The Abu Simbel temples, cut into the rock by Ramesses II around 1264 BCE, are open every day from 6 am to 5 pm; entry costs 750 Egyptian pounds (EGP) for a foreign adult (375 EGP for a student), and 1,200 EGP on 22 February and 22 October, the days when the sun lights up the back of the sanctuary, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The site is in southern Egypt, near the Sudanese border: US and UK government travel advice covers the border areas, which we summarize below with the source and date. This page brings together official prices and hours, the sunrise time, the climate and practical points. For the rest of the country, see our guide to visiting Egypt.
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Abu Simbel: key facts
- Opening hours: 6 am – 5 pm, every day — checked 24 October 2026 on egymonuments.gov.eg (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
- Foreign visitor rate: adult 750 EGP, student 375 EGP; on 22 February and 22 October: 1,200 EGP and 600 EGP.
- Vehicles: car or taxi 25 EGP, minibus 50 EGP, coach 100 EGP (vehicle ticket).
- Two temples: the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari.
- World Heritage: « Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae », listed in 1979 (UNESCO).
- Safety: Egyptian border areas and the road south of Abu Simbel toward Sudan are covered by official travel advice (see Access and safety below).
Opening hours and tickets
| Ticket (foreign visitors) | Adult | Student |
|---|---|---|
| Regular days | 750 EGP | 375 EGP |
| 22 February and 22 October | 1,200 EGP | 600 EGP |
The ministry also publishes a ticket for vehicles (25 EGP for a car or taxi, 50 EGP for a minibus, 75 EGP for a coaster, 100 EGP for a bus): if it is included in your excursion, it should not be billed to you again.
Tickets: official vs resellers
The entry ticket is paid on site at the official rate above. Excursions sold from Aswan add transport and sometimes an Egyptologist guide: compare what is included (entry, vehicle ticket, guide) and be wary of « all-inclusive » prices that do not state the entry amount. For somewhere to stay, our guide to visiting Aswan presents the city and its islands.
Some sites still quote old prices (240 EGP for example): the only reference is the ministry’s page.
What to see
The Great Temple of Ramesses II
Its facade is dominated by four seated colossi of the king. One collapsed in an earthquake in antiquity: its fragments are still on the ground. Inside, standing statues of the king line the great hall up to the sanctuary, where four deities sit: Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah and the deified Ramesses II (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities).
The Small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari
To the north, a second rock-cut temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and to Nefertari, the king’s great royal wife. On its facade, the queen’s colossi are the same size as the king’s, a very rare example according to the ministry.
A relocated temple
Threatened by the lake created by the Aswan High Dam, both temples were moved from their original location; the ministry dates the completion of this move to 1968. The operation was part of the international campaign launched by UNESCO in 1960 and continued until 1980, which also saved the sanctuary of Isis at Philae.
22 February and 22 October: the sun in the sanctuary
The ministry explains that the temple was built with such precision that on two days a year, 22 February and 22 October, the sun’s rays pass through the great hall and light up the statues in the sanctuary. On those days the ticket costs more and crowds are large: if you want to attend, plan very early.
Our calculation: at Abu Simbel, the sun rises at 6:20 am on 22 February 2027 and at 6:52 am on 22 October 2027 (Egyptian local time, daylight saving time included in October). With opening posted at 6 am, you need to be on site right at opening to see the first rays; ask your operator or staff on site about any specific hours on those two days.
Sunrise month by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:35 am | 5:30 pm | 10 h 55 min |
| February | 6:25 am | 5:50 pm | 11 h 25 min |
| March | 6:02 am | 6:02 pm | 12 h 00 min |
| April | 5:33 am | 6:13 pm | 12 h 40 min |
| May | 6:13 am | 7:26 pm | 13 h 12 min |
| June | 6:09 am | 7:38 pm | 13 h 30 min |
| July | 6:18 am | 7:40 pm | 13 h 23 min |
| August | 6:30 am | 7:25 pm | 12 h 55 min |
| September | 6:40 am | 6:57 pm | 12 h 17 min |
| October | 6:49 am | 6:28 pm | 11 h 39 min |
| November | 6:05 am | 5:10 pm | 11 h 05 min |
| December | 6:25 am | 5:11 pm | 10 h 47 min |
Climate: why come early
Abu Simbel is in the middle of the Nubian desert. With no published normals for a station at the site, here are those of Aswan, the nearest large city, which give the order of magnitude.
| Month | Max °C (°F) | Min °C (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 23.2 (74) | 10.0 (50) |
| February | 25.9 (79) | 11.7 (53) |
| March | 30.3 (87) | 15.5 (60) |
| April | 35.5 (96) | 20.1 (68) |
| May | 39.5 (103) | 24.6 (76) |
| June | 41.6 (107) | 26.7 (80) |
| July | 41.9 (107) | 27.8 (82) |
| August | 41.9 (107) | 27.9 (82) |
| September | 40.0 (104) | 25.5 (78) |
| October | 36.4 (98) | 22.3 (72) |
| November | 29.8 (86) | 16.2 (61) |
| December | 24.5 (76) | 11.4 (53) |
Our reading: from May to September, the average maximum exceeds 39 °C (102 °F) in Aswan. A visit at opening, at 6 am, avoids the worst of the heat. To choose your month, see the best time to visit Egypt.
Access and safety
You reach Abu Simbel from Aswan by road, or on organized tours. We give no travel time or timetables, for lack of an up-to-date official source: ask your operator.
According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026, read 26 October 2026), the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta, with an exception that expressly includes Abu Simbel (along with Luxor, Qina, Aswan and the Valley of the Kings). According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025, read 26 October 2026), U.S. citizens should avoid all Egyptian border areas, including the Libyan and Sudanese borders, and travelers need permission from Egyptian Military Intelligence and the Tourist Police to access the border areas, arranged through a travel agency.
In practice: the site itself is not listed among the areas advised against, but do not continue on the road south toward Sudan or into the desert to the west, and follow the instructions of the authorities and your operator on routes. See entry requirements for Egypt for visa and passport rules.
Preparing your visit
- Time: see the time difference with Egypt (daylight saving time applies for part of the year).
- Bring water, a hat, and Egyptian pounds for small expenses.
- Insurance: travel insurance guide.
Common mistakes
- Paying for an excursion without knowing whether entry (750 EGP) is included.
- Relying on old prices published online.
- Arriving in the middle of the day in summer.
- Aiming for 22 February or 22 October without planning ahead.
- Continuing on the road south of Abu Simbel.
What to see nearby
- Luxor and its temples.
- The Giza pyramids.
- Cairo.
- The Red Sea: Marsa Alam or Hurghada.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Abu Simbel cost?
750 EGP for a foreign adult and 375 EGP for a student; 1,200 and 600 EGP on 22 February and 22 October (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, checked 24 October 2026).
What are Abu Simbel’s opening hours?
From 6 am to 5 pm every day, according to the ministry.
When does the sun enter the Abu Simbel temple?
On 22 February and 22 October: the rays pass through the great hall and light up the statues in the sanctuary, according to the ministry.
Is Abu Simbel safe to visit?
The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026) lists Abu Simbel among the places excepted from its advice against all but essential travel to the Western Desert, while the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025) advises U.S. citizens to avoid Egyptian border areas, including the Sudanese border. Check the latest advice before you go.
Why was the temple moved?
To save it from the waters of the lake created by the Aswan High Dam; the move was completed in 1968, as part of UNESCO’s international campaign.
Our sources
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: « Abu Simbel » page (egymonuments.gov.eg), consulted on 24 October 2026
- UNESCO, World Heritage Centre: « Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae » (No. 88), consulted on 24 October 2026
- UK FCDO, Egypt travel advice (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026), consulted on 26 October 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Egypt travel advisory (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), consulted on 26 October 2026
- World Meteorological Organization, 1991–2020 normals for Aswan, via Wikipedia (« Aswan » article)
- Sunrise and sunset: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, Africa/Cairo time zone, coordinates of Abu Simbel, on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and safety advice change: check the official websites before you go.