Karnak Temple: opening hours, tickets, visit and tips

Karnak Temple, on the east bank of Luxor, is open every day from 6 am to 5 pm according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. For a foreign visitor, the adult ticket costs 600 Egyptian pounds (EGP) and gives access to the temple and the Karnak Open Air Museum; the Temple of Mut, in the same complex, has its own ticket at 200 EGP. This page details what each ticket covers, the most logical order of visit, sunrise and sunset times month by month and the safety rules to know.

Karnak is the main visit on the east bank. To plan the rest of your stay (west bank, accommodation, transfers), see our guide to visiting Luxor and our page on traveling to Egypt.

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Karnak in brief: a complex, not a single temple

The ancient Egyptians called the site Ipet-Sut, « the most select of places ». According to the ministry’s page, Karnak is in fact a group of temples and chapels organized into several zones: the Precinct of Amun, the largest, where the cult of Amun of Thebes took place; the Precinct of Mut, his consort, to the south; the Precinct of Montu to the north; and, to the east, the temple of Akhenaten dedicated to the Aten. The priesthood of Amun was extremely wealthy and politically powerful.

The great temple of Amun follows an east-west axis, like most Egyptian temples, which echoed the sun’s path. A particularity noted by the ministry: it also has a north-south axis, facing Luxor Temple, to which it was linked by an avenue lined with sphinxes, used during one of the great festivals of ancient Egypt.

Ticket (foreign visitors)	Adult	Student	What it covers
Karnak Temple (combined ticket)	600 EGP	300 EGP	Karnak Temple and the Karnak Open Air Museum
Temple of Mut	200 EGP	100 EGP	Precinct of Mut, south of the complex

Two points to remember. First, the main ticket includes the Open Air Museum: there is no need to buy another ticket inside for that part. Second, the Temple of Mut is not included: decide before you reach the ticket desk whether you want to see it. The official page mentions no child rate: ask at the ticket office if you travel with family.

Official ticket or reseller?

Many platforms sell « skip-the-line tickets » or guided visits of Karnak, sometimes with hotel transfer or combined with Luxor Temple. Before paying, check three things: whether the price really includes the official entry ticket (600 EGP on the date of our check) or only the guide; whether the Temple of Mut is included; and the cancellation terms. Sites that still show 200 or 220 EGP are using old prices: the only reference is the ministry’s page.

Opening hours and best time to visit

The official page gives the same range for every day of the week: 6 am to 5 pm. As the site is largely open-air, light and heat set the rhythm of the visit. The table below gives sunrise and sunset at Karnak on the 15th of each month: it shows, for example, how long you have between opening and closing with the sun high or low.

Month	Sunrise	Sunset	Day length
January	6:37 am	5:19 pm	10 h 42 min
February	6:24 am	5:42 pm	11 h 18 min
March	5:59 am	5:58 pm	11 h 59 min
April	5:26 am	6:12 pm	12 h 45 min
May	6:04 am	7:27 pm	13 h 24 min
June	5:57 am	7:41 pm	13 h 44 min
July	6:07 am	7:43 pm	13 h 36 min
August	6:22 am	7:25 pm	13 h 03 min
September	6:35 am	6:54 pm	12 h 19 min
October	6:47 am	6:22 pm	11 h 34 min
November	6:06 am	5:00 pm	10 h 54 min
December	6:27 am	5:00 pm	10 h 33 min

What the figures show: in December, the sun rises around 6:27 am and sets around 5:00 pm, right at the 5 pm closing; arriving at opening lets you enjoy the low light on the columns. In June, the sun is already up at opening and it is light well after closing: the first hours are then the most pleasant for walking. For month-by-month climate, see our page on the best time to visit Egypt.

What to see: suggested route

The Precinct of Amun holds most of the highlights. A logical route follows the main axis, from west to east:

1. The avenue of sphinxes and the first pylon: this is the entrance to the great temple of Amun, on the east-west axis.
2. The great hypostyle hall: according to the ministry, a « forest » of 134 columns 15 meters (49 ft) high, of which the 12 central columns reach 21 meters (69 ft). It may have been begun under Amenhotep III, but most of the construction and all of the decoration date from Seti I and his son Ramesses II (19th dynasty).
3. The obelisks: the largest, raised by Hatshepsut, measures nearly 30 meters (98 ft) and weighs more than 300 tonnes.
4. The Akh-menu: at the eastern end, the temple of Thutmose III dedicated to various deities, to his royal predecessors and to his own cult.
5. The Open Air Museum: included in the main ticket.
6. The Temple of Mut (optional): to the south, with its separate ticket.

The official page does not publish a recommended visit time. Allow half a day if you want to see the Precinct of Amun and the Open Air Museum without rushing, more if you add Mut: this is a common-sense estimate, not an official figure.

Karnak and Luxor Temple

Karnak and Luxor Temple were linked by the processional avenue of sphinxes described by the ministry. Both are easy to visit on the same day on the east bank; the west bank (Valley of the Kings, funerary temples) needs a day of its own. Our Luxor page gives an overview, and our page on Nile cruises explains how Karnak fits into itineraries between Luxor and Aswan.

Getting there, transport and organization

Karnak is on the east bank, in the Luxor urban area. The official page does not detail how to get there; visitors generally come by taxi or with a guide. For taxis, agree the fare with the driver before you set off. If you book a guided visit, a transfer or a cruise that includes Karnak, compare the site’s official program (hours, tickets) with what the organizer promises.

Tours, transfers and eSIM

For mobile internet, our travel eSIM guide explains how to check your phone’s compatibility. For entering the country, see entry requirements for Egypt.

Safety: what the US and UK governments say

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 Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings. The FCDO also says terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals, and advises vigilance in crowds. According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025, read 26 October 2026), travelers should stay alert throughout the country due to the threat of terrorism and exercise caution in crowds and in isolated sections of temples and pyramids.

Two rules concern a visit to Karnak directly. The State Department says it is illegal to photograph police stations, military barracks and certain other sensitive public buildings, and that visitors may not bring drones or satellite phones into Egypt, which will be taken and not returned; the FCDO likewise says officials are likely to confiscate satellite phones unless you have prior clearance. For travel between cities, the FCDO says not to drive outside main cities and resorts at night.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Relying on an old price: the 200 or 220 EGP still shown on some sites no longer matches the official 600 EGP rate.
2. Assuming the whole complex is included: the Temple of Mut has its own ticket.
3. Arriving in the late afternoon: the site closes at 5 pm according to the official page.
4. Bringing a drone: visitors may not bring drones into Egypt, and the equipment can be confiscated.
5. Photographing police or military at entrance checks: this is not allowed.

What to see nearby

• Luxor: Luxor Temple, the west bank, trip planning.
• Abu Simbel: the temples of Ramesses II, farther south.
• Nile cruise: the classic itinerary between Luxor and Aswan.
• Giza pyramids: the country’s other must-see.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: « Karnak » page (hours, prices, description), egymonuments.gov.eg, consulted on 27 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
• Site coordinates: Wikipedia, « Karnak » article
• Sunrise, sunset and day length: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, Africa/Cairo time zone, coordinates of Karnak Temple (Wikipedia), on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
• Our methodology

Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.