Temperature in Luxor at local (Luxor) time:
This is the temperature in Luxor now. Temperatures are measured in the shade. The actual temperature may be much higher in the sun.
Click here for more about the weather, including a forecast.
These are the sun and moon rising and setting times today.
Exchange rate now
These are current exchange rates, provided by coinmill.com and updated constantly. (If the list does not appear, or has fewer than 5 currencies, it may be because the rates are being updated. Please come back to this page later).
You are not likely to get these rates outside Egypt. For a better exchange rate, get your currency when you get there, not before you go.
Click here to read more about money including other exchange rates
Click here for a list of Visa cash machines in Luxor
Visas
Most visitors need a visa to get into Luxor. Travel Agents often suggest you get one in advance. Read the page about visas to help you decide when to get yours.
Don't buy your visa from a tour rep. Many of them take huge commission without even telling you. Some British travel companies tell you the visa costs £15. It doesn't. Read more ...
Security Situation
Local celebrations on 25th and 27th January 2012 were very small scale and entirely peaceful. Some hotels took a few precautions (the Jolie Ville cancelled its courtesy bus to town on 25th, for example) but no-one who did venture out would have suffered any inconvenience. The massive gatherings reported in November in Cairo, Alexandria and other Egyptian cities, and the more recent problems in Cairo, were also not replicated in Luxor.
By and large, Luxor people are hugely affected by anything that deters tourists, because tourism is such a huge part of the local economy, so most people don't want to put you off going to Luxor and spending your money.
Nevertheless, feelings about the political situation can run high, so it is inevitable that some people, albeit relatively few, may be inclined to make some kind of gesture from time to time.
If you want to minimise the risk of being affected by any gathering there might be (and we are not suggesting there will be any) it is best to be aware of the riskiest places and the riskiest times. The places most likely to be affected are:
- the police and security headquarters in Medina Street (more or less behind the Gaddis - see the map);
- the police station near Puddleduck
and
- the Governorate next to the El Luxor hotel
The most likely times for get-togethers are after midday prayers on Fridays.
If there are demonstrations, any crowds usually gather in the paved area behind Luxor Temple. Any march would normally start there and head in the direction of the station.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are not advising against travel to Luxor, but there are some other parts of Egypt where caution is advised. Their latest advice is here. UK airlines and travel companies that serve Luxor are all providing flights and holidays as normal.
There is no curfew. The Egyptian government did introduce a 2am - 5am nationwide curfew on March 29th 2011 but it was lifted on 15th June and was not enforced in Luxor anyway.
Not all of the police and security departments are working normally since the change of government, so police response to situations can be delayed or restricted and security may be less evident than it used to be. The number of tourist police is increasing, slowly, and every now and then there is a police road block, but this seems aimed at young local motor-bikers rather than security concerns.
Hotels still have loads of vacancies. Local people report that there was a slight improvement in visitor numbers from about September 2011 but the number fell back again when troubles in other parts of Egypt started again in November that year.
Visa confusion!
On 8th September 2011 it was announced that the Egyptian cabinet had decided to require that tourists get their visas in advance, which would have prevented visitors from the UK, Europe and the USA, for example, getting visas on arrival. The cabinet spokesman (Mohamed Hegazy) said the change could be implemented within a week or so of the decision. The news caused a bit of panic amongst tourists about to go to Egypt, because there was precious little time to get visas in advance.
Thankfully, just a few days later, the Assistant Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zazou announced that Minister of Tourism, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, had agreed with the Council of Ministers to suspend the decision. It is only a suspension, not a cancellation of the change in the rules, so it could come about later, but for the time being it is 'as you were' on getting visas on arrival.
Hopefully, if the proposal is implemented, they will give more notice of the start date, or there will be major confusion at the airports. Do read the Visa page to make sure you don't pay too much for your visa on arrival.
Two hours ahead
Egypt used to be 2 hours ahead of British time most of the year but Egyptian clocks did not go forward for the summer of 2011, so Egypt was only one hour ahead of the UK all summer. However, now that the UK has changed its clocks back, Egypt is now TWO hours ahead.of the UK. Read more...
What to pack
Light cottons for the day. A woolly or fleece for the evening if you are in Luxor between November and March or if you are going to Cairo on the overnight train. Beachwear is only appropriate within the hotel grounds or on a cruise ship. There is more about this on the What to Wear page.
Airport formalities
Read the item called arriving to take you step by step through what happens when you get to the airport.
Scams
Beware of counterfeit LE100 notes circulating widely in Luxor. If anyone asks you to change a LE100 note - don't!
Read more about other scams here
What to see
Luxor is probably best known for its decorated tombs, for its temples and as a start or finish point for Nile cruises. Luxor has all this to offer and a great deal more. For a hint of things to see, visit the sights page.
Travel insurance
Insurance provided by credit card companies usually only covers you for personal accidents whilst on the journey paid for using the card - not for illness or other accidents whilst you are abroad. Check the terms with your card issuer. Free insurance offered with some bank accounts is also limited - possibly to Europe. Again, check carefully before taking it that you are covered.
Most adults under 65 can get insurance for a week, including hot air ballooning, for around £8. See the insurance page for more.
Gippy Tummy
A lot of the problems are not caused by food, but when you pick up bugs on your hands (e.g. from dirty notes) and don't have chance to wash before touching your food or your face.
It is best to take some anti-bacteria gel wherever you go and use it regularly. You can get it from most pharmacies or buy this one online at around £2 for 100ml - click the picture for more details.
If you prefer to use wipes rather than a gel, this pack costs just over £1.
For more about tummy problems see the health page.
If you are unwell
Most hotels have access to English speaking doctors. Most medicines are easily available and very cheap. Read about pharmacies on the health page. If the worst happens, Luxor has a large and quite modern hospital.
Skin care
Avon's Skin So Soft body oil is reputed to have 'anti insect' qualities as well as keeping your skin moist in the dry Egyptian heat. For more about caring for your skin in the sun see the Sun page.
Take something to read
About £30 for all eight Richard & Judy Spring 2012 bookclub books, More or less half the cover price. Click the picture for more details.
Our sponsors
We travel anonymously, pay all travelling, hotel and other costs ourselves and do not accept donations or advertising from anyone. This keeps us independent and neutral. We also do the web site design and management ourselves. We have no connection to anyone, any company or any government or private organisation in Luxor or elsewhere.
We have to pay for web hosting (that enables you to access the site from anywhere in the world). These costs are subsidised by besthighstreet.com a web site that helps visitors to find internet shops and providers of a large range of services. If you go to besthighstreet.com and use it as a shopping directory, it helps us (a lot) to keep going.
Where to stay
Most kinds of accommodation are available, from tent pitches to 5 star hotels. Read the Hotels section for a review of some.
Where to eat
Descriptions and reviews of some restaurants and cafes are in the Eating section.
Getting around
Read the page on getting around to find out about taxis, buses and the different boats that sail the Nile.
Holidays
The Holidays section has information about booking packages or just flights or hotels.
Luggage
The airlines are getting very fussy about weights. You can get a useful gadget for about £10 that includes a 34kg scale and a 1M tape, or a tiny digital one for about £15, so that you can check, and demonstrate if necessary, that your luggage is not overweight. 
These gadgets could save you a lot more than their cost in luggage supplements avoided. You can get them in travel shops or click either image for more details (and to buy online if you want to).
Reading in Luxor
Many of the bigger hotels have libraries of English language novels you can borrow. Ask at reception. Magazines are more difficult to find in Luxor. If you prefer to read magazines it is best to take them with you. You can get trials of the 3 latest issues of some major magazines for £1.
Drink plenty
It is extremely hot all year round. Dehydration is the greatest health risk. Always take plenty of water. It is cheap and easy to get safe bottled water. Keep it cool if you can, but don't drink it really cold as this may upset your stomach. More about keeping well.
Electricity
You will need a 2 pin continental type converter.
This one provides two 13 amp outlets plus a nightlight and is under £9, post free from Electric Shopping. You need the European one, not the US one. Electric Shopping also have other travel accessories, all post-free.
Balloons
Following 3 serious accidents in 2009, balloon trips were stopped for several months but restarted on 26th October 2009. There are new rules limiting the number of balloons and requiring new licensing and fees to various authorities. These things combined caused prices to increase for a while, but they have now settled back down. For more see 'Hot air balloon' on the Sights page and insurance.
New Ferries
The National Ferry now has new boats operating across the Nile. For a while the cost for tourists doubled to LE2 but it has now reverted to LE1 each way. Read other news about improvements to the city and the facilities.
Hotel changes
The Mercure Inn (Coralia) became the Swiss Inn and has since been demolished. The Mercure Hotel (Etap) on the Corniche is now the El Luxor hotel.
Emergency Numbers
Police 122
Ambulance 123
Tipping
This is often difficult. You don't want to overdo it, but you don't want to be mean. Read the tipping page for the latest guide.
Over-tipping: beware!
Beware of over-tipping! Informal traders and touts in Luxor have an extremely effective communication network. If you become known as a generous tipper, you will receive ever more attention. Read more on the tipping page.
Birds in Luxor
We have photos and details of birds seen in Luxor, and photos without details of some more we have not identified. Help welcome! More.......
Children's luggage
Not many people take children to Luxor, but if you do, look out in luggage shops for Trunki, a range of ride-on child's suitcases. They cost from around £30. If you can't find them locally, click on the picture to go to John Lewis, who sell them and will deliver free if your total order is over £30.
Situation during the January - February unrest
The local office of the ruling party, the Suzanne Mubarak library and the police station (in Medina Street more or less behind the Gaddis but one road back) were damaged and there were demonstrations, but on a small scale compared with the incidents reported on TV. The biggest were near the Governorate - next to the El Luxor hotel and on the paved area behind Luxor temple, in front of McDonald's. There were parades of vehicles on both banks of the Nile and a little looting. Tear gas was used but we are not aware of injuries.
Barriers were erected around Luxor's monuments on the East and West Bank but all sites remained open throughout as far as we can tell, although balloon flights and the Karnak sound and light shows were cancelled. A would-be looter, allegedly a police or security man, tried to get into Karnak temple but was seen off by local people.
The city centre and the market were very quiet: most tourists keeping a low profile or taken home by tour companies of all nationalities. Hotels were said to be 80% empty and cruise ship sailings severely reduced. Day trips to Luxor from the Sinai and other places were cancelled by the major tour companies but resumed around the end of February 2011.
Further Reading
Click on any cover to go straight to the bookseller's web site for more details.
These books are all priced at about 30% less than the normal retail prices.
Short book
about Esraa,
who lives in
Luxor and
whose uncle
has a felucca
Egyptian cuisine
and culture
including
ancient festivals
and modern
celebrations
If it's blue- it clicks!
Throughout this web site if any bright blue text turns to red when you point to it, you can click for more information
Extra Discounts
Use code MAY15EJH for
£15 OFF
holidays over £350 for 2 or more adults.
Online bookings made
by 31st May
This code is not for flights only - only for flight plus hotel holidays
----------------------
Click the logo to go to the company's web site.
Enter the code at the checkout
Late Deals
But see the 'Flights' page for details of reduced summer flying to Luxor.
Compare flight-only costs
Airport Parking
Click the heading for discounted airport parking and low cost 'meet and greet'
Cheaper mobile calls
See the phoning page for details of holiday sims or international sim cards.
If you only go to Egypt, an Egyptian holiday SIM card is your best bet.
New pages
(Most recent first)
Ramadan
Does it affect tourism?
Sun
Forecasts, protection
Accessibility and mobility
Getting to and around Luxor with mobility problems
Alcohol
Where to drink, where to buy, commonly available types of wine and beer
Scams
Common scams and how to avoid them
Updated pages
(most recent update first)
Central map
Southern area map
Getting Around (Bikes added and prices updated)
Sights (prices updated Feb 2012)
Alcohol
Jolie Ville hotel
Most restaurants
Money (American Express machines added)
Links
Scams
News
Transfers (in Luxor)
What to wear
Phoning
Popular pages
The most popular pages on LuxorTravelTips at the moment are:
Arriving
What to wear
Visas
Maps
Weather
Sights
Restaurants
Holidays
Health
Hotels
Your photos
PhotoBox print your digital photos and despatch them on the same working day if you place your order before 4pm. Click here to register and they will give you at least 30 free prints (usually 40, sometimes more - check their web site). You just pay about £1.50 postage.
Truprint will give you at least 20 free prints for registering (sometimes 30 or 40) and only charge 99p postage but don't have such a good range of print sizes. You will find a chart that shows which photoprint companies print which sizes at www.besthighstreet.com.