Luxor Museums, Carter House and Light Show
When the midday sun makes the temples a bad idea, Luxor has a second tier of attractions with a roof or a floodlight. Four of them fill a gap in the day and cost a fraction of the big tomb tickets.
Luxor Museum
The Luxor Museum is the polished one, with climate-controlled galleries and a small, well-chosen collection from Thebes. Adult entry is about EGP 400 (about EGP 200 for students). Look for the calcite statue of Sobek with Amenhotep III, and the cache of royal statues found hidden in Luxor Temple in 1989. The museum also holds the mummies of Ahmose I and Ramesses I. An audioguide and an hour in the cool make a calm start or finish to a hot day.
Mummification Museum
Compact and quick, the Mummification Museum sits on the east bank corniche. Entry is about EGP 220 for adults and about EGP 110 for students. It explains the long embalming process, with bronze instruments, canopic jars, natron salts and animal mummies of cats, crocodiles, rams and baboons. It suits an hour, and it is a good choice for restless visitors.
Carter’s House
Howard Carter lived in a domed mudbrick house on the west bank during his search for Tutankhamun’s tomb. The house has been restored, and beside it stands a 3D replica of the tomb made by Factum Arte. The replica lets you study the painted burial chamber at ease. Hours and entry change, so ask your hotel or guide for the current details before heading out.
Karnak sound and light
After dark, the Karnak show lights up the Great Hypostyle Hall and the pylons, with narration and music about the building of the temple, seated by the Sacred Lake. It is sold on its own ticket. Reseller prices sit around USD 42 to 77, with an English start around 7pm, though schedules vary by night, so check the Karnak sound and light site for the current programme. You can compare packages with a GetYourGuide search for Karnak shows .
Paying and practicalities
Plan on paying by card at the main ticket gates. Per-museum payment rules vary, so carry small EGP cash as a backup, and use it for ferries, taxis and tips. Flash photography is banned in the museums and the tombs, and camera permits vary, so check at the gate. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities site is the official reference for the sites.
For the major sites, see the sightseeing page .
Tip: book the Luxor Museum for 11:00 to 13:00, after your early start at the temples, and see the Karnak show on a different night.