Medinat Habu

Medinat Habu (often written Medinet Habu) is the residential West Bank area around Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramesses III, across the river to the west of the city and close to the road that runs down the Theban plain. Arriving here means leaving the ferry landing and the river behind, and the streets are ordinary: low houses, small shops and the wall of the temple enclosure. The address is a working village, not a resort strip, and the road outside the temple carries local traffic rather than tour coaches.

Daily life here follows the fields and the temple. Mornings bring people heading to work on the West Bank sites, and the road past Medinet Habu is quiet before the first coaches arrive. Evenings are still, with no corniche traffic and no hotel strip. What is on the doorstep is limited: a few local places to eat and drink, and the temple wall. For more choice, take a short drive to Gezira and Ramla by the ferry landing; the railway station and the airport are across the river.

The trade is the crossing. Basing here means the West Bank tombs and temples are minutes away, but Luxor City Center, Karnak and the East Bank hotel strip are not. The ferry, a private boat or one of the road bridges each take time, so allow for the crossing when you plan the day. The public ferry runs around the clock, with fewer departures late at night. You gain early access, quiet nights and often a view of the Theban mountain or the fields; you give up the convenience of stepping out of a hotel into the city.

Many places to stay here look out to the Theban mountain, often with a desert sunset behind it, and the mountain is lit up at night. Others look across the fields. Views vary from one property to the next, so check the listing photos before you book.

What you came for

All things to do →

Medinet Habu Deir El Medina

Neighbouring West Bank areas

All areas →

Valley of the Kings road Al-Qurna West Bank village New Qurna By the ferry landing Gezira

How do I get from Medinat Habu to the centre of Luxor?+

Take a taxi to the ferry landing at Gezira and cross on the public ferry, which runs around the clock with fewer departures late at night, or on a private boat. Taxis can also drive you over either road bridge. None of these is a walk from here, so build the crossing into your plans.

Getting around Luxor →

Is it worth staying on the West Bank rather than the East Bank?+

It is worth it if Medinet Habu and Deir El Medina are the reason for your trip, because you start the day on the same side as the sites. It is not worth it if you want the station, the corniche and the main hotel strip within walking distance, since those are all on the East Bank.

Where to stay in Luxor →

How long should I allow for Medinet Habu and Deir El Medina?+

The two sites are usually visited on the same West Bank day. Hours change seasonally, so check the ticket office or your hotel for your date before planning the order. Heat is the practical limit, which is why mornings are the working window.

Medinet Habu →

What else is close to Medinat Habu?+

New Qurna and Al-Qurna are the neighbouring areas, and the wider West Bank spread of tombs and temples is within reach by road. The East Bank sites and the city centre are a river crossing away.

West Bank →

Where can I eat and shop in the evening?+

There are a few local places to eat nearby, but the area is quiet after dark. For more choice, head to Gezira and Ramla by the ferry landing, or cross to the Corniche al-Nil and the Luxor Souq on the East Bank. The public ferry runs around the clock, with fewer departures late at night.

Corniche al-Nil →