Five of Egypt's Greatest Monuments

17 سبتمبر 2026

Egypt has more ancient monuments than almost any other country, and choosing which ones to see can be hard. These five of Egypt's greatest monuments sit on almost every first-time itinerary in Upper Egypt, and together they tell the story of the country from the age of the pharaohs to the 20th century.

1. The Temple of Karnak

Karnak in Luxor is the largest temple complex of ancient Egypt. Pharaohs added to it for around 2,000 years, so it contains the Great Temple of Amun, the Temple of Khonsu, the Temple of Ptah, sacred lakes, obelisks and pylons. Its most famous part is the Great Hypostyle Hall with 134 giant columns covered in carvings. Plan at least two hours, ideally early in the morning.

2. The Valley of the Kings

On the west bank of Luxor lies the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of New Kingdom pharaohs for about 500 years. More than 60 tombs have been found here, including the tomb of Tutankhamun. A standard ticket includes three tombs; some, like Tutankhamun and Seti I, need an extra ticket. The painted walls inside are among the best-preserved art of ancient Egypt.

3. The Temples of Abu Simbel

Ramesses II carved two temples into a sandstone cliff near the Sudanese border: one for himself and one for his queen Nefertari. In the 1960s, when the Aswan High Dam was built, both temples were cut into blocks and moved higher up to save them from the rising water of Lake Nasser. Twice a year, around 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun lights up the statues in the inner sanctuary.

4. Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple stands in the middle of modern Luxor and was built mainly by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. It was linked to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes, which is open to visitors again today. The temple is especially beautiful in the evening, when it is lit up after sunset.

5. The Aswan High Dam

Completed in 1970, the Aswan High Dam controls the Nile flood and produces electricity for much of Egypt. It also created Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, and started the international rescue campaign that saved Abu Simbel, Philae and many Nubian temples.