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Overview
Karnak Temple
Karnak Temple is the largest religious complex ever built, covering approximately 200 acres on the east bank of the Nile at Luxor. It was the primary cult center of the god Amun-Ra and the religious and economic capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BCE). The complex is not a single temple but a collection of sanctuaries, pylons, obelisks, sacred lakes, and auxiliary temples constructed by some 30 different pharaohs over more than 2,000 years.
The most celebrated single space is the Great Hypostyle Hall, completed under Ramesses II. It covers 5,000 square meters and contains 134 massive sandstone columns in 16 rows. The central columns stand 21 meters tall; traces of the original painted decoration — red, blue, yellow, and green — survive on the upper sections. Karnak also controlled hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural land and employed tens of thousands of priests, craftsmen, and servants at its peak.
The complex is connected to Luxor Temple 2.7 km to the south by the Avenue of Sphinxes, reopened in 2021 after 70 years of excavation and restoration.
Photo Gallery
Interesting Facts
Karnak covers approximately 200 acres — large enough to contain both St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Forbidden City in Beijing simultaneously
The Great Hypostyle Hall covers 5,000 square meters and contains 134 columns, the tallest of which stand 21 meters with capitals 3.6 meters in diameter
Approximately 30 different pharaohs contributed to the complex over more than 2,000 years
Akhenaten's Aten temples at Karnak, demolished after his death, were incorporated as fill in Horemheb's pylons; scholars reconstructed the facades from 36,000 recovered talatat blocks
The sacred lake measures 120 by 77 meters and was used for priestly ritual purification; priests bathed four times daily
History & Significance
The earliest structures at Karnak date to the Middle Kingdom reign of Senusret I (c. 1971–1926 BCE). The complex reached its architectural and political peak during the New Kingdom, when successive pharaohs competed to leave the grandest additions: Thutmose I erected the first two surviving pylons and obelisks; Hatshepsut added two obelisks (one still standing at 29.5 meters, the tallest in Egypt); Amenhotep III built the third pylon; and Ramesses II completed the Hypostyle Hall.
During the Amarna Period, Akhenaten built a series of temples to the Aten at Karnak. After his death, Horemheb demolished these and used the talatat blocks as fill in his own pylons — inadvertently preserving 36,000 blocks from which scholars have partially reconstructed the Amarna-era facades.
Karnak was in use continuously from the Middle Kingdom until the Christian era — a span of roughly 2,000 years.
What to See
Great Hypostyle Hall
134 sandstone columns up to 21 meters tall, with surviving traces of original polychrome painted decoration — the most imposing ancient Egyptian interior space.
Obelisks of Hatshepsut and Thutmose I
Hatshepsut's standing obelisk at 29.5 meters is the tallest in Egypt — one of four ancient obelisks visible within the complex.
Sacred Lake
A large rectangular artificial lake used for priestly purification rituals, bordered by stone quays; its surrounding walkway is used for the Sound and Light Show at night.
Open Air Museum
Reassembled chapels and structures from dismantled monuments including the White Chapel of Senusret I — one of the finest pieces of Middle Kingdom relief carving.
Avenue of Ram-headed Sphinxes
A ceremonial avenue of criosphinxes leads from the main entrance to the first pylon — each sphinx cradling a small figure of Ramesses II between its paws.
Karnak Temple Tickets and Prices (2026)
Karnak is the largest religious site of the ancient world, and one ticket covers the main precinct of Amun-Ra. Prices below are the official ones for foreign visitors, as listed by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in October 2026.
| Ticket | Adult | Student |
|---|---|---|
| Karnak Temple | EGP 600 | EGP 300 |
| Open Air Museum (inside Karnak) | separate small ticket, sold at the main gate | |
| Sound and light show (evening) | separate ticket | |
Students need a valid student card and must be 24 or younger. Children under six enter free. Phone photography is free. Bring a bank card, as payment at the major sites is now mostly by card.
Opening Hours and the Best Time to Visit
Karnak opens every day at 6:00 AM, with last entry at 4:00 PM all year, including Ramadan.
- Early morning is the best time: the low sun throws light between the columns of the Hypostyle Hall, and the big groups arrive later.
- Late afternoon is the other quiet window, with warm light on the pylons.
- Summer: Karnak is huge and mostly unshaded, so finish by mid-morning from May to September.
A Route Through Karnak
Karnak grew for about 2,000 years as pharaoh after pharaoh added to it, so it helps to walk it in order, from the river towards the sanctuary:
- The Avenue of Ram-headed Sphinxes in front of the First Pylon, the start of the processional road that runs to Luxor Temple. See the Avenue of Sphinxes.
- The Great Court, with the Kiosk of Taharqa and the colossal statue of Pinedjem.
- The Great Hypostyle Hall: 134 columns, the tallest about 21 metres high, carved under Seti I and Ramesses II. It is the reason most people come.
- The obelisks of Thutmose I and Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut's, nearly 30 metres tall, is the tallest still standing in Egypt.
- The Sacred Lake and the giant granite scarab, which local tradition says brings luck if you walk round it.
- The Open Air Museum, with the White Chapel of Senusret I and the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut, rebuilt from blocks found inside the pylons.
How to Get There and How Long You Need
Karnak is on the east bank of Luxor, about 3 km north of Luxor Temple: a short taxi or horse-carriage ride from the town centre, or a 30-minute walk along the Corniche. Allow two to three hours with a guide, or half a day if you want the Open Air Museum too.
| How | Best for |
|---|---|
| Luxor East Bank tour | Karnak and Luxor Temple in one half day, with a private Egyptologist. |
| Full-day Luxor tour | Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut in one day. |
| Nile cruise | Karnak is part of the Luxor sightseeing on every cruise. |
| Luxor day trip from Hurghada | A long day from the Red Sea. |
Pair Karnak with Luxor Temple, which is at its best after dark, and the Luxor Museum on the Corniche between them.
Karnak Temple Tours
See Karnak with your own Egyptologist, usually in the morning before the heat, on one of our Luxor tours, or as part of a Nile cruise or Egypt package.
Karnak Temple: Common Questions
How much is the Karnak Temple ticket in 2026?
The ticket for foreign visitors is EGP 600, or EGP 300 for students. The Open Air Museum and the evening sound and light show have separate tickets.
How long do you need at Karnak?
Two to three hours for the main temple with a guide. Add an hour for the Open Air Museum.
Which is better, Karnak or Luxor Temple?
Karnak is far bigger and has the Hypostyle Hall; Luxor Temple is smaller, in the town centre, and beautiful when lit at night. Most visitors see Karnak in the morning and Luxor Temple in the evening.
Is Karnak open in the evening?
Daytime visits end with last entry at 4:00 PM. In the evening, the sound and light show takes visitors through the temple with a separate ticket.
Karnak Temple Tours
Our Karnak Temple tours take you through the Great Hypostyle Hall and the sacred lake with an Egyptologist, usually with Luxor Temple on the same day. See the Karnak & Luxor Temples tour and the cruises and packages below.
These packages visit this site as part of the itinerary.
Cairo, Fayoum & Nile Cruise Signature Tour
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Egypt Round Tour: Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise
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Day tours & Nile cruises visiting Karnak Temple
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