Steigenberger Nile Palace

Steigenberger Nile Palace is a five-star hotel of 303 rooms and suites on the Nile, on Luxor's East Bank, about 1.9 km south of Luxor Temple. It suits travellers who want to stay in town, reach the temples on foot or in a few minutes by car, and come back in the evening to a heated pool and a terrace over the river. Families get 80 and 90 m² rooms facing the Nile. Allow three or four nights to cover both banks.

On the corniche, facing the West Bank

The hotel sits right on the Nile, with its own boat dock, looking across to the West Bank, the bank of the necropolis and the Theban hills. The sun sets opposite: that is the hour for the Nile Bar and Lounge and the river-facing balconies.

Luxor Temple is about 25 minutes on foot, 1.9 km, or two minutes by car. From there the Avenue of Sphinxes, the processional way of about 2,700 metres, runs to Karnak, and you can walk it from one temple to the other. Karnak Temple is about 5 km from the hotel by road, six minutes without traffic, and the Luxor Museum 3.4 km. The hotel says there is a pharmacy two minutes' walk away. Our Museums and culture page brings together the hotels in our selection best placed for sightseeing.

The building opened in 2002 as a Le Méridien and joined the German Steigenberger chain on 1 July 2007. Steigenberger now belongs to H World International, whose loyalty programme, H Rewards, also hosts the hotel's official website. The Executive rooms have been renovated.

Choosing a room

According to the hotel, every room has a balcony or terrace; what sets them apart is the view, over the town, the inner courtyard or the Nile. For a first stay in Luxor, we recommend a 40 m² Executive Room facing the Nile, for sunset over the West Bank from your balcony. The courtyard rooms are quieter and suit light sleepers who spend the day out. For a honeymoon, the Executive Suite has a private terrace over the Nile and includes the airport pick-up for two.

Four restaurants and three bars

Nubia, a large Nubian-themed restaurant, serves the breakfast buffet from 6 to 10.30 am, then lunch and dinner buffets until 10.30 pm. The other three restaurants open from noon to 11 pm: El Tarboush for Lebanese food, mezze, breads and grills, with traditional music and dance in the evening; Casa di Napoli for Italian dishes cooked in front of guests; and a Thai restaurant.

The Nile Bar and Lounge is open from 9 am to 2 am, with light dishes and the river at sunset. Tropicana, by the pool, serves sandwiches and salads from 9 am until sunset. The Saloon Bar, all armchairs, is the place for cocktails and cigars. Smoking is banned in the hotel outside designated areas. Room service runs around the clock.

Pool, wellness and tennis

The outdoor pool is heated, with a children's pool beside it; both are open from 9 am until sunset. The wellness area, open 9 am to 8 pm, has a sauna, a steam room and massage and treatment rooms. The gym is open from 7 am to 10 pm, and there is a tennis court on the roof.

With children

Both family options face the Nile: the 80 m² Family Room, one room with a king bed, two single beds and two bathrooms; and the 90 m² Family Suite, with a separate children's bedroom and a living room. Cots are available on request, high chairs in the restaurants, and there is a children's pool. From the age of 12, children pay the adult rate. One extra bed at most per room, at 15 USD (about 14 €) a night. Our Family page lists the other hotels in our selection that welcome children well.

Getting there and away

Luxor is a few hours' flight from Europe's main cities, direct or with one stop. The international airport is about 11 km away, around twelve minutes by road without traffic. The hotel arranges transfers: 32 € one way for one or two people, 42 € for three to eight. Luxor railway station, served by the trains from Cairo and Aswan, is about 2 km away; the hotel puts the taxi fare at about 10 €.

Check-in is from 2 pm and check-out by noon, local time; the hotel stores luggage on arrival and departure days. Reception is open 24 hours. Pets are not allowed.

For the West Bank, the Valley of the Kings is about half an hour by road over the bridge. You can also cross on the public ferry or a motorboat from the corniche and pick up a car on the other side: our Luxor page covers the crossings and the order of visits, and our Egypt site tickets guide explains tickets and the Luxor Pass. For travel between cities, see Getting around Egypt.

How it compares in Luxor

Of the four hotels in our Luxor selection, Steigenberger Nile Palace is the closest to Luxor Temple and the town centre, within walking distance. Hilton Luxor is north of town, 2.4 km from Karnak, in a quieter spot; Jolie Ville Kings Island has a Nile island to itself about 4 km south of the centre, with large gardens for families; Al Moudira is a characterful house on the West Bank, near the necropolis. A stay can combine two of them: a few nights in town for Karnak and Luxor Temple, then two nights on the West Bank. To arrive or leave by river, our Choosing a Nile cruise guide covers the boats between Aswan and Luxor.