Egyptian History 101 at the Luxor Museum

As soon as you arrive in Luxor, you’re obviously going to want to start exploring the unbelievable archaeological sites: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, and more. So it might seem superfluous to make a museum your first stop. Why visit a traditional museum, when this entire city is basically one big open-air collection of antiquities? But trust us: the Luxor Museum won’t take a lot of your time, and serves as the perfect opener for your journey into Ancient Egypt.

The Luxor Museum opened its doors in 1975. And in contrast with Cairo’s massive new Grand Egyptian Museum, the focus here is on quality instead of quantity. The pieces have been carefully curated, thoughtfully arranged, and presented with just the right amount of context. Egyptian History is an overwhelming topic, convoluted and contradictory, but the Luxor Museum does an incredible job of introducing it, with unique and important artifacts.

Luxor Museum Video

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It shouldn’t be surprising that the main museum in one of the world’s richest archaeological regions is so excellent. But we were surprised! We simply hadn’t heard much about it, and were almost dismissive when we stepped inside. “Let’s just move through this quickly, and get to a real attraction asap”.

But the museum managed to suck us in almost immediately. We learned about the pharaohs, the dig sites, the various kingdoms, the hieroglyphics, and the gods. Hatshepsut, Amenhotep, Tutankhamun, Ramses, Seti, and Thutmose were just some of the names which we read about here, and would encounter repeatedly as we explored Luxor in the coming week.

The Luxor Museum won’t overwhelm you but it slowly pulls you in. We spent a long time looking at the massive statue of Amenhotep III, the delicate gold jewelry, the alabaster jars, and the beautifully carved figures of the god Amun that once guarded the temples nearby. One of the most fascinating exhibits in the museum displays statues discovered beneath Luxor Temple in 1989: an underground cache filled with ceremonial sculptures that remained hidden for centuries.

And what would an Egyptian museum be without mummies?! There are two royal mummies on display, here, in adjacent rooms that seem to cast a spell of silence on everyone that enters. Standing face to face with the preserved remains of these ancient rulers was honestly a bit unsettling, especially since it’s possible to make out facial features, fingernails, or patches of hair.

We absolutely loved our visit to the Luxor Museum. This was probably the only time we’ve emerged from a museum with more energy than when we entered. It wasn’t overwhelming, and really whet our appetites to see discover the treasures of Luxor.

This was probably the only time we’ve emerged from a museum with more energy than when we entered.

Written by Mike, &Photos by Jürgen

Written in 2026. Things change on the road, so please check the details before you go.

Recommended Luxor Museum Primer

01 The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, Richard H. Wilkinson An illustrated guide to the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, their origins and their role in daily life. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 02 How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Collier and Manley A step-by-step guide to reading Egyptian hieroglyphs, with exercises for teaching yourself. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 03 The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt, Toby Wilkinson A narrative history of ancient Egypt across three thousand years, from the first pharaohs to Cleopatra. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 04 The Woman Who Would Be King, Kara Cooney A biography of Hatshepsut, the longest-reigning female pharaoh, and her rise to power. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab)

Tutankhamun FAQ

Here are the answers to some common questions.

When did the Luxor Museum open?

The Luxor Museum opened its doors in 1975.

How many royal mummies are on display at the Luxor Museum?

There are two royal mummies on display, here, in adjacent rooms.

What is the focus of the Luxor Museum?

The focus here is on quality instead of quantity.

What was found beneath Luxor Temple in 1989?

Statues discovered beneath Luxor Temple in 1989: an underground cache filled with ceremonial sculptures that remained hidden for centuries.

Further Reading

Luxor Two Nights At the Winter Palace in Luxor, Egypt Luxor First Impressions of Luxor’s East Bank Luxor The Luxor Temple and the Avenue of the Sphinxes

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