Is the Valley of the Kings worth it?
Yes. The kings of the New Kingdom, from about 1550 to 1069 BCE, were buried here in hidden tombs cut deep into the rock, across the Nile from Thebes. The west bank was the land of the setting sun and of rebirth, and the valley lies under a natural pyramid-shaped peak that was sacred to Hathor. There are over sixty tombs, but only some are open at any time. Inside, the walls and ceilings are covered with the texts and images meant to guide the king through the night to a new dawn.
How does the ticket work?
The general ticket costs EGP 750 (EGP 375 for students) and covers a choice of the tombs open that day; the list changes as tombs close for conservation, so check the board at the gate for which ones, and how many, your ticket includes. Three tombs are outside the general ticket and need their own: Tutankhamun, Sety I and Ramesses VI.
Which extra tombs are worth it?
Sety I (KV17): the one to pay for
EGP 2000, the most expensive ticket on the west bank, and the same price for students. In return you get one of the longest, deepest and most beautifully decorated tombs in the valley, the tomb of the father of Ramesses II, discovered by Giovanni Belzoni and still sometimes called by his name. If you will pay for only one extra tomb, make it this one.
Ramesses VI (KV9): the best value
EGP 220. Begun for Ramesses V and enlarged by Ramesses VI for his own burial, it is a long sequence of corridors descending deep underground, richly decorated. Few tickets in the valley give you as much painting for the price.
Tutankhamun (KV62): for the story
EGP 700. Small and modestly decorated compared with the great royal tombs, probably because the young king died early. Its fame comes from what Howard Carter found in 1922: the only royal tomb in the valley discovered nearly intact. The treasures, gold mask included, are now in the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the guide to Tutankhamun’s mask explains why it matters. Worth it if the story moves you; otherwise, spend the money on Sety I.
What can you skip?
Skip arriving late: by mid-morning the tombs fill up and the heat in the valley builds. Skip trying to see more than four or five tombs; after that, the painted corridors start to blur. And skip Tutankhamun before you skip Sety I.
How long do you need?
About three hours for three tombs on the general ticket plus one or two extras. Combine it with the Temple of Hatshepsut and Medinet Habu for a full west bank day; see Luxor for art lovers. For what the paintings mean, the guide to mummification covers the beliefs behind them.
The Valley of the Kings in brief
- Ticket
- General ticket EGP 750 (students EGP 375); extra tombs: Sety I EGP 2000, Tutankhamun EGP 700, Ramesses VI EGP 220
- Hours
- Daily 6:00-17:00
- Time
- About 3 hours
- Note
- The general ticket covers a selection of the tombs open that day; the list changes. Last entry 17:00 in summer, 16:00 in winter
- Verified
- October 2026, on the official site of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Prices are for foreign adults. Prices and hours change: check before you go.
Questions
How many tombs does the Valley of the Kings ticket include?
A selection of the tombs open that day, listed at the gate. Tutankhamun, Sety I and Ramesses VI need separate tickets.
Is Tutankhamun’s tomb worth it?
For the history, yes; for the painting, Sety I and Ramesses VI are better. The treasures are in the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Which is the most beautiful tomb in the Valley of the Kings?
The tomb of Sety I is one of the longest and most richly decorated; Ramesses VI is the best value.
What time does the Valley of the Kings open?
At 6:00, every day, until 17:00.
Sources
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, egymonuments.gov.eg: Valley of the Kings; Tomb of Tutankhamun; Tomb of Sety I (KV17); Tomb of Ramesses VI (KV9) (October 2026).
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