Valley of the Kings Tickets & Visitor Guide 2026 | Luxor, Egypt

By Anna · Updated 20 October 2026 · 2 min read

TL;DR

The standard ticket covers three tombs from those open that day
Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses VI need extra tickets
Go at opening time, as the valley traps the heat
Book a licensed guide: they cannot talk inside the tombs, so the briefing beforehand matters

Type: Historic site
Where: Luxor
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Admission: from about EGP 750 for three tombs (2026), extra for Tutankhamun and Seti I, check before you go

For around 500 years, from about 1500 BC, the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in tombs cut into a dry valley on the West Bank of the Nile. More than 60 tombs have been found, the most famous being Tutankhamun's, discovered almost intact by Howard Carter in 1922. The painted walls of the finest tombs are astonishingly vivid after more than three millennia.

The valley is the highlight of any trip to Luxor and one of the great sights of Egypt.

What you'll see

Each tomb is a long corridor sloping into the rock, decorated with scenes and texts from the Egyptian books of the afterlife, leading to a burial chamber. A rotating selection is open each day, so check the board at the entrance. Tombs often included on the standard ticket include those of Ramses IV, Ramses IX and Merenptah.

The extra-ticket tombs are worth considering. Seti I's is the longest and most beautifully decorated in the valley, and the most expensive to enter. Ramses VI has a spectacular astronomical ceiling. Tutankhamun's tomb is small, but it still contains his mummy in a glass case and his stone sarcophagus. His treasures are now in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Tickets and tips

Tickets: the general ticket for foreign visitors costs from about EGP 750 (2026) and covers three tombs. Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses VI each need a separate ticket, bought at the same office. Check current prices on the official ticketing site.
Photography: photos with a phone are generally allowed without an extra fee; flash is not.
Timing: go at opening time, ideally combined with Hatshepsut's temple and Medinet Habu on the same morning.
Comfort: take water, a hat and sun cream. It can feel 5-10 °C hotter in the valley than in town.

Getting there

The valley is on the West Bank, about 30 minutes by road from East Bank hotels via the Luxor bridge, or a short ferry crossing then a taxi. Most visitors hire a car with driver for the day, often with a licensed Egyptologist. A small electric train runs from the visitor centre to the tombs for a small fee. Fit walkers can hike over the hill from Deir el-Bahari in about an hour, early in the day.

Where is Valley of the Kings?

Open in OpenStreetMap · 25.74028, 32.60139

Frequently asked questions

Is the Tutankhamun tomb worth the extra ticket?

For the story, many people think so, as you see the boy king himself. Purely for wall paintings, the tombs of Seti I or Ramses VI are more impressive.

How long do you need at the Valley of the Kings?

About two to three hours for three tombs plus one or two extras. Most people combine it with other West Bank sites in a single morning.

Can I visit in summer?

Yes, but go at opening time and leave by late morning, as temperatures can climb well above 40 °C.

Written by

Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor

Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.