Dendera Temple Complex

Dendera Temple Complex

Dendera Temple Complex
5
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Built in the 1st century BC by Ptolemy 8th and Queen Cleopatra 2nd, this ancient temple is one of the most intact in Egypt.
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Attractions
3 within 6 miles

See what travelers are saying

  • TripRabbit
    Virginia460 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Remarkably well-preserved — and without the crowds
    If you have any way to devote time to visit Dendera while you stay In Luxor, make sure to do so (and if possible combine it with Abydos). The drive to Dendera alone will take you 1 1/2 to 2 hours each way, but it is so worth it. The colors and overall state of preservation are truly remarkable, as close as you can find anywhere to what these archaeological and historic treasurers would have looked like thousands of years ago. Compared to Luxor and Giza, you will be able to experience these extraordinary archaeological treasurers in relative solitude — you will likely not be alone, of course, but the number of visitors is markedly lower. Highly recommended.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 14, 2024
  • Ahmed S
    Port Said, Egypt22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    the best temple for me
    "The temple is located in Qena city, which is approximately 2 hours away from Luxor by bus or train. this temple is quiet and peaceful, with less crowd. Additionally, the temple still has its original colors on the walls, making it a perfect place for photography."
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 10, 2024
  • Javier
    Montevideo, Uruguay40 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful temple, very well preserved
    Wonderful temple from the time of Roman domination in Egypt, extraordinarily well preserved. We were there in May 2024 at noon and there was practically no one in the temple. The income was 100 Egyptian pounds, approximately US$. 2 dollars. We went with a very capable guide provided by Galaxia Tours, with a very good disposition and excellent command of Spanish.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 18, 2024
  • Jill E
    55 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit
    Well worth the detour on the way between Luxor and Hurghada. We broke the journey here and discovered one of our favourite temples of all, hidden away just outside Qena. The level of detail on the carvings and statues is outstanding. Plan at least an hour here, possibly 2.
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written December 23, 2024
  • Vincent C
    583 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must Visit
    Incredibly stunning and one of the most beautiful and colourful temples remaining. It is large and the only temple we got to go to the roof for some views. The columns and colours and stories the imagery told was beautiful. Worth the drive and visit from Luxor.
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 23, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles362 reviews
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328
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28
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3
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Malay M
New Delhi, Delhi, India161 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
Cult temple of Hathor at Dendara, enjoying an unbelievably exceptional state of preservation, is a visual treat of highest order. If the profusion and quality of wall reliefs is not enough to enthrall, there is polychromatic decoration in vibrant shades of Blue, making its somewhat difficult to believe that all this happened around 2000 years back. The array of graphic narratives adorning the walls and ceilings are just impeccable. Don't miss this painted ceilings and the Zodiac (original now in Louvre)
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

swisstraveller
Berne666 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
What an amazing temple ! The location is great, and it doesnt get many visitors, which is another plus. This temple dedicated to Hathor, is not that old (from the Ptolemaic time), but very beautiful. Amazing reliefs and colours. Much is about astrology, the calendar, the zodiac etc. So its really worth visiting with a competent guide, so that you can get good explanations about what you see.

Beware: even though the temple is only 60km north of Luxor, it takes 1.5 hours to get there by car.
Written October 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elizabeth O
Moscow, Russia363 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
Dendera is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Since it is usually visited first on the excursion to Luxor, it is somehow is associated with early morning and the rise of civilization (though it has been actually built quite late, mainly in Greco-Roman times). One of the main features of the temple is the Dendera zodiac, the round calendar on the ceiling which is often represented in albums and postcards. Come and see it with your own eyes!
Written June 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda Y
Frisco, TX5,693 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Should you make the 3-hour round trip from Luxor to visit Dendera? Yes! The beautifully restored main temple is dedicated to goddess Hathor and is virtually intact, complete with dark chambers, underground crypts, twisting staircases and rooftop access. The ceiling in the magnificent Outer Hypostyle Hall was cleaned in 2011, revealing incredibly colored paintings (the blues are so vivid!). Hathor, goddess of the sky, women, fertility, and love, among others, is frequently depicted as a woman with the ears of a cow or wearing a headdress of cow horns and a sun disk. The Dendera complex also has shrines to numerous other gods as well as the ruins of a Coptic Basilica. Look for the Dendera Zodiac in the rooftop temple (this is a replica; the original is in the Louvre). Also do not miss the famous scene of Cleopatra with Caesarion, her son by Julius Caesar, on the rear wall of the main Temple. About the trip from Luxor: While the rural countryside makes for a pretty drive, it’s a long bumpy ride with stops for frequent roadblocks. Our Gate 1 bus was normally just waved thru, but there was a lot of stop and go. If you’re prone to motion sickness, you might want to take something before you leave Luxor.
Written May 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ron S
New York City, NY6,102 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
The Dendera Temple is considered the best preserved. The ceiling in the large Hypostyle Hall is in great shape indeed. Walk to the rear wall to see the bas-relief of Cleopatra and Caesarion and while there you can pick up a few pottery shards for souvenirs from the pile of ancient rubble.
Written November 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pan_viator
Teignmouth, UK178 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
This is a Greco-Roman temple from the time of the Ptolemies. There are some older parts and the site itself is much older, but the main temple is 'only' 2100 years old.
There are several good reasons for visiting such a 'modern' temple:
1. The Hypostyle Hall still has a roof, complete with ceiling paintings which have been cleaned/restored to show the brilliant colours.
2. The crypt is still intact and you are allowed down to look at the reliefs.
3. The roof areas are still accessible, except for the highest one.
4. It's a lot less crowded than the temples in Luxor.
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DQShaw
York, ME1,317 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Located on the west bank of the Nile River on the edge of the desert, this massive complex dates back to the mid-rth century BC. Many examples of Ptolemaic Egyptian art adorning its chambers. We went with a group and a egyptoligist for a guide. That helped us understand what we were seeing.
Written March 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

browncondo2102
Kitchener, Canada1,824 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
The Dendera Temple is one of Egypt's best preserved temple complexes.It is a massive complex dated 4th century BC but may have been 2250 BC. The main temple is Hathor with its Ptolemaic Art. There is also the Dendera Zodiac from the Greco Roman period that maps the ancient sky.
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TTOverseas
Cairo, Egypt203 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Dendara has the vibe of the quiet off-the-path Luxor locations (Seti 1 Temple...), but is extremely well preserved. The colors are really impressive and the corridors (up and down into the crypt) really kept our kids interested. Definately wrth the hour + trip from our hotel in Luxor. Being able to plan it ourselves had the added bonus of our arriving without any tour buses at all and only a single other family. Avoiding the tour buses has become an obsession of ours!

We even enjoyed the ride up from Luxor. It is nice to see the "real" rural Egypt, even if its just a glipmse. We live in Cairo and had come to believe the whole country was covered with trash, but not so. It is sugar cane harvesting, so kinda neat to see the little trains pulling the many cars full or sugar cane. Overall, one of the highlights of our trip to Luxor- probably not far off the beaten track, but certainly felt like it.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Friends
We visited Super Luxor and Dendera without shops. Thank you for the excellent organization - we completed all points of the program clearly and on time! There are a lot of impressions, as well as information from the guide Nevin (Nina). The Temple of the Goddess Hathor, a walk along the Nile, the Temple of Karnak, the Colossi of Memnon - it’s simply unforgettable!
Google
Written November 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Dendera Temple Complex

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