Karnak Temple Complex
معابد الكرنك
The largest temple complex in ancient Egypt, featuring a hypostyle hall with 134 giant columns and the Great Temple of Amun, expanded over two thousand years.
Karnak Temple lies on the east bank of the Nile, about 3 km north of Luxor city. It was the religious center dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut and Khonsu. It was expanded continually from the Middle Kingdom through the Ptolemaic period. Covering more than 100 hectares, it is the largest ancient religious complex in the world.
The core highlight is the Precinct of Amun. Along the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes at the entrance, the hypostyle hall lies beyond the second pylon. Its 134 giant stone columns, the tallest reaching 21 meters, are covered in colorful relief carvings. Standing among the forest of columns gives a direct sense of the scale of ancient Egyptian architecture. Other highlights include the obelisk of Hatshepsut (about 30 meters, one of the tallest surviving ancient obelisks in Egypt), the sacred lake, and the scarab statue, said to bring good luck if you walk around it seven times.
A suggested route runs west to east along the central axis, then turns south to the seventh through tenth pylons. Entry costs about 600 Egyptian pounds (prices change often, so check on site). The open-air museum costs extra. A sound and light show runs in the evening. From downtown Luxor, it is about 10 minutes by horse-drawn carriage or taxi. There is almost no shade on the grounds, so it is extremely hot at midday. For commentary, hire a licensed guide or rent an audio guide.
Opening hours
06:00–17:30 (until 18:00 in summer)
Nearby sights
- Avenue of Sphinxes
- Luxor Museum
- Mummification Museum
- Luxor Souk
- Luxor Temple
- Nile Felucca & Luxor Corniche
- Winter Palace Hotel
- Howard Carter House