Getting around Luxor
Luxor is small — the East Bank centre is walkable — but crossing the Nile and reaching West Bank tombs needs planning. Here's what to use when.
Blue calèche horse-carriage on the Corniche in Luxor
On foot and by microbus
The Corniche between the Winter Palace and Karnak is 3km, all flat, and pleasant on foot in winter. Shared microbuses run the same route for $0.20 — flag them down, pay the driver. They also run to the train station and the airport road. In summer, use them; walking noon-to-4 is punishing.
Taxis and Uber
Uber and Careem both operate in Luxor and remove all haggling — a Corniche ride is $1-2, station to Corniche $2-3, East Bank to West Bank via the bridge $8-10. Regular white taxis want $3-5 for the same short trips and negotiate. For a West Bank day, hire a driver for $25-40 with waiting — arrange through your hotel or the driver's WhatsApp.
Crossing the Nile
Public ferry: from the landing opposite Luxor Temple, runs every 15 minutes 6am-10pm, $0.30. Motorboat: same landing, $3-5 for a private crossing on demand. Bridge: 7km south of town, only if you’re in a car. The ferry is the daily local experience — take it once even if you’re mostly in taxis.
West Bank transport
At the West Bank ferry landing there's a scrum of taxis, pickups and tuk-tuks. Fair rates: tuk-tuk to a village $2, taxi to Valley of the Kings $8-10 one way, full-day car with driver $25-40. Bike hire is $3-5 a day from Gezira guesthouses — great for the flat village lanes but you’ll cook in summer.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
No. Drivers are cheap, roads have checkpoints, and parking at sites is unregulated. Not worth it.
Yes for East Bank pickups. Coverage on the West Bank is patchy — arrange your return in advance.
$5-10 for a Corniche loop, agreed before you board. Check the horse looks well cared for.
Yes — first-class train to Aswan or Cairo is comfortable and cheap. Book at the station or via Egyptian Railways online.
Hotels in Luxor
Hotels we cover across Luxor
- Merryland Hotel Luxor 3★
- Moon House of Luxor 3★
- Morris Hotel 3★
- Mountain View Apartments 3★
- MS Nephtis Nile Cruise 3★
- MS Royal Adventure 3★
- Nile Compound Garden 3★
- Nile Cruise book NOW 3 & 4 nights 3★
- Nile Dream Apartments House 3★
- Nile Front Luxor Apt Sleeps 6 with Pool 3★
- Nile Jewel Suites 3★
- Nile Residence 3★
- Noor Seen House 3★
- Nubian Eco Village Villa 3★
- Orient Grand Rose Nile Cruise Every Saturday from Luxor for 07 & 04 Nights Every Wednesday From Aswan for 03 Nights 3★
- Orient Sun Times Nile Cruise Every Monday from Luxor for 04 & 07 Nights Every Friday From Aswan for 03 Nights 3★
- Oscar Apartment 1 in Luxor City 3★
- Partner Tutotel Hotel Luxor 3★
- Pharaoh apatrtment 3★
- Pharaohs Guest House 3★
- Ramses 3★
- Ramsses Palace 3★
- Rawan apartments 3★
- Salem & Renča Guest House 3★
More guides to Luxor
All guides
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48 hours in Luxor
Two days is enough to see the essentials on both banks of the Nile if you start early and split your time 50/50 between East and West.
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One week in Luxor
Seven days lets you cover both banks properly, add two day trips, and still have a slow morning or two on a rooftop with a pot of hibiscus.
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Luxor in 3 days on a budget
You can do Luxor's headline sites on under $50 a day if you use the public ferry, share taxis, and eat where the guides eat.
Compare hotels across the East Bank, West Bank and Karnak Village — every booking funds one verified tonne of carbon removal.