Luxor has often been called the worlds greatest open air museum The number of ancient Egyptian antiquties and monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

The Karnak Temple is situated just north of the town centre near the village of Al-Karnak, although is twice the size of the built-up village area, and is probably the second most visited historical site in Egypt, second only to the Giza Pyramids near Cairo.