Comparison · Luxor vs Sharm El Sheikh · Egypt
Luxor vs Sharm El Sheikh
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 short break; choose Sharm El Sheikh for Coral reefs, Scuba diving, beaches and nightlife. Luxor is generally less expensive, and the two are about 299 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 299 km
- Less expensive
- Luxor
- Best time for Luxor
- October–March
- Best time for Sharm El Sheikh
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Luxor | Sharm El Sheikh | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Egypt | Egypt |
| Known for | Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple | Coral reefs, Scuba diving and Ras Mohammed National Park |
| Best time to visit | October–March | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$170 | $100–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | June, 41°C (106°F) | July, 37°C (99°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 23°C (73°F) | January, 22°C (72°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 2 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Beaches | — | Naama Bay |
| Airports | LXR | SSH |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Luxor for…
Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, lower day-to-day costs and a short break. 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…
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Choose Sharm El Sheikh for…
Coral reefs, Scuba diving, beaches and nightlife. Sharm El Sheikh is a resort city spread along about 30 km of coast at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Red Sea. Its draw is underwater: fringing coral reefs start a few metres from the shore, and boats reach the…
Top sights compared
| # | Luxor | Sharm El Sheikh |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karnak Temple | Ras Mohammed National Park |
| 2 | Luxor Temple | Strait of Tiran reefs |
| 3 | Avenue of Sphinxes | SS Thistlegorm wreck |
| 4 | Valley of the Kings | Naama Bay promenade |
| 5 | Temple of Hatshepsut | Old Market |
Food compared
| Luxor | Sharm El Sheikh |
|---|---|
| Ful medames | Grilled Red Sea fish |
| Ta'ameya | Sayadeya |
| Koshari | Bedouin tea |
| Aish shamsi | Bedouin flatbread |
Which is cheaper?
Luxor is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$170 per person there, against $100–$200 in Sharm El Sheikh (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Luxor on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh are about 299 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Luxor and 7 in Sharm El Sheikh.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Luxor or Sharm El Sheikh cheaper?
Luxor is usually less expensive: about $80–$170 a day mid-range against $100–$200 (estimates).
+Is Luxor or Sharm El Sheikh better for a first trip?
Pick Luxor for Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, lower day-to-day costs and a short break, or Sharm El Sheikh for Coral reefs, Scuba diving, beaches and nightlife.
+How far is Luxor from Sharm El Sheikh?
About 299 km in a straight line.