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Sun setting behind the Theban hills on the West Bank of Luxor
The necropolis · ferry + 10 min

Al-Qurna

Al-Qurna is the West Bank settlement at the foot of the hills where the trade is proximity to the tombs, and the cost is a river crossing for almost everything else.

Find a stay here→ Should you stay here?
West Bank
Side of the river
4 km
From the centre
Somewhere to sleep
What it is
2
Things to do here
Stay here if
  • You want the Tombs of the Nobles and the alabaster workshops within walking distance of your bed.
  • Your days start early for the hills and you are back on the farmland side before the ferry slows down.
  • You are content to keep meals and services for the other West Bank settlements or for the East Bank.
  • You have a driver or a plan for evenings, because the ferries and private boats stop at night and late returns go by the bridge.
Stay elsewhere if
  • You want dinner and the centre on foot after dark, in which case stay in Luxor city on the East Bank.
  • You need the station or an early train without a bridge crossing, which points to Luxor City Center.
  • You want restaurants and cafes at the door rather than in another settlement, which is what New Qurna and the West Bank settlements offer.
  • You would rather not depend on a boat or a bridge for every movement, in which case the Corniche al-Nil side is simpler.

What Al-Qurna is like

Al-Qurna sits on the West Bank, south of the city and at the foot of the hills that hold the Tombs of the Nobles. The settlement is small and the streets are sandy, with houses and workshops mixed together. You arrive by the road that runs along the farmland, or by bridge if the ferries have stopped. The alabaster workshops are part of the place, not a separate stop.

Daily life here is quiet. Mornings are for the hills; the tombs open early and the light is better then. Afternoons are for the workshops, where you can watch carving and buy directly. Meals and services are limited: you eat in New Qurna or on the East Bank. Evenings are very still. The ferries and private boats stop at night, so late returns go by the bridge.

The trade is simple: you get the tombs and the workshops within walking distance of your bed. In exchange, you cross the river for almost everything else. Dinner, the station and the centre are on the other side. You need a driver or a plan for evenings, and you should be content with a very quiet night. If you want restaurants at the door, stay elsewhere.

What you came for

All things to do →

A day based here

Basing yourself here puts the hills and the workshops at your door, but every meal and every evening out becomes a crossing or a drive.

05:40 Hills before the road: the light reaches the West Bank hills before the road traffic builds, and the Tombs of the Nobles are the nearest thing to do.
07:00 Tombs of the Nobles: opening hours change seasonally, so check the operator's page for your date before you walk up.
09:30 Alabaster workshops: the West Bank alabaster workshops sit within the area and are the other stopped-in-place thing here.
12:00 Cross to the East Bank: the public ferry runs every few minutes in daylight, and private boats are on demand, so the middle of the day is the easy window.
17:30 Back before the ferry slows: return while the public ferry is still running, because after that the bridge is the only crossing.
19:30 Quiet evening: the workshops close, the ferry slows, and most eating places are in other West Bank settlements or across the river.

Where to sleep in Al-Qurna

Places to sleep in Al-Qurna are small guesthouses and simple hotels, often run by local families, with the tombs and workshops within walking distance.

Every stay in Al-Qurna

All 6, by guest rating. No prices here: availability is checked live for your dates.

Getting here and around

River crossing Public ferry The public ferry runs every few minutes in daylight and connects the West Bank with the East Bank. It stops at night, so plan the last crossing before you commit to an evening across the river.
River crossing Private boat Private boats cross on demand and give you a departure at your own time rather than the ferry's rhythm. They also stop at night, so a late return still means the bridge.
Road Bridge The bridge is south of the city and is the road crossing between the banks. It is the fallback when the ferries and boats have stopped, and it adds distance compared with the river.
On foot Walking to the tombs Al-Qurna sits on the farmland side close to the Tombs of the Nobles, so the nearest sites are walkable from the settlement. Opening hours change seasonally, so check the operator's page for your date.

Neighbouring areas

All 15 areas →

Al-Qurna questions

Can I stay in Al-Qurna without a car?+

Yes, if your days are built around the Tombs of the Nobles and the alabaster workshops, which are within walking distance. For the centre, the station or East Bank hotels you need the public ferry, a private boat or the bridge. The ferries and boats stop at night, so late returns rely on the bridge.

Getting Around Luxor →

Where do people eat when they stay here?+

Most eating places are in other West Bank settlements or across the river, not in Al-Qurna itself. New Qurna and the wider West Bank have more choice, and the East Bank has the widest. Plan the crossing around your meal rather than expecting it at the door.

Cheap eats in Luxor →

Is Al-Qurna a good base for the Valley of the Kings?+

It is on the West Bank and close to the hills, so the Valley of the Kings is a short journey rather than a crossing. The Tombs of the Nobles are the site actually within walking distance of the settlement. Opening hours change seasonally, so check the operator's page for your date.

Valley of the Kings →

What is there to do in Al-Qurna itself?+

The two things named for this area are the Tombs of the Nobles and the West Bank alabaster workshops. Medinat Habu and New Qurna are nearby for more sites and services. Evenings are quiet here, so the day is the point.

Tombs of the Nobles →

Should I stay in Al-Qurna or on the East Bank?+

Al-Qurna suits waking under the hills and being close to the tombs, and it does not suit wanting the centre on foot, late dinners or easy station access. For those, stay in Luxor city on the East Bank. The trade is proximity to the West Bank sites against a crossing for everything else.

East Bank →

Book Al-Qurna for the tombs.

For early starts at the Tombs of the Nobles and a very quiet night, if you have a plan for meals and evenings.

Search stays Compare the East Bank