Dendera (Dandarah)

The basics

Well-preserved and compact, Dendera is among the most impressive ancient sites in southern Egypt. It’s popular as a day trip from Luxor or Hurghada and tends to be less crowded than Luxor’s main attractions. While it means a bit more time on the road, it’s also possible to combine a trip to Dendara with a stop at Abydos’ Temple of Seti I. Opt to join a tour to avoid worrying about transportation.

Things to know before you go

• Dendera is great for history buffs and fans of ancient architecture.
• While some areas are outside, much of your time at Dendera will be spent within Hathor Temple—so less time in the hot sun than at some other ancient sites.
• Dendera is not wheelchair-accessible.

How to get there

Dendera is located on the West Bank of the Nile in the town of Dendera, roughly 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the city of Qena. The best way to reach Dendera from Luxor is by hiring a taxi for the hour-long trip or taking the train from Luxor to Qena and hiring a taxi upon arrival.

When to get there

An early morning visit to Dendera means cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and wonderful light for photography. There’s no need to get up at the crack of dawn, however; the shade inside of Hathor Temple means that it’s comfortable to visit at any time of day. If you’re planning to make the 45-minute trip from Luxor to Qena by train, be sure to check the schedule in advance as departures are limited.

What is the Dendera lightbulb?

It would be easy to overlook Dendara's most famous carving, which occupies an unassuming spot on the right wall in a Hathor Temple crypt. While mainstream archeologists believe the carving depicts a lotus flower, pillar, and snake, some have argued that the image is actually of a lightbulb with a wire filament (supposedly proving that the ancient Egyptians had electricity).