Thing to do
Avenue of Sphinxes
The 2.7-kilometre ancient processional road lined with sphinxes that links Luxor Temple with Karnak, excavated and reopened in 2021 as a walking route.
Dendera Temple of Hathor day trip
A day trip north of Luxor to Dendera's Temple of Hathor, a superbly preserved Ptolemaic and Roman temple with painted ceilings, crypts and rooftop chapels.
At a glance
- Type
- Day trip from Luxor
- Area
- Dendera, Qena Governorate, Luxor, Egypt
Good to know
- Rooftop chapels
- Crypts
- Painted ceilings
Why we recommend it
The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt and one of the most popular day trips from Luxor. It stands about 2.5 kilometres south-east of the town of Dendera, near Qena, north of Luxor, and many visitors combine it with Abydos for a full day out, or visit it on its own for a half-day trip.
The existing temple was begun in 54 BC under Ptolemy XII Auletes, and the great hypostyle hall was added during the Roman period under the emperor Tiberius. The site was used and modified over a much longer span, from the Middle Kingdom to the reign of Trajan, and it is a rare chance to see a late temple almost complete, with its roof, staircases and inner rooms intact.
Inside, look up: the ceilings are painted and much of the decoration is intact. On the roof, reached by a processional staircase, there is a small kiosk dedicated to Hathor, and a copy of the famous Dendera zodiac remains in place; the original relief was removed by the French in 1820 and is now in the Louvre. Below the temple are crypts with twelve chambers, some with reliefs from the reign of Ptolemy XII, used to store sacred objects. Look also for the so-called Dendera light reliefs, which show the god Harsomtus inside an oval container; a fringe theory reads them as light bulbs, but Egyptologists interpret them as religious imagery.
Outside, on the rear wall of the temple, is a carving of Cleopatra VII with her son Caesarion. The complex also includes birth houses, the earliest built under Nectanebo II and a later Roman one, and a sacred lake that supplied water for rituals.
Most visitors arrange the trip by private car and driver or with a tour operator, and some Nile cruises include it. Allow at least two hours at the site. The crypts involve narrow steps, and the roof is reached by stairs, so wear sturdy shoes and bring a small torch.
The drive passes through farmland and villages along the Nile, and an early start gives you the temple in the cooler morning hours before returning to Luxor in the afternoon.
Dendera Temple of Hathor day trip FAQs
Where is Dendera?
Near Qena, north of Luxor; the temple lies about 2.5 kilometres south-east of Dendera town.
How old is the temple?
The existing temple was begun in 54 BC under Ptolemy XII, with the hypostyle hall added under Tiberius.
Is the Dendera zodiac original?
No. The original was removed in 1820 and is in the Louvre; a copy is in place at the temple.
Can you go on the roof?
Yes, a processional staircase leads to the roof and its Kiosk of Hathor.
Is there a carving of Cleopatra?
Yes, Cleopatra VII and her son Caesarion are carved on the rear exterior wall.
How do you get there from Luxor?
Most visitors go by private car and driver or with a tour; some cruises include it.
Can I combine it with Abydos?
Yes, Dendera and Abydos are often visited together on a full-day trip.