While the Ramesseum is not as well preserved as nearby Medinet Habu (Temple of Ramses III), its huge statues, pylons, columns, and hieroglyphics invite exploring. The Ramesseum is an included stop on some West Bank tours or can be combined with Medinet Habu on a half-day trip. For a more in-depth experience, opt for a tour that focuses on the Ramesseum exclusively, ensuring plenty of time to take in the site’s remarkable details.
The Ramesseum is located on the West Bank, close to top sites including Medinet Habu, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Nobles, and the Valley of the Kings. If you’re visiting the Ramesseum on a tour, transportation will be taken care of; for those traveling on their own, it’s a 40-minute taxi ride from downtown Luxor.
As with other West Bank sites, a morning visit is best for comfortable temperatures. The most popular time to visit Luxor is during the cooler winter months. Brave the hot summer, however, and you might even have the Ramesseum to yourself—the low season means far fewer crowds throughout Luxor.
Once known as the "Tomb of Ozymandias" or the "Memnonium," the Ramesseum was an inspiration for the poem Ozymandias by Percy Shelley. Find the Colossus of Ramses II, which appears in the poem, scattered on the ground by the western stairs. "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings," wrote Shelley, "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"