Kingdom | 2 h |
| Amada | Lake Nasser | Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty | New Kingdom | On a Lake Nasser cruise |
| Wadi el-Sebua | Lake Nasser | Ramesses II, Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty | New Kingdom | On a Lake Nasser cruise |
| Hibis | Kharga Oasis | Amun | Late Period | 1 h |
Which temples to see first
On a first trip, the essential four are Karnak, the largest temple complex ever built; Luxor Temple, best seen at dusk; Edfu, the most complete temple in Egypt; and Abu Simbel. A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan adds Kom Ombo, Philae and often Esna. With an extra day in Luxor, Dendera and the Temple of Seti I at Abydos are two of the most beautiful and least crowded.
How to visit Egypt's temples
- By Nile cruise: the easiest way to see the temples between Luxor and Aswan. See our Luxor–Aswan cruises or, for Nubia, a Lake Nasser cruise.
- By day tour: our Luxor day tours, Aswan day tours, the Dendera and Abydos tour and the Abu Simbel day tour.
- Timing: start early. Temples open around sunrise, and the light, the heat and the crowds are all better before 10 am, especially from May to September.
- Tickets are bought per site; some areas (such as the inner rooms at Dendera or extra tombs on the West Bank) cost extra. Your guide handles them.
Background reading: the gods you will meet in the temples, ancient Egyptian architecture and Ramesses II, who built more temples than any other pharaoh.
Egyptian temples: frequently asked questions
What is the largest temple in Egypt?
Karnak in Luxor. Built and extended for some two thousand years, it is the largest temple complex ever built, with the Great Hypostyle Hall of 134 columns at its heart.
Which is the best-preserved temple in Egypt?
The Temple of Horus at Edfu, with its roof, walls and inscriptions almost complete. Dendera is close behind, with painted ceilings that still keep their colour.
How many temples can I see in a week?
A week with a Nile cruise covers about eight to ten major temples: Karnak, Luxor, the West Bank temples, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, plus Abu Simbel if you add it.
What is the difference between a temple and a tomb?
Temples were built above ground for worship or to honour a king; tombs were where the dead were buried, such as the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
Can I visit the temples on my own?
Yes, but there is almost no explanation on site. A guide makes the reliefs and the history readable and handles tickets and timings.
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Abydos
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Kharga Oasis
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Esna
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Qena
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Luxor
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Kom Ombo
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Edfu
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Aswan
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Amada
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Abu Simbel
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Dahshur
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Giza
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Meidum
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