Comparison · Luxor vs Petra · Egypt / Jordan
Luxor vs Petra
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roland Unger, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Luxor for Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter; choose Petra for The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and a short break. Luxor is generally less expensive, and the two are about 585 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 585 km
- Less expensive
- Luxor
- Best time for Luxor
- October–March
- Best time for Petra
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Luxor | Petra | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Egypt | Jordan |
| Known for | Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and The Monastery (Ad Deir) |
| Best time to visit | October–March | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 2 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$170 | $130–$250 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | June, 41°C (106°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 23°C (73°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 2 | 1 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | LXR | AMM, AQJ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Luxor for…
Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, capital of Egypt's New Kingdom, and holds a concentration of pharaonic monuments found nowhere else. On the East Bank, the town wraps around Luxor Temple and the vast temple complex of Karnak, joined by the 2.7-km…
Choose Petra for…
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and a short break. Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, a trading people who carved temples and tombs into the sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan from around the 1st century BC. Visitors enter through the Siq, a 1.2 km gorge that ends at the facade of the Treasury…
Top sights compared
| # | Luxor | Petra |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karnak Temple | The Siq |
| 2 | Luxor Temple | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) |
| 3 | Avenue of Sphinxes | Street of Facades and the Theatre |
| 4 | Valley of the Kings | Royal Tombs |
| 5 | Temple of Hatshepsut | Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint |
Food compared
| Luxor | Petra |
|---|---|
| Ful medames | Mansaf |
| Ta'ameya | Maqluba |
| Koshari | Zarb |
| Aish shamsi | Galayet bandora |
Which is cheaper?
Luxor is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$170 per person there, against $130–$250 in Petra (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Luxor on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Luxor and Petra are about 585 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Luxor and 2 in Petra.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Luxor or Petra cheaper?
Luxor is usually less expensive: about $80–$170 a day mid-range against $130–$250 (estimates).
+Is Luxor or Petra better for a first trip?
Pick Luxor for Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter, or Petra for The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and a short break.
+How far is Luxor from Petra?
About 585 km in a straight line.