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Luxembourg

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg, French: Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, German: Großherzogtum Luxemburg), is a landlocked Benelux country at the crossroads of Germanic and Latin cultures.

With successful steel, finance and high technology industries, a strategic location at the heart of Western Europe, more natural beauty than you might expect given its size, and as one of the top three richest countries in the world, Luxembourg enjoys a very high standard of living and has prices to match!

Regions
Luxembourg can be divided into the following five regions, each with its own characteristics:

History
The city of Luxembourg proper was founded in 963, and its strategic position soon promised it a great future. Luxembourg was at the crossroads of Western Europe and became heavily fortified. You can still see the extensive city walls and towers which form its distinctive cityscape. Due to its key position, Luxembourg became a duchy that once included a much larger territory stretching into present-day Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and France. The powerful Habsburg family kept its hand on it until the late Renaissance times.

After the Napoleonic Wars, the Duchy of Luxembourg was granted to the Netherlands. It had a special status as a member of the German confederacy and the citadel was armed with a Prussian garrison. Luxembourg was still a strategic location that everybody sought to control. It was granted the title "Grand Duchy" in 1815 but lost some territories to France and Germany.

During the course of the 19th century, developments in warfare and the appearance of artillery made Luxembourg obsolete as a stronghold, and it became little more than a rural territory of no strategic interest. The Germans relinquished their rights over it and moved out their garrison, its western half was granted to Belgium in 1839, and the Netherlands granted it complete independence in 1867. Since then, Luxembourg has developed from a poor country of fields and farms into a modern economy relying on financial services and high-tech industries.

Overrun by Germany in both world wars, Luxembourg was one of the major battlefields of the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-1945, a story well documented in the museum at Diekirch. The state ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and it joined NATO the following year. Cooperation among the Benelux countries had already existed after the First World War, but this time it proved to be a lot more important on a European scale. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union) and, in 1999, it joined the euro currency area. As most Luxembourgers are fluent in (at least) two languages (French and Luxembourgish/German), and the small country seems non-threatening to most of the EU, Luxembourgers have risen to high ranks in the EU administration. The most notable is Jean Claude Juncker, the president of the EU commission from 2014 to 2019.

Luxembourg's official national motto is called Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn, meaning "We want to remain what we are". It refers to the nation's ownership by foreign powers and its wish to remain as an independent state today and in the future.

In Jan 2020, it had an estimated population of 626,000.

Climate
Luxembourg enjoys a temperate oceanic climate, with the hills of the Ardennes providing some extra protection against the influences of the Atlantic. The best, or at least the sunniest time to go is May to August, although with a bit of luck you'll enjoy mild weather in April and September too. The warm months of July-August are high-season in the country, with outdoor festivals all around, but Spring comes with many flowers and Autumn comes with wine-making opportunities in the Moselle valley area.

Despite the small size of the country, there are measurable differences in overall temperature, with the north being generally a few degrees colder and receiving serious packs of snow in winter. Although comparatively mild for this part of Europe, winters are on the cold side for travels, with average temperatures around +2 °C in January and occasional low points of -15 °C at night. July and August are the warmest months, with average temperatures between 15 °C and 25 °C, and usually a few days over 30 °C. Annual precipitation is around 780 mm, with highs in August and December.

Terrain
Mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the south.

Holidays

 * National holiday: National Day falls on 23 June (the birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte moved by 6 months to coincide with the warmer weather).

Talk
The three official languages of Luxembourg are Luxembourgish, French and German; Luxembourgers are fluent in all three.

Luxembourgish is close to German and forms a dialect continuum with the German dialects across the border, but it is not fully mutually intelligible with more faraway German dialects. In informal contexts and when wishing to stress "Luxembourgishness", Luxembourgish has been gaining ground since the German occupations during the world wars. Young Luxembourgers increasingly use Luxembourgish when texting or speaking among friends. Written media tends towards standard German or French but the comment sections are often full of Luxembourgish and audiovisual media frequently make use of Luxembourgish at all levels of formality.

German is universally understood, is used in the court system and is taught in schools, and is the predominant language in writing because Luxembourgish has been a mostly spoken rather than written language.

French is commonly used throughout the country and can be found on road signs to menus to information in stores. It's probably the most useful foreign language to know if you want to converse with most people in Luxembourg.

English is almost universally understood and is the most popular foreign language in the country. Educated Luxembourgers are fluent in all four of the above languages; it is the "frontaliers" (workers who live across one of the borders) who may not speak English well or at all. Local media frequently use French, Luxembourgish, and German interchangeably without subtitles or voice-over translation, especially when doing street interviews.

Luxembourg is also home to a strong and vibrant Portuguese population (nearly 100,000 reside there), so knowing Portuguese, while not a prerequisite, can be a plus. A few media outlets also publish local news in Portuguese.

Border formalities
If you're from a country or territory that does not require a visa for the Schengen Area - except for Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Seychelles - you are permitted to work in Luxembourg without having to obtain any authorisation during the period of the 90 day visa-free stay. However, this visa exemption does not necessarily extend to other Schengen countries.

By plane

 * Frankfurt-Hahn, in the German countryside about halfway between Frankfurt and Luxembourg. However, as of June 2024 direct bus services have been cancelled. This airport is mainly served by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair.
 * Brussels-South Charleroi, in Charleroi (about 50 km south of Brussels) is about three hours away by direct Flibco bus. This airport is also mainly served by low-cost carriers.
 * Frankfurt Airport is a bit further afield. Flexibus has once a day direct bus service to Luxembourg city.
 * Frankfurt Airport is a bit further afield. Flexibus has once a day direct bus service to Luxembourg city.

By car
Motorways from Metz (A3), Brussels (A6) and Trier (A1) connect to the ring-road around Luxembourg City, from which most other parts of the country can be reached.

If you want to enjoy a nice view on your way to the city, "Grund" and Kasematten, leave the motorway coming from the East (Germany) at exit "Cents". Enter Cents and drive down the hill. Don't let yourself be stopped by signs that the route is blocked via "Grund".

By bus
Luxembourg is served by a number of long-distance intercity buses. These include Flixbus, Regiojet and Flibco. In general, these buses are less convenient than trains as they do not run frequent (often only once per day). However, sometimes they turn out cheaper than trains.

In addition, there are commuter buses to nearby places such as Trier and Bitburg in Germany and Bastogne in Belgium.

Get around

Luxembourg is a compact country, making it easy to reach nearly any town in the country in an hour or less by public transport. The Mobilitéit agency coordinates the country's trains and buses; their website and mobile app are both very useful for planning journeys throughout Luxembourg.

Since 29 February 2020, most public transport in Luxembourg has been free. You only need a ticket for cross-border journeys, or if you wish to travel first class on the train.

By train
The Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL) train network is generally a good way to move across the country. Luxembourg city is the main railway hub, from where lines radiate out in all directions. While the south is reasonably well covered, the north is limited to one main line which runs from Luxembourg City to Liège in Belgium via Mersch, Ettelbruck, Clervaux and Troisvierges. Diekirch has a branch line from Ettelbruck, and Wiltz from Kautenbach. To the south, you can reach Bettembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette. To the east, there is a line to Trier in Germany, which crosses over the Moselle River at Wasserbillig.

Trains in Luxembourg are comfortable and modern, and generally run perfectly on-time.

By tram
Luxembourg city re-introduced trams in 2017. The single tram line runs from the eastern end of Kirchberg to the district of Bonnevoie, and is expected to connect the airport to the national stadium by 2024. A new rapid tram line is also under development to directly connect Luxembourg City to the second-largest city, Esch-sur-Alzette, and to the university in Belval by 2032.

By bus
The country is served by countless bus services, reaching every little village in the country. Most services run at least every hour throughout the week, with higher frequencies during weekdays and reduced operation on Saturdays and Sundays.

Buses numbered 1-31 serve the City of Luxembourg, with the most useful when arriving in the country being line 16 (Airport - Kirchberg - City Centre - Train Station - Howald) and 29 (Airport - City Centre - Train Station - Howald). Almost all city buses stop at the central bus station, Hamilius, and the train station (Luxembourg Gare) in their routes at some point, resulting in very high-frequent connections between these places (once every 1 or 2 minutes).

The bus service out of town is also extensive and reliable. Buses numbered 100 upwards will take you out of the city. For destinations in the north of the country, one usually first needs to take a train to Mersch, Ettelbruck, Wiltz, or Clervaux, and change there to a bus to the final destination. Other destinations usually have a direct bus from the capital.

Buses are modern and clean. Screens and announcements on-board advise of the next stop on most bus services. It is advisable to hail the bus you wish to catch by raising your hand towards the road as it arrives.

By car
Luxembourg's road infrastructure is well-developed. Anywhere that happens to lie along the major motorways is easily accessible via these (including Grevenmacher in the east, Mamer to the west, Bettembourg to the south and Mersch and Ettelbruck in the north). Esch-sur-Alzette, the country's second city (more like a small town by international standards) also has its own motorway link.

Unless otherwise indicated, speed limits are 50 km/h in towns and villages, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, and 130 km/h on the motorway (110 km/h in the rain). Mind the yellow town/villagge shields which indicate when you enter or leave a town or village. Speed limits are raised by signs to 110 km/h in some places on the N7 and N11, and lowered to 70 km/h on some open country roads. Within towns and villages, speed limits can be raised to 70 km/h on main roads, or lowered to 30 km/h in residential areas. Speed limits are enforced by random police checks as well as fixed speed cams. Be aware that if you have a right-hand-drive car then you are very likely to be singled out for a customs check on the way in. Police are also very keen on stopping drivers for having the 'wrong' lights on in town, i.e. side lights instead of dipped headlights.

Driving in Luxembourg is nowhere as testing as in some other European countries. The locals are generally polite. When entering the highways from side roads into the slower traffic lane, the other drivers will allow you to join the traffic line, but traffic indicators are essential. As with other highways in Europe always keep in the slow traffic lane, keeping the fast lane for overtaking. Some drivers travel at high speeds and will flash their headlights to indicate that they are in a hurry, even if you are sitting on the speed limit. Most of the time trucks keep in the slow lane at their regulated speed for large vehicles. They can be a little annoying when overtaking other trucks. The truck drivers seem to keep a watch out for other vehicles. Cars towing caravans can be a bit of a menace at times but staying alert will ensure there are no problems. The closing speeds of vehicles need to be watched if overtaking, as some drivers travel well in excess of the speed limits. Speed cameras were introduced in Luxembourg in 2017, and now include both instantaneous speed and average speed cameras, which trigger if the speed limit is exceeded by more than 3 km/h.

Normal day-to-day driving in Luxembourg is a delight but traffic does slow down in peak times.

Finding parking in Luxembourg city centre on weekends can be difficult. Most spaces are quickly taken and some parking garages close early. The best option is to find somewhere near the station and then walk around the city centre.

Parking is paid within the entire city (including all residential districts). Traffic wardens are numerous and vigilant.

By bike
The streets and landscape in Luxembourg make for good cycling territory; highly recommended.

See
You may not expect it from one of the smallest countries in Europe, but The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a diverse land, full of beautiful nature and gorgeous historic monuments. Its turbulent history is filled with stories of emperors and counts as well as many battles and disputes. Today, the almost fairy-tale like castles and fortresses are a faint but impressive reminder of those days, and amidst their lovely natural setting, they make some superb and picturesque sights.

Most of the country's population lives in rural areas and apart from the delightful historic City of Luxembourg, the country's capital, settlements are mostly small. That said, the capital is a place not to be missed. It has a splendid location high on a cliff, overlooking the deep and narrow valleys of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers. Several parts of the old town are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the most interesting places include the Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, the town fortifications, and of course the Grand Ducal Palace, which is surrounded by charming cobblestoned lanes. However, there's far more to see, such as the Bock casemates, Neumünster Abbey and the Place d'Armes. There are several World War II memorial sites and a number of high-end museums, but just wandering through the old centre, taking in the beautiful views from the Chemin de la Corniche and crossing bridges to the nearest plateaus is at least as great a way to discover the city.

The lively town of Echternach is the oldest city in Luxembourg. It boasts the country's most prominent religious structure, the basilica of the Abbey of Echternach where the country's patron St Willibrord is buried. The annual Whit Tuesday celebrations in his honour involve lots of dancers in the old town centre and are a popular tourist attraction. Apart from its own sights, Echternach makes a great base to explore the beautiful Müllerthal, better known as "Little Switzerland". Hike or bike through its dense forests with myriad streams and even some caves.

The romantic village of Vianden with its stunning medieval castle is a tourists' favourite and well worth a visit even despite the crowds in summer. The beautiful location of the fortress in the Our river valley, surrounded by tight forests and a lake with swans, gives it a typical fairy-tale castle look and feel. If you're done wandering the streets and exploring the Gothic churches and fortified towers of this charming town, visit the Victor Hugo house. Afterwards, the pleasant cafés of the Grand Rue are a perfect place to kick back and enjoy.

Head to Remich to start your own trip down the Route du Vin and discover the many fine wines that are produced here, in the Moselle Valley.

Do
Luxembourg has many excellent well-marked outdoor trails. Their location and GPS tracks can be found at Géoportail.lu

The Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Teqball has a list of public places for playing teqball, a sport invented in the 2010s by three Hungarians, that is a combination of table tennis and football (or soccer) played with a special curved table.

Money
€

If you know any coin collectors, take a few local coins as keepsakes, since Luxembourg coins are among the rarest of the euros — even in Luxembourg, most of your change will be in other countries' coins!

The general price level in Luxembourg is noticeably higher than in France and Germany, especially in central Luxembourg. Even cheap hotels tend to cost over €100 a night and you won't get much change from €20 after a modest dinner and a drink. To save some money, basing yourself in Trier (or other cities across the border) and daytripping to Luxembourg might be an option.

On the upside, cigarettes, alcohol and petrol are comparatively cheap, making the small state a popular destination for long-haul drivers.

Eat

Traditional dishes are largely based on pork and potatoes and the influence of German cooking is undeniable. The unofficial national dish is judd mat gaardebounen, or smoked neck of pork served with boiled broad beans. A must to try if you do get the opportunity are gromperekichelchen (literally, potato biscuits) which are a type of fried shredded potato cake containing onions, shallots and parsley. Typically found served at outdoor events such as markets or funfairs they are absolutely delicious and a particularly nice snack on a cold winter's day.

In most restaurants, however, the typical local food would be French cuisine coming in bigger portions. Italian food has been popular since the 1960s. Home cooking has been greatly influenced by the recipes of Ketty Thull, apparently the best-selling cooking and baking book in Luxembourg since WWII.

You can also taste the "Bamkuch" (literally tree cake), which is eaten mainly during celebrations such as weddings and baptisms. This cake is traditionally made on a spit and presented as a tree trunk composed of several layers, visible when it is cut, and that represent the tree rings.

Drink
The Luxembourg white wines from the Moselle valley to the east of Luxembourg include Riesling, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Rivaner and Elbling, and are good. In autumn, many villages along the Moselle river organise wine-tasting village festivals.

Young people tend to drink local or imported beer. Luxembourg has a number of breweries, with Diekirch, from the town of the same name, Bofferding, Battin, Simon and Mousel being the most popular. Despite the fact that you would be hard pushed to find any of these outside of the country, all are excellent lagers.

As an after dinner digestive, Luxembourgers like to drink an eau-de-vie. The most commonly available are Mirabelle and Quetsch. Both are made from plums and are extremely strong! Sometimes these are taken in coffee which may be a little more palatable for some.

Sleep
Due to the heavy banking and EU presence in the city, hotels in central Luxembourg are quite expensive, although there is a good youth hostel (see Luxembourg (city)). It may be more cost-effective to stay across the border in Trier, for example, and "commute" into Luxembourg.

The Association of Independent Hotels in Luxembourg operates a booking service at hotels.lu for a number of smaller hotels, mostly in the countryside, but a few in the city.

Work

Luxembourg is a major player in the financial service sector. Many thousands of people commute from neighbouring Belgium, France (Les frontaliers) and Germany (Die Grenzgänger) on weekdays, considerably swelling the population of the capital city. The majority work in the numerous financial institutions based in and around the capital (particularly in the Kirchberg district) and are drawn across the borders by the excellent salaries on offer. Luxembourg City has a very international flavour as in addition to les frontaliers, it attracts young professionals from all over the globe. In this area, business is done predominantly in English, French or German and it is necessary to be fluent in one of these at a minimum, although many jobs will demand proficiency in at least two.

Stay safe
In many surveys, Luxembourg has been named "safest country in the world". If you follow usual precautions, you should be fine, however, there are some hints that you might want to consider while staying in Luxembourg.

Dodgy areas and crime
While most of the hereafter mentioned areas are perfectly safe in broad daylight, there are some areas that are sketchier under certain circumstances, for example late at night or if travelling alone.

Railway stations
In the bigger towns and settlements, crime tends to concentrate at and in the streets around railway stations, particularly harassment, pickpocketing or drug offences. In the south, this is especially the case in Luxembourg city, and in the urban areas in the canton Esch/Alzette. In the northern parts of the country, railway stations are mostly located in smaller villages and towns, and are therefore mostly safe at any time of the day, with the exception perhaps of Ettelbruck.

Luxembourg City
In Luxembourg City, crime tends to concentrate at nighttime around the central railway station (Quartier Gare), and in Bonnevoie. The most common offences are harassment, pickpocketing or drug offences, with sporadic muggings happening.

Note that since 2020 there has been a series of cases of necklace- and watch-snatching. Avoid therefore to wear flashy or expensive looking jewellery in the mentioned areas.

Minette
The urban areas of the Minette region have a reputation for being sketchier at night. Follow usual precautions around railway stations.

Rural areas
Outside of the bigger towns and railway hubs, the rural areas and villages, such as in the north, west and east of the country, are very safe at any time of the day. Violent crime is virtually nonexistent.

Nature
Enjoying the nature of Luxembourg is a pleasant way to relax, if you keep basic precautions in mind.

Terrain
While hiking, it is advised to stay on marked paths if you are unfamiliar with the terrain. In the Ardennes, and especially in the Müllerthal region, it is not uncommon to encounter steep cliffs with drops of up to 30 m in the middle of the forest, sometimes only steps away from the hiking paths without being imminently visible. Another problem in these regions might be slippery rocks, especially after rainfall.

To reduce these risks when hiking in the Ardennes and Müllerthal, leave the flipflops at home and make sure to have appropriate footwear. Several tourists are injured each year because of unprepared expeditions in these regions, with some cases even having resulted in death.

Flora and fauna
The greatest danger you will encounter while out in nature are ticks and the diseases they transmit, most notably the lyme disease, with infection rates being as high as 20% in some areas of Luxembourg.

Before setting off into nature, make sure to inform yourself on how to protect yourself, how to remove ticks from your skin and how to recognize a lyme disease infection in the period after you have been bitten.

Stay healthy
The food and tap water supply in Luxembourg is perfectly fine and the country's healthcare system is first class. The climate is average even though the summers can get hot. However these temperatures rarely rise much above 30 °C.

Respect
Try to show respect for the local language and make some effort to say a word or two of it even if just the standard greeting "Moien". The locals, especially those in the small towns and villages, are very friendly; saying "Hello" to them in any language will be returned with a smile.

Unusual for a country in Western Europe, Luxembourgers place a high emphasis on family values. It's not uncommon for people in small towns and villages to know each other on a personal level, and parents are intimately involved in the life choices of their children.

Luxembourgers are their own people with a distinct national identity. They are neither Germans, Belgians, nor French; calling a Luxembourger either of these demonstrates ignorance. Similarly, do not compare Luxembourg to its neighbours.

Luxembourgers, like many people living in Europe, are direct communicators, but they are tactful and diplomatic with their choice of words. This said, being overly blunt or opinionated is considered rude. Subtlety is more valued than being direct.

The pace of life in Luxembourg is much slower compared to other countries in Europe. Building relationships and getting things done require you to demonstrate sincere interest as Luxembourgers try to do things in a careful, measured manner.

Do not put your emotions on display. Exhibiting impatience, as well as confrontational behaviour, will push you away from people. Again, Luxembourgers try to do things in a careful, measured manner.

Luxembourgers value their privacy. They do not ask personal questions and take a dim view of people who intrude on their privacy. Personal matters ― for example, finances, religion, and politics ― are private matters and are not discussed openly, even among close friends.

Luxembourgers value humility. Bragging or boasting about your accomplishments won't be well received. Let go of the need to prove yourself or show off your accomplishments; how you treat other people is more important.

While it's debated whether or not Luxembourgish is a variety of another language, many Luxembourgers proudly consider it to be a language in its own right and will be offended if you insinuate something otherwise.

The Grand Duke and his family are venerated in Luxembourgish society. Insulting or criticising them may cause offense.

Connect
European roaming has been introduced. It allows all SIM card holders belonging to one of the European member countries to maintain the same pricing conditions as in the country of origin.

Telephone calls and Internet browsing are valid without additional cost in all European countries, unless authorized by national authorities (generally minor operators) or exceeding a Gbit data threshold which increases from year to year. To use this service, simply activate the roaming option on your mobile phone.

The participating countries are those of the European Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and certain overseas territories (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion, Saint-Martin).

title: Luxembourg


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Luxembourg (Belgium)

The province of Luxembourg is the southernmost and largest province in the Wallonia region of Belgium. It is bordered to the east by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and to the southwest by France. It is divided between the Belgian Ardennes to the north and Gaume (the Belgian part of Lorraine) to the south. It has around 280,000 inhabitants and is the least populated of all Belgian provinces.

Cities

 * — administration center for the province
 * — it is actually a good centre in its own right for beginners' canoeing on the river Ourthe
 * — centre of the Battle of the bulge
 * — hometown of the famous crusader, and home to a well-preserved castle
 * — claims to be the world's smallest city; some love it and others consider it a quitessential tourist trap but anyone can enjoy the walk there from nearby Barvaux
 * — the beautiful trappist Orval abbey
 * — southernmost village in Belgium, and dubbed most beautiful village of Wallonia

Other destinations

 * Ardennes; the most sparsely populated region in the Benelux, this is a hilly countryside region covered with forests. It makes a great place for hiking and cycling. It is a popular tourist destination, especially for Dutch and Flemish people. It occupies the northern two-thirds of the province.

Understand
The province of Luxembourg was once part of the same body as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. When Belgium was created, both Luxembourgs were part of the newly born country, but after Dutch demands, the culturally German part of the region (Grand Duchy) was split from Belgium, while the Romance-speaking (the province) stayed within the country.

Talk
French is the language spoken everywhere since its imposition in school. Nevertheless, a number of traditional languages are still spoken or understood by part of the population, especially in most rural areas:
 * The Ardennes version of Walloon, in the Ardennes
 * Gaumais in the south
 * Luxemburgish, considered by some as a German dialect, by others a Germanic language, with several French loan words, near the border

Dutch is spoken in most tourist places in the north of the province, because of large numbers of Dutch speaking visitors during the summer. But even though most Belgians will have learned Dutch at school, you'll be better off with English in areas less used to tourists. Most young people will have at least basic understanding of English, and you should be able to sort out most things with it. German is spoken by some, especially near the Luxemburgish border.

By car
The province is served mainly by two motorways, that meet near Neufchateau, in the center: Most of the province is within 1-2 hours rides from Brussels and 40-90 minutes from Liège. Arlon is 20 minutes from Luxembourg.
 * The E411 that links Brussels to Luxembourg
 * The E25 that links Liège to Neufchateau

By train
The Brussels-Luxembourg line has four main stops in the province: Trains leave both ways every hour from 6:00 to 22:00.
 * Marloie (1h40 from Brussels, 40' from Namur)
 * Libramont (2h, 1h)
 * Marbehan (2h20, 1h20)
 * Arlon (2h40, 1h40)

By car
The province is well served by a network of paved roads. Those suffer from the relatively harsher climate of the province, and can be snowy during winter and present potholes at all times.

By train
A number of local lines provide good service for some destination within the province:
 * Libramont-Bertrix
 * Arlon-Virton-Florenville-Bertrix
 * Marloie-Liège

Schedules can be found.

Bicycle
Some cycling paths exist, but are often badly maintained making the road a safer choice. However, the province is full of small beautiful roads that are not much used by cars and are in good state. Be careful however that countryside is more hilly than in the rest of the country, and you can find yourself in front of short but steep and frequent slopes.

Walk
Forests make a wonderful place to walk. A large number of path cross them, and most municipalities have traced some paths, with signs and possibly maps at the local tourism office. A number of long-distance paths also cross the province, such as the Transardennaise, and GR15.

By bus
Tec, the regional public transportation service provides a good network between towns and villages of the province, and one should find it possible to reach even the most remote village with public transportations, even though buses might be sparse on some lines (typically schools schedule to bring students to high school). Info can be found.

See

 * Tombeau du Géant or Giant's Grave is one typical and scenic bend of the river Semois, surrounded by steep hills. Near Bouillon
 * Memorial of the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne. There is also a museum on the military base ("caserne") about 6 blocks from the Place de St. Pierre on the main street. This museum contains the room in which General McAuliffe issued the famous "Nuts!" reply to the German demand for surrender in 1944. There is also much equipment, small arms, and some tanks. Knock at the gate of the military base and ask to see it. On the Place de St. Pierre is a museum presentation called "I was 20 years old in Bastogne." It is an excellent description of the 1944-1945 battle focused on the civilian perspective. Three stories of dioramas, artifacts, movies, small arms, and German and American military sidecar motorcycles.
 * Medieval castle in Bouillon
 * Fourneau Saint-Michel shows a reconstitution of a traditional village, and a museum about the Mining past of the region. Near Saint-Hubert

Do

 * Kayak on the Semois or the Ourthe. From Chiny downward on the Semois, and on the last part of the Ourthe, you should find kayak rental in plenty, provided that the water level enables you to enjoy a ride.
 * Walk in the countryside, Ardennes valley and provinces have many beautiful corners to be discovered by feet

Eat
As in the rest of Belgium, quality of food in the province of Luxembourg is very good. However, fast foods and foreign food is popular, and it might be difficult sometimes to find a real local specialist.

Drink
Belgium is the country of Beer, and the province of Luxembourg doesn't escape the rule, with several small breweries scattered around. Among them we can discover the Rulles, the Chouffe,... Some locals distillate their own liquor from fruits (plum, apple...), but those are not readily available, and your only chance to taste it is to be invited by one of them. In Arlon, a local white vine, the Maitrank, aromatised with woodruff is very popular, and is celebrated every year in a festival, the Fêtes du Maitrank.

Stay safe
The province, as the rest of Belgium is a very safe place. However, some fights might occur at the end of villages 'bals' where heavy drinking is involved. However, those happen usually between local youngsters, and basic precaution will avoid any trouble, and you will find your stay a very peaceful experience.

Go next

 * Luxembourg is only 20 minutes from Arlon, and is an enjoyable city, with old walls
 * Avioth, in France, demonstrate a spectacular Basilica in the tiny village, and Montmédy has an old Vauban Fortress

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Luxembourg (Belgium)


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Luxembourg (city)

The city of Luxembourg is the capital of the namesake country, and with a population just above 130,000 it is the second smallest national capital of the European Union, after Malta's Valletta. Very different in character from the bustling metro areas of the continent, Luxembourg is defined by its hilly location and abrupt cliff faces afforded by the deep and narrow valley of the rivers Alzette and Petrusse it was built upon. The city has historically been an inconquerable fortress, which led it to be nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the North".

Luxembourg may not feature on most tourists' bucket lists, but it sees a very generous share of incoming visitors every year for a city of that size. This is due to its importance in the European financial sector, with many banks and institutions having their headquarters or subsidiaries there. Moreover, as one of the founding members of the European Union, Luxembourg hosts a number of EU institutions. Finally, Luxembourg has favourable taxation regulations for international holding companies, so that many multinationals locate their European seats there. This all makes the small city have a very upscale and business feel, and the tourist industry there is geared towards the business traveller.

Quarters
Luxembourg is officially divided into 24 quarters. Some of those of interest to tourists:

 * Ville Haute ("High City") — the medieval town core. Home to cafés, restaurants, and high street shops.
 * Grund (Ville Basse) ("Low City") — situated in the gorge that cuts across the city and the most picturesque area.
 * Gare ("Station") — the location of the train station, a 15-min walk south of Ville Haute and home to many restaurants and cafés.
 * Kirchberg - a modern quarter across the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge in the north east of the City. The cityside eastern area of Kirchberg is home to many European Union institutions including the Court of Justice of the European Union, European Court of Auditors, parts of the European Commission, the Secretariat of the European Parliament and the European Investment Bank. The western end of the Kirchberg plateau is home to Luxembourg's thriving international financial services district. The Mudam modern art museum, the Philharmonie and the Dräi Eechelen fortress are near the Place de l'Europe beside the impressive EU institutions buildings.
 * Hollerich — a formerly independent commune which was a prominent industrial site within Luxembourg. The remains of the industrial heritage are still to be seen around it.

Get in
Getting into the country of Luxembourg basically means getting into the City of Luxembourg, as all major connections to Luxembourg terminate there. Follow the advice given in our guide to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Findel Airport
Luxembourg is served by the

The airport is dominated by the country's flag carrier, Luxair, which operates a network of connections to most European capital cities, along with flights to major international transport hubs such as Milan and Frankfurt. Additionally, Luxembourg has direct flights to many holiday destinations in the Mediterranean, particularly for seasonal summer flights. This is complemented by some of the Star Alliance European members flying singular connections to Findel from their hubs. Luxair is not a Star Alliance member, but was partially owned by the Alliance's founding partner Lufthansa and shares its frequent flyer programme with them. Oneworld and Skyteam offer few connections to Luxembourg, but there is growing traffic from some regional and low-fare airlines.

Interestingly, while its passenger traffic is largely limited to flights within Europe and around the Mediterranean, Findel Airport is the base and a major hub for cargo airline Cargolux and Qatar Airways Cargo. Cargolux and other major international cargo airlines fly in huge intercontinental jets in and out of Findel daily.

Getting to the city from Findel Airport
There are regular buses to the city center (bus 16, about 15 minutes), the train station (bus 16 and 29, about 20 minutes), and Kirchberg, the European district (bus 16, 10 minutes). Buses to the city center and train station run at least every 10 minutes (15 minutes on Sunday). Bus number 16 runs to the front of the station (Stop: Gare Centrale), and bus number 29 runs to the rear of the station (Stop: Gare Rocade). The bus stop is on an island across the street on the left as you exit the airport.

The Luxembourg City tram will be extended to the airport in 2024, which will directly connect the airport to the center of the European institutions in the suburb of Kirchberg.

Other airports
An alternative to flying into Luxembourg, which may be costly and time-consuming from some locations in Europe, is taking a low-fare flight with the likes of Ryanair or WizzAir to either Charleroi in Belgium, and transferring to Luxembourg from there. Luxembourg City can also be reached from Brussels Airport (~3.5 hours) and Frankfurt Airport (~4 hours). Reaching both airports requires one change of train and costs about €30 per person, one way (2023 prices).

By train
The imposing neobaroque It is relatively well served by connections from neighbouring countries. The railway station can be reached by the tram and most local buses. The city centre is within walking distance (around 1.5 km). The train station has a restaurant and a large newsagents, as well as a left luggage office (flat fee of €5 per bag) on platform 1. The train station is immediately adjacent to the long distance bus station as well.

 * The domestic train operator CFL has EuroCity-class trains going to Paris and Brussels
 * CFL connects Gare Lëtzebuerg with pretty much every other station within the country of Luxembourg
 * The Belgian SNCB/NMSB also has trains connecting Luxembourg with Bruxelles-Midi. Some trains continue to Strasbourg in France and Basel in Switzerland
 * Deutsche Bahn operates the IC35 Ostfriesland from Luxembourg through Koblenz, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Münster
 * Additionally, Deutsche Bahn's regional services operate the DeLux Express from Luxembourg to Trier
 * The French SNCF operates a high-speed TGV train from Gare de l'Est in Paris to Luxembourg. There is also a slower Intercite connection via Nancy all the way south to Nice
 * TER Lorraine line 1 goes from Nancy via Metz and Thionville to Luxembourg.

By bus
There are two bus stations (for lack of a better term)

 * The central railway station has some services to towns in neighboring countries, including Saarbrücken (1h15, line L40).
 * The P+R Bouillon parking, located in the southwest of the city, is the Flixbus hub for Luxembourg, allowing connections to hundreds of cities throughout Europe. It is, however, poorly connected to the rest of the city.

Get around
The best way to get around Luxembourg is by foot, bike, tram and bus. As of 1 March 2020, all public transport will be free in the whole country, thus also in the capital city.

On foot
Due to the city's small size and beautiful scenery, by foot is also the best way to appreciate it. In a few hours (or dividing your trip in two days) you can get to know the whole historical city on foot.

Luxembourg city has quite significant height differences. To overcome these, there are two lifts (free access); the most useful for tourists between Grund and Plateau du St. Esprit in the high city, and another one between Parc Pescatore and Pfaffenthal. In addition, there's a funicular between Pfaffenthal and Kirchberg.

By bus
Buses serve all quarters. They run frequently (usually every 10-15 minutes during weekdays, less often on Saturdays and especially Sundays). The most useful bus stops for tourists are Gare Centrale at the train station and Hamilius in the city centre. Almost all buses include the section between Gare Centrale and Hamilius in their routes, leading to a bus on this section about every 2 minutes.

Since 29 February 2020, public transport is free across the entirety of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

By bicycle
The city operates a self-service bike scheme and the stations can be found in various locations around the city centre. You first need to get a pass which can be obtained from one of the terminals at the bike stations. A 7-day pass costs €1 and gives you every first 30 min for free. Each additional hour costs €1 for a maximum total of €5 for 24 hr. For more information check the Ville de Luxembourg (VDL) website.

By tram
The tramway operates a single line, which reached the central rail station in December 2020 and is to be extended to the airport in 2024. The tram is, like the buses, free.

Ville-Haute
The pedestrianized old town is where the greatest concentration of (rather expensive) shops as well as bars and restaurants are to be found. Specific sights are few but all around town you can spot details that remind you of Luxembourg's historical value.

 * Luxembourg Grand Ducal Palace 01.jpg
 * Norte-Dame.jpg
 * Luxembourg Grand Ducal Palace 01.jpg
 * Norte-Dame.jpg
 * Norte-Dame.jpg
 * Norte-Dame.jpg

Kirchberg

Do

 * Football: since 2021 the men's national soccer team play at Stade de Luxembourg (capacity 9400) 4 km south of city centre - a tram line is expected to reach it in 2024. It replaced Josy Barthel stadium, which is due for demolition. Racing-Union play in National League, the country's top tier, with home games at Stade Achille Hammerel (capacity 5800) in the city's Verlorenkost district.

Buy
For information, guidance and ideas, head over to the websites of the UCVL (Luxembourg City Trade Association) and Goodidea.lu.

Eat
Home to a surprisingly high number of Michelin star establishments, the city houses many fine eateries. Luxembourg also has a very large population of Italians who came to the country in the late 19th century so pizzerias in Luxembourg are always very reliable and frequent. For something cheap and quick the Place d'Armes is the best bet.

Drink
Luxembourg is a decent place to have a drink. Owing to the number of ex-pats who live in Luxembourg there are a wide variety of establishments in addition to the Luxembourgish bars. Pubs in Luxembourg tend to be a traditional affair, although more modern bars, and English or Irish themed pubs have also become the norm. Luxembourg is a low-key capital city and is generally not the best place for big nights out, although during the months of warmer weather it can have its moments. English themed pubs

Sleep
For a city of its size, Luxembourg has a hotel room supply that is more than ample, thanks to the large number of business travellers visiting the city. Therefore, the industry is geared mostly towards them and consists largely of mid- to high-standard business hotels.

Budget

Respect
Try to show respect for the local language and make some effort to say a word or two of it even if it's just the standard greeting "Moien". In restaurants and high-end service establishments the personnel are generally expected to serve you in French, so if you speak French, do use it.

Stay safe
Luxembourg City is safer than most other European capital cities, and it is rare to encounter any physical threat. Nevertheless, extra vigilance is required in and around the train station (especially late at night), which contains a handful of seedy clubs and prostitutes, mainly in the Bonnevoie neighborhood, on the rue de Strasbourg, and all surrounding streets. You will also encounter people panhandling in this area.

Embassies

 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Connect
The city has 5G from all Luxembourg carriers.

Go next

 * Vianden
 * Echternach
 * Mullerthal
 * Trier (Germany)
 * Metz (France) - By train is €16.50.
 * Arlon (Belgium)

title: Luxembourg (city)


text:
Luxembourg (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Luxembourg:

Belgium

 * Luxembourg (Belgium) - the southernmost province of Wallonia

Luxembourg

 * Luxembourg (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) - the country
 * Luxembourg (city) - the capital

Luxemburg

title: Luxembourg (disambiguation)


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Luxor

Luxor (Arabic: الأقصر, pronounced in Egyptian Arabic: lo’Sor) is the premier travel destination in Upper (southern) Egypt and the Nile Valley.

Districts
Although a relatively small city by Egyptian population standards, Luxor is quite extensive. It divides naturally into the areas on each side of the river Nile.

Understand
The dynastic and religious capital of Middle Kingdom (circa 2050-1710 BCE) and New Kingdom (circa 1550-1080 BCE) Egypt, Luxor has much to offer the visitor, from vast temples, to ancient royal tombs, via spectacular desert and river scenery and a bustling modern life.

Thebes, the world heritage listed old capital of Egypt, was on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor. Most of Luxor's ruins and tombs are there.

The modern city of Luxor is on the east bank. This area has the train and bus stations, most of the hotels and restaurants, some museums, tourist shops and so on. Most visitors (and almost all tour groups) stay on the east bank and travel across for the tourist sites.There are also some small hotels on the west bank, which has a more relaxed vibe, and many independent travellers stay there.

However, Luxor is also known as the hassle capital of Egypt (and therefore a good candidate for the world). You should expect to be on the receiving end of behaviour that would be considered harassment in most countries, including being followed when you leave the hotel by men shouting at you. Instead, Aswan further south is quite the opposite and much more relaxed. It is a good alternative in case you want to skip the Luxor experience altogether but not miss the beauty of the Nile and the nearby attractive sights.

Climate

 * See also: Egypt

The weather is generally extremely hot in summer, while in winter it is generally warm, but may get cool at night. The climate is very dry with almost no rain at all and very few cloudy days. The best time to visit is in winter, from November to the beginning of March. The transition from winter to summer is abrupt, so there is no real spring or autumn. The prevailing wind is quite weak, but is persistently northerly. As a result the weather is predictable. By and large, there is little variation day to day. More basic accommodation often will not have reversible air conditioning, nor much insulation. As a result, accommodation can feel decidedly cold in winter, even though outdoors, the daytime temperature might be quite pleasant.

By plane

Luxor airport receives direct flights from several European cities, with most being inclusive package holidays, but they are often available to book flight only. There are also direct flights from the Gulf states. Egyptair and competitors fly frequently and direct from Cairo (1 hr), with day-trips feasible both ways, and good connections to Europe. Reaching Luxor from Alexandria or Sharm el-Sheik usually involves changing in Cairo, sometimes with lengthy stopovers. Most of the Airlines in Egypt including: Nile Air, ALMasria Universal Airlines, Air Arabia and Petroleum Air Services (PAS), which charter services flights to Cairo or Egyptian destinations, including Hurghada etc.

Getting there
There are no public buses between the airport and the city centre. If you do not have a shuttle provided by your hotel, take a taxi, which should cost no more than LE60-80. Ignore the picket of taxi drivers and touts just outside the airport doors. Keep walking until you find a taxi driver in his car and then negotiate. Keep a firm grip on your luggage as people will helpfully wrench it from you, carry it most of 5 m to the taxi & bus stand, then demand a fee. "Lah shukran, lah shukran...": you will be saying that a lot in Luxor.

Visa
If coming in from another country, visas on arrival are available to many foreign nationals, just after you enter the terminal building leaving the plane. It is US$25 or equivalent, with most major foreign currencies accepted. Also, see Egypt.

By train

From Cairo there are four types of train:
 * Daytime expresses have 1st and 2nd class air-conditioned coaches called AC1 and AC2 with comfortable aircraft-style seats. They are a relaxing way to sit back and view the lush landscape of the Nile valley. Fares (as of Feb 2018) vary with the train, with a single ticket Cairo-Luxor costing LE115 to LE200 in AC1, and about 30-40% less in AC2. Soft drinks and snacks are served, and there may be a dining car, but best buy food and drinks beforehand.
 * Overnight expresses, departing 9PM to 11PM, are identical to the daytime trains and have the same fares; they are not sleepers.
 * Deluxe sleepers are run by a private company, Watania. These have modern air-conditioned sleeping-cars, with a choice of 1- and 2-berth cabins and a club/lounge car. An evening meal and breakfast are included in the fare. As of Feb 2018, prices one way between Cairo and Luxor or Aswan are US$110 for a single berth, or US$80 sharing a 2-berth cabin. One sleeper runs nightly year-round, southbound from Cairo Ramses around 8PM, and northbound from Luxor around 11PM. Extra sleepers run at busy times but note that these train may commence from Giza rather than from Cairo Ramses station.
 * Local trains - Non-a/c trains lumber between Cairo and Luxor, daytime and overnight, stopping at most stations - some commence in Alexandria. These are not much slower, but they are incredibly cheap.

Most of these trains continue to Aswan (and since they have started from Cairo, are often late leaving Luxor). The expresses are run by Egyptian National Railways (ENR) - check timetables and prices, and make bookings, with them direct. ENR also runs the ordinary trains but these are not bookable and not shown on timetables, buy your ticket at the station. The de luxe sleepers should be booked online with Watania.

Express tickets can also be bought at the station but in 2017/18, Cairo Ramses and Giza stations has often refused to sell daytime tickets to tourists, claiming they are only allowed on the overnight train. This is bunkum and there are no similar problems buying such tickets at other stations, northbound Aswan/Luxor to Cairo, online or even in simply boarding the daytime train without a ticket (then just pay to the train conductor, however this way you won't get a designated seat number and risk standing at least some part of a trip).

By bus

Buses leave regularly from behind Luxor Temple, to most major cities. GoBus and SuperJet depart from somewhat different locations near the train station. For Aswan the train is better. For Cairo or Alexandria likewise take the train or fly. Bus is a good option from/to Hurghada.

By boat
Nile boat cruises regularly call at Luxor, but these are package itineraries and not available to book as point to point ferries.

It may be possible to reach Aswan by a felucca cruise on the Nile. First you will have to travel south by train or microbus to join the felucca at Edfu, as they will not venture north of the Nile river locks there. The river journey takes two days. The prices are wildly negotiable, expect a starting price of LE700 and aim to settle for LE300.

By e-hailing
Uber doesn't work in Luxor, but its sister app Careem does. It takes card payments, and saves you having to explain your destination or negotiate with the driver. InDrive also works in Luxor.

By bicycle
Luxor is brimming with rental shops for bikes and a great many hotels also hire out bicycles. Rental rates vary from roughly LE5-20, depending on your bargaining skills, the relative demand on bikes that day and the quality of the bike in question. Check the tires and be wary of last minute inflating as they may deflate just as fast. It is normal to be asked to leave behind your passport, drivers licence or student ID card as a deposit. Bikes can be rented on both the East and West Banks of Luxor (the latter near the local ferry landing), though the choice and quality of bikes is usually better in the East, and prices can be a little over-inflated on the more isolated West. If you look for high quality bicycles, you can find Dutch bikes (gazelle/batavus) at the Dutch Rental Agency in Sheraton Street (East Bank) and in the Souk just when you leave the ferry (West Bank). Bikes can be taken on board the local ferry (be considerate though), so perhaps hire on the East, then transport your bike over yourself. Watch Egyptian traffic before deciding if you want to ride a bike through it.

The East Bank is the metropolitan side, so consider the traffic and crowds while deciding whether to bike on that side. The West bank in contrast is much more rural, and many tourists opt to bicycle among the fields here while getting themselves between the tourist sites.

At the sites, guards will try to convince you to avoid locking your bicycle as they will watch it. Which they will do very well, and then demand a tip for having done so. Lock your bike yourself to avoid this unnecessary expense.

By motorcycle
For the even more brave, Luxor is brimming with Chinese motorcycles around 150cc. With the right bargaining skills you can net one for LE50 per hour, or less for the day or evening. In the summer, the roads around the West Bank are relatively empty, and motorcycling around the ruins and mountains is easy and efficient. In a slow season, many are willing to rent you their own motorcycle for the right price. Ask for a helmet -- you won't get one otherwise.

By taxi
Taxis are plentiful in Luxor. They have no meters, but there are current rates that are accepted if you stay firm. Short trips within Luxor are between LE15 and LE25 (first offer from taxi driver will inevitably be LE50 or more). A round trip to the West Bank is about LE100.

The Sheraton Luxor Resort has a list of current (overpriced) taxi rates from their hotel to a number of destinations that can be used as a handy reference.

By minibus
Minibuses are the transportation of the locals in Luxor, and the cheapest way to get around for the adventurous tourist. They all have the same shape so are easily recognized. They have fixed routes, with different routes marked by a different colour on the side of the minibus. However there are no maps of the routes, the locals just seem to know them by heart. All bus routes seem to converge at the railway station. Hail a bus by looking at it while it is approaching, and raise your arm. When the bus is full it will not stop (there are about 14 seats in a bus). Otherwise you can jump in, take an empty seat, and pass money to the driver, a flat LE 3.0 per person (as of Dec 2023) for a ride (no haggling required). When you do not pay while you sit down, they will assume you do not know the price and the driver will charge you LE 3.50 when you get off. Getting off is possible anytime, and is done by simply asking the driver to stop.

By boat
An essential way of getting between the East and West banks of Luxor is to use a boat. The blue local ferry is a very basic boat between East and West that costs LE5 for foreigners (as of Mar 2021). The downside is that the ferry only leaves when it is full, or when another ferry arrives, so taking the ferry is in general slower although you avoid the haggling. Nevertheless, during the day ferries departs often enough not to waste your time. Taxis are available at the ferry terminal on both sides, and the trip takes just a few minutes.

Otherwise, motorboat launches (often called "lunches") will take you around, e.g. from the Winter Palace Hotel to the East Bank ferry dock—as of Oct 2018, LE20 for one or two people during the day, or LE25 at night (You will likely be asked for more, so haggling is appropriate). If you are going up or down river, e.g. to Karnak Temple or Luxor Museum, you will likely end up paying LE30 or more.

As you walk by the river, dozens of felucca owners will also offer you their services to haul you over the river, and normally a taxi driver will be on standby on the other side.

By calèche
Calèches, or horse-drawn carriages, are common on the east bank and are a delightful way to see the city, especially at night-time. Prices vary according to bargaining skill, but LE20 per hour seems common.

However, a number of animal rights groups have advised against calèches due to the poor treatment of the horses. It is not uncommon for drivers to beat their horses, and most Western tourists will notice many skinny and scarred animals. This does not mean that all drivers are to be avoided, some are reputable. Use common sense when choosing.

Beware of using the same driver for several days in a row. At the end he may decide he has undercharged you in some way for previous trips and may ask for a lot more, for things which "wasn't" included, such as waiting around while you visited a temple, all the money paid before went to the boss and none to your driver, a tip for the horse, in the original price. It might be best to use a different driver each trip and not book a driver you've used before to avoid this possible scenario from happening even if he does seem more pleasant than most to start.

On foot
It is also possible to travel around the tourist district on foot during the cooler parts of the day, provided you have a good sense of direction. To avoid unwanted attention you will need to constantly repeat the words "no hassle", or "laa, shukran", which means "no, thank you" in Arabic. Also, be prepared to yell out for the Tourist Police if you have any concerns for your safety. There are usually always some policemen nearby since they may be also wearing civilian clothes.

A good tactic for avoiding hassle is to buy an Egyptian paper each day (in Arabic) and carry this with you. Locals will assume that you know Arabic (and therefore their tricks) and leave you alone. Egyptian papers cost around LE1.

See
The Luxor district article pages contain detailed information and suggestions for things to see. Highlights include:

East Bank of Luxor:
 * The temple complex of Luxor
 * The temple complex of Karnak
 * Luxor and Mummification museums

West Bank of Luxor:
 * The Valley of the Kings
 * Medinet Habu
 * The Tombs of the Nobles
 * The Ramesseum Temple
 * Deir el-Bahari of Queen Hatshepsut
 * Colossi of Memnon
 * Malkata
 * Hot Air Balloon Rides

Do

 * Hire a bicycle and ride around Ancient Thebes, which takes less than 15 minutes.
 * A local felucca ride just before sunset; shouldn't cost you more than about LE30 (for one person) per hour.
 * Take a felucca cruise on the Nile for a 2-day trip to Aswan (the reverse trip is recommended, however, due to river currents).
 * Book a cruise ship for 2-3 nights between Luxor and Aswan by tracking down one or several of them along the pier before noon. Most cruise ships have a reception at their entrance and you can just walk in. Do not mind the guards or barriers, they are just there for protection. According to some, prices can start at US$40 per night, and this will be cheaper than when going through an agent or booking online.
 * Hire a donkey, horse or camel to ride around Luxor's West Bank.
 * Swim in a hotel’s pool after a dusty day of tombs and temples:
 * Iberotel: LE75
 * Sonesta: LE50
 * Lotus: LE50
 * One next to St Joseph Hotel on Khaled Ebn El-Waled Street: LE25
 * One next to St Joseph Hotel on Khaled Ebn El-Waled Street: LE25

Buy
There are at least two different markets in Luxor. One is located in an air-conditioned hall, with shops located on either side of the hall. This market hall connects two major streets.

The older market takes up several streets near the Luxor temple. It is a joy to walk through, as it is mostly pedestrian and is a welcome respite from the horse and carriages on the main streets. This market really feels like an old souk and the visitor is taken back in time. It is covered with a wooden trellis, shading people from the sun. Many of the shops offer the same items, so the wise buyer shops around and looks for the best price. One can often bargain better after going to several stores.

Once you find a merchant you like, sit down, have some tea and begin the game of bargaining. It can feel like you are becoming a part of the family. Buying something as simple as a cotton galabeya can take hours, as you try on almost every single galabeya in the store, and then move on to items that they think you may want for the rest of your family.

Buying anything may be very frustrating due to constant bargaining if you are not used to it. This trick has proven to work well: usually their first offer for the price can be ten or even a hundred times bigger than a reasonable price. First decide what you are actually willing to pay. Let us say that in this example it is LE20. If you ask for the price, you may get a reply "LE120". Now you offer LE22. You may then be offered something like LE110. Then instead of going up, you start going down with the price, your new offer will be only LE20 (your predefined price limit). If the bargaining continues you continue dropping your offer. Pretty soon he will understand where the bargaining is going and you get a comfortable price, or you get rid of the vendor.

The touting in the main Souq in Luxor is so bad that it is an absolute nightmare walking through it. Any desire you had to buy anything will quickly disappear as dozens of men try every possible catch they have on you. These include: "You look lucky", "you look Egyptian", "come see my shop, no hassle," and guessing your nationality. But if you continue straight forward, you will come to the real Souq, where the locals go shopping, and the atmosphere changes completely.

Eat
Luxor is a vegetarian's paradise with lots of fresh seasonal vegetables such as tomato and cucumber.

A meal often begins with pita-bread and mezze such as baba ganoush or taboulé.

Your main course may include meat or poultry, or regional dishes such as pigeon or rabbit. (To avoid an upset stomach, you may prefer to stick with the beef.) As with any heavily touristed area in Egypt, it is never hard to find reasonably well-executed Western food.

Dairy products, such as yoghurt or gibna bayda cheese (like feta but creamier), might accompany your main meal.

Finally, many good vegetarian desserts are available, though some might seem overly sweet to western tastes. (If you can, specify low or medium sweetness.)

While the evening meal is often filling, you may find this does not meet the energy requirements of a busy tourist. It is advisable to eat a hearty breakfast, drink lots of water and snack frequently during the day.

For restaurants by district, see:
 * Luxor, East Bank
 * Luxor, West Bank

Drink
There is something of a social stigma attached to public drunkenness. Although Egyptians themselves sometimes choose to ignore this, for a foreigner to be drunk in public can give a bad impression. Most local pubs tend to be testosterone-filled hard-drinking dens where lone foreigners and especially lone women may feel uncomfortable.

However, there are numerous places in Luxor to buy alcohol. Many restaurants, above the basic on the street places, sell lager and wine. They are generally made obvious by Stella signs outside or by having people drinking inside them.

There are two open-air restaurants opposite the temple about 200 m south of the main entrance which serve Stella lager for LE14 including tax (as of September 2011) and other local beer and wine for fairly reasonable prices. The huge Stella signs outside give them away. If you can not find somewhere convenient serving alcohol, it may be an idea to ask the staff in your hotel for directions. 'Cafeteria' can be the euphemistic name for a pub in Egypt, and pubs can be quite hard to find if you do not know exactly where to go.

There is a duty-free shop close to the north end of the Luxor Temple, slightly to the right across the busy junction. It has plastic see-through shutters at its windows and a guard outside. If you take your passport and go within two days of arriving in Egypt, up to three bottles of main-name spirits and beer, etc. at reduced prices, per person, can be bought. After the two days you can only buy the Egyptian equivalent. They also sell electrical products, and close at 10PM.

Drinking in the street or in parks, although fairly widely done by locals, is not recommended for foreigners as it is illegal and alcohol is generally cheap enough in restaurants anyway.

Sleep
Luxor has an extremely wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and hostels, right up to 5-star luxury hotels like the Old Winter Palace Hotel which is of extreme opulence and has played host to both movie stars and heads of state. Luxor probably has the greatest seasonal variation in hotel rates in Egypt, with some hotels being up to 50% cheaper (or more) in the low season (summer). Others do not change their prices.

Whilst the vast majority of accommodation options are to be found on the East Bank, an increasing number are to be found (and are being developed), however, on the more laid-back and isolated West Bank, close to the tombs and the Valley of the Kings. A lengthy stay in the area might benefit from staying on both sides of the river for some time.

If you are arriving in Luxor by train or bus, beware the over-friendly and sometimes pushy hotel touts, especially at the station (these guys are a symptom of the sometimes fierce competition between rival hotels, especially at quiet times). Remember you do not owe them anything, but that they get 25-40% commission for convincing you to stay at their "cousin's" or "brother's" hotel, which is then added to your final bill. It is usually best to pre-book accommodation. Also, use a map or a taxi to find your hotel and discourage attempts to guide you to your hotel, as you may end up somewhere else altogether, in the expectation that you will give in and stay where your "guide" has led you after all.

Women travelling without company should exercise extreme caution whilst seeking budget accommodation in Luxor. Several reports have been made of sexual assault after women were given spiked drinks by hotel touts and staff.

On your first morning in Luxor, you may be woken at dawn by the adhan, or Muslim call to prayer. This normally lasts 5–10 minutes, and after a few days you will find yourself sleeping through it.

Connect
See the various Luxor district pages for details of telephone, internet and postal services - being a major tourist town, Luxor is extremely well-served with communication facilities.

Most of the best outlets are to be found where the bulk of the local population lives, in the East Bank of Luxor.

Luxor telephone number format is +20 95 2xxx xxx, while on the West Bank +20 95 2060xxx.

Stay safe

 * Stay alert – For those not on fully organised tours, touts can make sight seeing very frustrating. (Although they tend not to stray into the actual temples.) However within temples, one must contend with the government tour guides. The guides are legitimate government workers, but also extremely aggressive about "guiding you" and then demanding a tip. Rule of thumb: If anyone shows you anything, for any amount of time, they will want a tip. It may be worthwhile to give a small tip upfront while asking to "self tour".
 * It is wise to know which accommodation you are heading to and where, or just pre-book accommodation. Otherwise, you will have to deal with the touts at the station.
 * As tourism is the main source of income in Luxor, and has been for centuries, many people have made scamming into an art form. You should assume that any statement from someone who comes up to you out of nowhere is a lie. Some of the older tricks in the book:
 * The "I need a letter translated" opener, used to draw you into a shop
 * The "I need a letter writing to my friend in your country" opener (they show you an address that is in your country), again used to draw you into a shop
 * The alabaster factory. A large percentage of alabaster is imported, and is hardly made on site. The vast majority of other stones such as jade are imported from China and India.
 * "The temple is closed"- Check opening times before you arrive. Find out on your own whether something is open or closed, whether you are walking the right way or not. Ask a local, not taxi or caleche driver. The main temples all maintain the same basic hours and rarely, if ever, have closures, as conservation/excavation work is almost always done while they are open, with just one area sealed off. The tombs in the Valley of the Kings are a different matter, but the main ticket office at the entrance has a sign showing which individual tombs are open and closed on any given day.
 * Papyrus Museum - it is just a papyrus shop, some are good but some are cheap imitations.
 * Scarf seller - person selling usually just one scarf will attempt to use it to hide their hand movements while they pick pocket you.
 * The "I know you from the cruise ship." opener.
 * The "Excuse me, where are you from?" opener.

 * Women travelling without company should exercise extreme caution whilst seeking budget accommodation. There have been several reports of sexual assault after women were given spiked drinks by hotel touts and staff. Always check your room to make sure the door has a secure lock that can't be opened from the outside, and check for spy holes (this is actually a thing in some places). Staff in some shops will also on occasion harass or grope women who aren't with a male travel companion. If you are travelling with a male travel companion, consider pretending to be husband and wife, even if you aren't. This will avoid some of these problems.
 * Merchants in Luxor are notoriously aggressive and manipulative. If you do not want to be talked into buying anything, it is wise to completely ignore any attempt by a local to strike up conversation, no matter how benign it may seem. In shops and the market, the phrase "No Hassle" can often be used to avoid unwanted attention. If you would like to be polite, it is also appropriate to say "Laa shukran", meaning ‘no thanks’ in Arabic. Being polite will make your life easier, as people will remember you if you were rude and may hassle more later. If problems persist, threaten to call the tourist police with the phrase "You're a hustler!"
 * On the streets, you may find it easier to feign ignorance of English: "Non Speakee Engleezee" and/or "Non Parlee Arabee" seems to be the most reliable way to show you are not interested in their offers. This technique can however backfire quite spectacularly as most Egyptians speak several languages, so if pressed claim to speak something obscure like Azerbaijani or Ossetic. If you do speak an uncommon language such as Persian or Albanian or an Eastern European language, make sure you start talking to them in that language. If you do not, practice faking it and do so in their presence. This is the fastest and easiest way to get rid of the touts. Otherwise, just don't engage at all.
 * Depending upon the perception your profile creates, you may be asked, sometimes within minutes of exiting your hotel, if you would like to purchase drugs or sex. Remember, prostitution and drug use are not taken lightly by government authorities. For gay visitors, extreme care should be taken when propositioned by a sex worker. Egypt has a well documented record of gay men being caught in entrapment schemes.

Go next

 * Dendera — Luxor is a good base to visit this site of a fantastically well-preserved Ptolemaic temple of Hathor. A number of hotels organise day-trips, and you don't need to be staying with them to use these services. However, it can also easily be reached by taxi or, even cheaper, by (local) train to Qena and local taxi from there.
 * For those with more time on their hands you can add a visit to the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, featuring some of the best relief work in Egypt. This is a lengthy road trip from Luxor, but can be combined with a day trip to Dendera.
 * The city is also a good staging post for onward travel through Upper Egypt and on to Aswan and Abu Simbel.

title: Luxor


text:
Luxor/East Bank

The East Bank of Luxor is the central part of Luxor township, centred on the twin foci of the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak.

Understand
Unlike the West Bank, which was always the main area for cemeteries and mortuary temples, the East Bank represented the main settlement of the living throughout the millennia - a role that has hardly changed. The vast majority of hotels and tourist facilities are in the East Bank.

The layout of Luxor town is fairly straightforward: arranged about the temples of Karnak and Luxor, 3 km (1.9 miles, apart in the north and south of the city respectively) are four main roads with a network of many small streets between them:

 * the Corniche el-Nil (usually just referred to as 'the Corniche', running along the east bank of the Nile and connecting most of the major attractions
 * Sharia al-Mahatta, linking the railway station with the area around Luxor Temple
 * Sharia Karnak, running inland parallel to the Nile and the Corniche
 * Sharia Televizyon, in the southern part of the town, an area of inexpensive accommodation

Completed major works include widening the main road along the corniche allowing the coaches from the Red Sea resorts to quickly access Karnak temple & the Valley of the Kings.

Get in
The East Bank of Luxor represents the central part of Luxor as a locality, the part of the town that the vast majority of tourists will first arrive in, whether by land, river or air, and where many will find accommodation. Arrive in Luxor, you've essentially got to the East Bank.

Get around
See main Get around section of the Luxor article.

The ferry stop for trips to the West Bank is in front of the Winter Palace hotel.

Karnak
Karnak Temple Complex comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings. Its construction began during the reign of Senusret I in the Middle Kingdom and continued into the Ptolemaic period, although most of the extant buildings date from the New Kingdom.

Complex consists of four main parts: the Precinct of Amun-Re, the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Montu, and the dismantled Temple of Amenhotep IV, of which only the Precinct of Amun-Re and the Precinct of Mut are open to the general public. The term Karnak often is understood as being the Precinct of Amun-Ra only, because this is the only part most visitors see. There are also a few smaller temples and sanctuaries connecting the Precinct of Mut, the Precinct of Amun-Re, and the Luxor Temple.

Do

 * Pay a visit at the Brooke Hospital for Animals - and leave a donation!
 * Visit ACE - Animal Care Egypt - it has new premises, and operates free for Egyptians. Donations are always accepted - but consider buying their clothing range or books, as a charity, they totally rely on such things.
 * Pay a repeat visit to Luxor Temple at night - atmospherically lit, it has a completely different mood to that found in the daytime and is usually more intimate than with fewer visitors.
 * Watch the sun go down over the Nile: preferably from the terrace of the Old Winter Palace hotel, with a drink in your hand. Listen to cacophony from thousands of small birds that roost in the trees lining the Corniche.

Drink
There is an excellent sugarcane drink place located near the train station, on the main road past the rotary. LE6 for a cold, fresh bottle of sugarcane drink (1.5 l).

However, if you prefer a freshly made sugar cane drink, go to one of the many fruit juice shops. To prevent being cheated, as everywhere else, act cool, and make sure you have small coins available.

Splurge
Various large chains like Hilton, Sheraton, Novotel and Steigenberger also have high-end hotels in Luxor.

Phone
Luxor town has 4 telephone offices, allowing people to avoid the often hefty charges levied by hotels and mobile carriers for international phone calls.

The main telephone office is on Sharia Karnak, adjacent to the souqs and almost opposite the Emilio Hotel. It is open 24 hours a day. Another, smaller branch can be found below the grand sweeping entrance to the Old Winter Palace Hotel on the Corniche (open 8AM-8PM); whilst a third telephone office exists at the railway station (open 8AM-8PM) and the fourth telephone office is in Sheraton street, next DHL office.

If you wish to use your cell phone in Luxor, it is advisable to visit the Vodafone shop at the bottom of Television Street. You can buy a Holiday Sim Card, which costs LE25, and you will avoid any roaming charges, even on international calls. Just top up the card as necessary. If your phone is 'locked' by your phone company, they will advise where you can get it unlocked for a fee of between LE30-50.

Or buy a local SIM card.

Post
If you want to buy stamps, you need small change because no one will sell you if you don't have.

title: Luxor/East Bank


text:
Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings (Arabic: Wadi el-Muluk, وادي الملوك; also known as Biban el-Moluk, the "Gates of the Kings") is an Egyptian archaeological locality in the hills immediately behind the West Bank of Luxor. As such, it is one of the most remarkable archaeological destinations in the world - the burial place of most of the pharaohs of Egypt of the New Kingdom.

Understand
The tombs within the Valley are designated by a KV number, standing for "King's Valley". The tomb of Tutankhamun, for example, is also known as KV62. On the other hand, the tombs in the Western Valley have been catalogued under WV numbers (WV = Western Valley).

Archaeological excavations continue periodically within the Valley of the Kings; perhaps best known is the American University of Cairo's excavation of KV5, the tomb of the Sons of Ramesses II. Director of this excavation is Professor Kent Weeks, also director of the Theban Mapping Project, granted the permit to map the Theban Necropolis in its entirety - a project now well advanced.

Entrance and hours
Opening hours: Summer daily 6AM–5PM; Winter daily 6AM–4PM.

Admission: LE260 (Dec 2022) for three tombs of your choice (those wishing to view more than 3 tombs must purchase additional tickets).

Get in
By taxi or bike are the preferred choices, see West Bank.

See
Many of the tombs in the Valley are closed to the public periodically for resting and renovation.

Information within the Valley has been vastly improved: (mostly) gone are the old faded signs, now replaced by engraved metal signs detailing the history, architecture and decoration of each tomb, together with detailed plans and diagrams (these have been provided by the Theban Mapping Project, in association with the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities).

To get the best understanding of the tombs within the Valley of the Kings, visit at least one tomb from each of the three main building phases (see below).

Western Valley of the Kings
The Western Valley is adjacent to the main Valley and contains a number of remarkable pharaonic burials additional to the main one. The Western Valley is also known in Arabic as the Wadi al-Gurud (the "Valley of the Monkeys"), on account of the representations of baboons in several tomb paintings found within the wadi.

It is nowhere near so commonly accessed by tourist parties as the Valley of the Kings, being located somewhat 'off the beaten track'. The Valley is nonetheless well worth a visit by the determined traveller: its relative quiet and isolation help to evoke the silent and haunting atmosphere at one time characteristic of the main King's Valley (believed by ancient Egyptians to have been watched over by the protective goddess Meretseger, whose name translates as "she who loves silence").

Only the Tomb of Ay (out of 16 available tombs) is open to the public.

Getting there: the Western Valley is accessed by a winding dirt and stone road that begins at the car park of the Valley of the Kings. Visitors must walk for some 2 km between massive boulders, under towering rock cliffs, in order to reach the tombs; although some taxis will take you all the way into the valley. The road is not suitable for cycling.

Do
Not much except for seeing the tombs.

Buy
The Valley of the Kings ticket does not include a tram ride from the ticket office to the entrance of the first tomb. If you are not in a rush take the time to walk. You will save the 3-min tram ride and save yourself LE5.

Eat
No restaurants here. Around the souvenir shops at the entrance there are drinks and snacks for sale. Opposite the grave of Ramses V/Ramses VI (KV 9) there's a seating area where you can sit down and eat your snacks.

Sleep
There are no opportunities of accommodation in the Valley of the Kings. After evening closing it is not allowed to tourists to enter this area.

There are many accommodations at Luxor East and Luxor West banks.

Cope

 * Bringing your own small torch to gently illuminate some of the more obscure reliefs is always a good idea.
 * Watch out for the guards in the tombs that may offer to take your picture (which is against the rules) for some baksheesh. If they get your camera they can take any sort of picture, then  report you to the authorities, which is a big hassle. A camera flash in a tomb will alert the guards to picture taking that is strictly forbidden. You will be given the choice of leaving the site (not just that tomb) or paying a second admission fee.
 * Hiking back over the mountain into the valley (Valley of the Queens, etc.) is not allowed anymore and will be prevented by the many policemen standing around.
 * Carry a bottle of water with you, if heading to the Western Valley of Kings, especially in summer, as there are no water vendors.
 * Do not venture into the narrow Western Valley, if it appears that there may be an exceedingly rare rainstorm - you will probably not survive the ensuing flash flood as it races through the valley.

Go next
Visitors to the Valley of the Kings may also visit Luxor's West Bank.

title: Valley of the Kings


text:
Luxor/West Bank

The West Bank of Luxor in Egypt is also the gateway to the amazing Valley of the Kings, and a string of pharaonic mortuary temples vies with the richly-decorated Tombs of the Nobles and the workmen's village, Deir el-Medineh, for the visitors’ attention.

Understand
The West Bank is, archaeologically, the lushest paradise on this planet; the East Bank ties with Saqqara in second place, unanimously, among Egyptologists at least. The vast majority of visitors to Luxor tend to stay on the East Bank, which is the busy Egyptian city. The West Bank has a more relaxed vibe, and has a good selection of accommodations and restaurants.

Entrance and tickets
Most sights, tombs and areas have an entrance fee of LE40-80. And as usual, students get 50% off. If you intend to visit all archaeological sights, you would end up paying around LE1,000, not to mention the inexplicable LE1,200 for the Tomb of Nefertari, the LE1,000 for the Tomb of Seti II, and LE250 for Tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings (Jan 2019). Alternatively you can opt for a Luxor Pass costing US$200, which allows entrance to all Luxor sights during 5 consecutive days.

If you are on a tight budget, however, a fair share of sights can also be explored from the outside for free without entering them but still having a decent picture, namely when hiking around the area—see a potential itinerary below. There are many closed tombs in the Tombs of Nobles area that are interesting to see, because often they allow a sneak through the gate—just walk around. Furthermore, the hill between the Tombs of Nobles and the large mountain range offers great views of the area, Ramesseum and the Temple of Hatshepsut. You just have to get into the Tombs of Nobles area, either directly from Deir el Medineh, directly from Deir el-Bahari, somewhere along the main road or with a single ticket to any of its tombs from the dedicated carpark/entrance.

is on the left at the end of the straight main road coming from the ferry port, right when you enter the archaeological area. Except for the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and Deir el-Bahari, you will have to get your tickets there.

Get in

 * See the Luxor page for getting to the Luxor area.

From the airport
Taxis are the only reasonable option. It is easy to find them when you arrive. If you are unused to bargaining, it is better to arrange a pick-up in advance with your accommodation. But this will most likely neither give you a better deal. Expect to pay LE50-100 depending on your bargaining skills for the 20-km ride.

From the train station
Taxis are available but, if on a budget and if you're reasonably mobile, it is a short walk to the ferry jetty from the railway station. Walk straight up al-mahatta and then round the tip of the Temple of Luxor to get there. A taxi ride from the station to the jetty should run to about LE10. Hotels on the West Bank are all within easy reach of the jetty.

By ferry from the East Bank
By far the quickest, most authentic and romantic manner of crossing the Nile to the west is by ferry or motor launch.

Get around
The West Bank's archaeological sites are spread out.

By taxi
In summer the temperature varies from hot to extremely hot. So, the easiest way to get around is by hiring a taxi for the day. This will set you back about LE250 from the West Bank, depending on your ability to haggle (Oct 2018). For a return trip to a particular site the price should not be more than LE100 for a minibus that takes up to 9 people. If your negotiation skills are reasonable, it is cheaper to hire a taxi by yourself, if not, you'll save yourself a lot of grief by asking your hotel to arrange one. In either event, bargain a bit because in Egypt the first price is always on the high side.

There are many tuk tuks as well, which charge a little less than standard taxis.

By tour
Many accommodations offer organised tours with a driver from the accommodation to and between the major archaeological sites. However, their schedule is quite tight and fixed. They will not appreciate any effort by their passengers to change the pre-defined tour, schedule and visiting times, mostly only 20 min at a site. They will also sometimes try to spend 30 min at a souvenir shop of their choice to get commission. In addition, you may be expected to visit and pay for a sight, even though you might not be interested in it. Such inexpensive tours start at LE50 per person. But if you find 4 people in your hostel or hotel, the taxi might be the more convenient option.

By bicycle
Bicycles are available for rent at hotels (LE10-20) and beyond the ferry jetty on the West Bank (LE30-40). In summer, be aware that the heat can be quite intense and the bikes tend to be primitive. Carry plenty of water. However, with a bicycle, you cannot walk much around, like between Deir el Medineh, the Valley of Nobles and the Temple of Hatshepsut.

By micro bus
Regular micro buses leave from the ferry to Gurna. If you can find your way onto one you'll get there on the cheap for LE2. The sites are usually 0.5 to 1 km away from the main road so you'll have to walk to get there.

On foot
Once you get to the archaeological area, by taxi or mini bus, it is possible, if likely tiresome, to hike the area at the foot of the mountains. There are small police stations along the hill tops. They should not hassle hikers.

If it is too much hassle to find transport from the ferry port area, walk the 3.5 km from there to Medinet Habu. In the early morning the weather is nicer and there will be many balloons flying over; you will pass green cultivation areas, and after them, the Colossi of Memnon and the remains of the Amenhotep III temple that once stood behind them, a pleasant and educative walk.

From the ticket office to the Valley of the Kings, you would rather use a taxi or tuk tuk.

It is no longer possible to hike up the mountain to the Valley of the Kings. Any such attempt will be prevented by the local police officers paying close attention.

See
It's a place of the Theban Necropolis, which was used for ritual burials for much of the Pharaonic period, especially during the New Kingdom. One of its most remarkable parts - the burial place of most of the pharaohs of Egypt of the New Kingdom - described in a separate article.

Dra' Abu el-Naga'
The necropolis of is just by the entrance of the dry bay that leads up to Deir el-Bahri, and north of the necropolis of el-Assasif. It was probably used as a royal Necropolis for the kings of the 17th Dynasty, and contains the possible tomb of Amenhotep I, Tomb ANB. It was also used as a cemetery for officials of the New Kingdom administration in Thebes.

Do

 * Hike the hills and area at the bottom of the mountains, between the temples, tombs and sights.
 * Hot air balloon rides over Valley of the Kings see Luxor.
 * If you are on a tight budget and just want to hike around and take some pictures (from the outside) consider the following route (6 km): Medinet Habu, Deir el Medineh, Tombs of Nobles (directly or with any single ticket to the tombs), Temple of Hatshepsut, Ramesseum (from the road).

Buy
Souvenirs, alabaster, perfume, etc.

Stay safe

 * Carry plenty of water, wear sensible shoes and a hat, strongly consider sunscreen. The West Bank is too amazing to be spent in pain and discomfort, and bring a torch as some of the tombs are quite dark.
 * Hiking up and down the mountain was an issue in the past and some travelers slipped along the way up or down the Valley of the Kings. This is not permitted anymore. However, take care when ascending any other things, which are far less solid than used to in Europe.
 * Do not use a credit card as some shops are masters at fraud. You may get your money back at home, but best to use cash and bargain.

Cope
The sites in Luxor are nothing short of spectacular. So, it is best to be organized.
 * A flashlight! It is dark in the tombs and the lights don't always work either because they don't or because the caretaker can't be bothered with turning them on.
 * Plenty of small notes and coins. Parting with LE1 notes/coins is almost the cost of being a tourist in Egypt and can magically open 'closed' tombs, light up dark chambers, or get rid of a particularly pesky tout.
 * Each of the tombs has a guardian who will let you in, show you around, tell you that photos aren't permitted, but he'll look the other way for a little bakhsheesh. Some will be happy if you slip them LE10 or 20, others will pester you for more if you "only" give them LE50. The guardians are paid very little as almost anybody in Africa, but tips are at your discretion.
 * Water is available outside most of the sites but not always readily available inside. However, it is advisable to take enough water with you. At the Temple of Hatshepsut, the cafe will gladly sell you a soft drink for LE50, but that also allows you to sit the only shade available. Drink sellers in the bazaar by the ticket office will charge LE20.
 * If you don't know Osiris from Anubis, it might be a good idea to read up a bit before you go. Otherwise, you'll wonder what the fuss is all about.

title: Luxor/West Bank