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The city itself is divided by the Nile River, creating well defined districts on the East Bank and the West Bank of the area. Both areas are rich with tourist attractions and historical sights, so we'll talk about each one in turn.
Most of the major and most important ancient ruins are found on the West Bank of Luxor. This is the oldest section of the city and the location of Egypt's original capital city of Thebes. The collection of archaeological treasures in this area is, quite simply, staggering. There is an extremely high concentration of temples, tombs, and other structures dating back to the earliest Egyptian pharaohs.
Often called the gateway to the Valley of Kings, visitors to the West Bank of Luxor have easy access to some of the most famous tombs in all of Egypt. These include the tombs of noteworthy kings such as Tutankhamen, Horemhab, and Ramses VI, just to name a few. Visitors can also venture into the Valley of the Queens to see the tombs of Amunhirkhepeshef and Nefertiti. Some of the less well known but just as interesting sights include the Workmen's Village, the Mortuary Temple of Ramses II, the Asasif Tombs, and much more. For a truly memorable experience, consider a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the West Bank area of tombs and ruins.
In the East Bank of Luxor you will find the newer part of the city as well as the major metropolitan areas. Most of the hotels, restaurants, museums, and the like are located in this section, making it a vibrant and bustling destination for holiday travellers. Just because it is home to the modern parts of Luxor, though, does not mean the East Bank is lacking in historic and archaeological sites.
Where the West Bank sites were mostly for burial and after-death purposes, the East Bank sites were where ancient peoples actually lived and worked. The dominant features in this area are the Temple of Karnak and the Temple of Luxor, both attractions where you can easily stay occupied for an entire day. The Temple of Luxor is one of the most magnificent in the region, and the Temple of Karnak features not only the temple itself but also a terrific open air museum where visitors can see a huge assortment of reconstructed temples as well as some great examples of ancient Egyptian statues.
The museums of Luxor are among the very best in the world, starting with the Luxor Museum. It is a relatively small museum compared to some others in Egypt, but the high quality of the collection definitely makes up for it. It includes a stunning display of statues and other artefacts that were found as recently as 1989, in a hidden and previously undiscovered area within the temple.
The Museum of Mummification is also smaller than some other Egyptian museums, but again the quality of the collection is fantastic. The museum is home to fascinating displays and information about Egyptian mummification beliefs and procedures, including ancient artefacts used during the mummification process. It is truly one of the "must see" places in Luxor.
Luxor International Airport is a busy hub for both international flights from throughout Europe and the Middle East as well as domestic flights from elsewhere in Egypt. The main air carrier serving this airport is Egypt Air, but other well known carriers such as Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, Austrian Airlines, Air Berlin, and more. An alternative travel route is to fly into Cairo in the north of Egypt and then connect with a domestic flight to Luxor in the south of Egypt.
Wiki:- Luxor
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