On the East Bank, walking covers the city centre, Luxor Temple and the Corniche, and short taxi rides cover the rest, including Karnak. To reach the West Bank, cross by the public ferry or a motorboat if you are on foot, or by taxi over a road bridge if you have luggage or are going straight to the monuments. On the West Bank, the monuments are spread out, so a taxi or a driver for the morning is the normal way to see them.
Crossing the Nile
Getting around the East Bank
The city centre is compact: the railway station to Luxor Temple is about 0.9 km on foot, and Luxor Temple to the Luxor Museum about 1.2 km. Karnak is about 2.8 km north of Luxor Temple along the Avenue of Sphinxes. That is walkable in cool weather, but most people take a taxi, especially between May and September.
Taxis wait near the station, the temple entrances and the Corniche hotels. Most do not use a meter: agree the fare, the destination and any waiting time before you set off. We could not confirm ride-hailing in Luxor: Uber's own list of Egyptian cities does not include Luxor, and we found no Careem page showing Luxor coverage (checked 22 October 2026). Use licensed taxis or a car booked through your hotel. Calèches (horse carriages) are common on the Corniche. They are a slow way to travel and some visitors avoid them on animal welfare grounds.
Getting around the West Bank
The West Bank monuments sit along the edge of the hills, several kilometres apart: by road, Medinet Habu is about 8 km from the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut about 6 km. A taxi or a car with a driver for a morning is the practical way to combine them. Agree the route, the stops and the waiting time in advance. Bicycles are an option early in the day in the cooler months; in summer the open roads are hot and exposed.
Arriving and leaving
- By train: Luxor station is in the East Bank city centre. Overnight sleeper trains from Cairo take around 10 to 11 hours; Aswan is around 3 hours 15 minutes by train. See Luxor Station to the West Bank if you are staying across the river.
- By air: Luxor International Airport is east of the city, about 10 km by road from the station, roughly 15 minutes before traffic. Taxis wait at arrivals; many hotels also arrange pickups.
- To the West Bank with luggage: a taxi over the bridge is simplest. The ferry works if your bags are light and your hotel is close to the landing.
Costs
Fares for taxis, boats and drivers are agreed locally and change often, so they are not listed here. Ask your hotel for the current going rate before you negotiate, and settle the price before the journey starts.
Planning specific journeys
- A two-day trip without driving yourself: Two days in Luxor without renting a car.
- Arriving by train for a West Bank hotel: Luxor Station to the West Bank.
- Leaving Luxor for the day: Best day trips from Luxor.
Sources
- Train times: Seat61, "Cairo to Luxor and Aswan by sleeper train" (seat61.com), accessed 22 October 2026. Sleeper operator Abela; example train 86 Cairo 19:45, Luxor 06:10.
- Road crossings and route distances: OpenStreetMap / OSRM (routing.openstreetmap.de), calculated 22 October 2026; Egyptian Presidency national projects page on the North Luxor axis bridge (presidency.eg).
- Ferry landing and timetable: sources disagree (Frommer's, MileHacker, marahouseluxor.com), so no time is stated.
- Ride-hailing: Uber, list of cities in Egypt (uber.com), checked 22 October 2026, Luxor not listed; no Careem coverage page for Luxor found the same day.
Questions
Do I need a car in Luxor?+
No. Walking, taxis, the ferry and hired drivers cover a typical trip. A rented car mainly helps for longer trips out of the city, and many visitors prefer a driver even then.
Is the public ferry the best way to cross?+
For foot passengers in daytime, it is usually the simplest. With luggage, late at night or when going straight to the monuments, a taxi over the bridge or a motorboat often works better.
How do I agree a taxi fare?+
Ask your hotel for the usual fare, then agree the price, destination and any waiting time before you get in.
