Itineraries for Your Trip to Luxor
3 Days in Luxor for Foodies
Egypt has a rich culinary tradition, influenced by local ingredients and foreign influences. After all, it’s part of the Middle East and Northern Africa and has seen plenty of European influence over the millennia. During my travels in Luxor, I’ve eaten a lot of Middle Eastern staples, such as hummus and falafel, as well as my favorite, koshary, a mashup of pasta, rice, lentils, tomato sauce, and fried onions. There are also plenty of European food to suit more standard tourist tastes. Still, I’d suggest trying out the local food, especially dishes such as mulukhiyah (jute mallow stew), which isn't readily available outside the region.
Here’s how I’d suggest exploring Luxor through your taste buds over three days.
Bring a coat for nighttime dips in temperature if you’re visiting in the winter high season.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a traditional meal in a local home.
Start your morning with a traditional breakfast of ful medames, cooked fava beans served with bread—it’s available at most restaurants open for breakfast and, likely, at your hotel. Then, take a boat to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut (at Deir el-Bahari), and Colossi of Memnon, followed by a lunch of Egyptian dishes at the rooftop Malkata House restaurant. Head back to the East Bank in the afternoon to visit the Karnak and Luxor temples.
Top your day off with a traditional dinner hosted in the home of a local family.
Start your second day with a visit to Banana Island, named after its massive banana trees (though you'll find mangos and guavas, too). Explore the island's orchards, sample fruit, and have lunch at the island’s restaurant. The most scenic way to reach Banana Island is by taking a private trip by felucca, a traditional sailboat.
In the afternoon, head back to Luxor to visit the city's local bazaar. If you want an insider's take on what to taste and what spices to buy, sign up for a food tour with stops to sample koshary and falafel.
On your final day, head to Nubian House, a family-run restaurant that sources ingredients from their on-site farm. Come before lunch when the restaurant isn't too busy so that you can walk around the farm and see the fruits and vegetables that will be on your plate.
In the afternoon, head out to the desert for a quad bike adventure or stick around town for any last-minute shopping for souvenirs and spices. In the evening, pay a final visit to Karnak Temple to see a sound-and-light show, followed by an Egyptian dinner at a local restaurant.
