Quick answer
The best tombs to visit in Egypt are Seti I (KV17) and Ramesses VI (KV9) in the Valley of the Kings, Nefertari (QV66) in the Valley of the Queens, the noble tombs of Rekhmire, Ramose and Sennedjem on Luxor's West Bank, and the Old Kingdom tombs of Ti and Mereruka at Saqqara. Several of the best, including Seti I, Nefertari and Tutankhamun, need their own extra ticket.
Which tombs are the best to visit in Egypt?
Our top ten: Seti I, Nefertari, Ramesses VI, the Tombs of the Nobles, Sennedjem at Deir el-Medina, Tutankhamun, Mereruka and Ti at Saqqara, the Pyramid of Unas, Ramesses III and the tomb of Ay. We weighed the quality of the painting, how complete the tomb is, crowd levels and whether the extra cost or effort pays off.
Egypt's tombs fall into three groups. Royal tombs of the New Kingdom, in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, are long corridors painted with guides to the afterlife. Noble and workers' tombs, mainly on Luxor's West Bank, show daily life: farming, banquets and families. Old Kingdom tombs around Saqqara are a thousand years older again, with carved scenes of cattle, boats and craftsmen. Our guide to the ancient Egyptian afterlife explains what the paintings were for.
The best tombs compared
Use this table to choose which tombs to pay extra for and which to save for a quieter afternoon.
| Tomb | Where | Why go | Extra ticket? | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seti I (KV17) | Valley of the Kings | Longest, finest painted relief | Yes, premium | Long descent, stairs |
| Nefertari (QV66) | Valley of the Queens | Most beautiful paintings in Egypt | Yes, premium; timed visit | Stairs, moderate |
| Ramesses VI (KV9) | Valley of the Kings | Astronomical ceiling of Nut | Yes | Gentle ramp |
| Tutankhamun (KV62) | Valley of the Kings | The mummy still in place | Yes | Short and easy |
| Rekhmire, Ramose, Nakht, Menna | Tombs of the Nobles, Luxor | Daily-life scenes | Separate site tickets | Mostly easy |
| Sennedjem | Deir el-Medina, Luxor | Vivid, intimate burial chamber | Included in site ticket at the time of writing | Steep, narrow steps |
| Ti and Mereruka | Saqqara | Old Kingdom reliefs | Usually in the Saqqara ticket | Easy, at ground level |
| Great Pyramid | Giza | The Grand Gallery and King's Chamber | Yes | Low, steep passages |
Which tombs are open, and what each costs, changes regularly as tombs are rotated for conservation. Check egymonuments.gov.eg or ask your guide on the day.
Royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings
If you only pay for one extra ticket in Egypt, make it Seti I; if you want colour without the cost, Ramesses VI is the best value.
The tomb of Seti I runs about 137 metres into the hill, every surface carved in painted raised relief. The tomb of Ramesses VI has a gentle slope and a burial-chamber ceiling showing the sky goddess Nut swallowing and giving birth to the sun. The tomb of Tutankhamun is small and only the burial chamber is painted, but his mummy lies there in a climate-controlled case; with the treasures now in the GEM, it is worth it mainly for the story. Of the tombs on the standard ticket, Ramesses III (KV11), Merenptah and Ramesses IV are reliably good. The Valley of the Kings guide explains how the ticket works.
Nefertari and the Valley of the Queens
The tomb of Nefertari, Great Royal Wife of Ramesses II, is often called the most beautiful tomb in Egypt, and its painted walls look almost new after a major conservation project.
Visits are limited to about 10 minutes and numbers are controlled, and the ticket is one of the most expensive in Egypt; for anyone who loves art, it is worth it. The rest of the Valley of the Queens is quiet: the tomb of Amenherkhepshef, a son of Ramesses III, has bright paintings of the young prince with his father. Combine it with Medinet Habu, which is a few minutes away.
Nobles and workers: tombs of everyday life
For scenes of ordinary Egyptians at work and at home, the private tombs of Luxor's West Bank beat the royal valley and are far quieter.
- Rekhmire (TT100): the vizier of Thutmose III, with foreign tribute bearers and craftsmen at work.
- Ramose (TT55): fine carving from just before and during Akhenaten's reign, showing the shift in style.
- Nakht and Menna: small, bright tombs with harvest, fishing and banquet scenes.
- Sennedjem (TT1): a workman from the tomb-builders' village, painted in vivid yellow with scenes of ploughing in the afterlife.
The first four are in the Tombs of the Nobles; Sennedjem is at Deir el-Medina. A late afternoon here is a good antidote to crowded mornings in the Valley of the Kings.
Old Kingdom tombs at Saqqara and Giza
Saqqara's mastaba tombs, around 4,400 years old, have the finest Old Kingdom relief carving in Egypt, and the Pyramid of Unas holds the oldest religious texts carved inside a pyramid.
The mastaba of Ti shows hippo hunts and shipbuilding in delicate low relief; Mereruka's, for a 6th Dynasty vizier, has more than 30 rooms. The Pyramid of Unas, last king of the 5th Dynasty, has walls covered with the Pyramid Texts. The Serapeum, with its giant granite sarcophagi for the sacred Apis bulls, is a dramatic underground gallery. See our Saqqara guide for what is open. At Giza, entering the Great Pyramid is more about the experience than decoration: the chambers are bare, but climbing the Grand Gallery is unforgettable.
Tombs beyond Luxor and Cairo
Five other tomb sites reward travellers with time.
- Beni Hasan: Middle Kingdom rock tombs with wrestling scenes, in Middle Egypt.
- Qubbet el-Hawa: governors' tombs on the hill above Aswan's West Bank, with superb views.
- Kom el-Shoqafa: Roman-era catacombs in Alexandria mixing Egyptian and Greek styles.
- Gebel al-Mawta: painted Ptolemaic tombs in Siwa.
- The tomb of Ay: in the remote Western Valley, with a hunting scene unique among royal tombs.
Claustrophobia, stairs and access: what to expect inside
Most royal tombs mean sloping corridors and stairs in warm, humid air; the pyramid passages are the only truly cramped ones.
- Most cramped: the Great Pyramid's ascending passage is about a metre high before the Grand Gallery; the Red Pyramid at Dahshur has a long, low descending passage. Skip both if you are claustrophobic or have knee or back trouble.
- Longest walk: Seti I, with a long descent and climb back out.
- Easiest: Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI and the Saqqara mastabas.
- Heat: tombs are humid and can feel hotter than outside; go early and carry water.
- Photography: rules and fees change; at the time of writing phone photos are generally allowed without flash. Check on the day.
Travellers with limited mobility should read our accessible travel guide.
Which tombs should you choose?
For most first-timers: the standard Valley of the Kings ticket plus Seti I, then Nefertari if you love art, and an afternoon in the Tombs of the Nobles.
- Short on time: three tombs on the standard ticket plus Ramesses VI; you will still see superb painting.
- Art lovers: Seti I and Nefertari, then Rekhmire and Sennedjem.
- Tutankhamun fans: his tomb in Luxor, then his treasure at the GEM; read the story of the discovery first.
- Families: Ramesses VI and Tutankhamun are short and easy; Deir el-Medina's village ruins help children imagine the builders.
- Claustrophobic travellers: skip the pyramid interiors and choose the Saqqara mastabas and Valley of the Queens.
Three or four tombs in a morning is enough for most people; after that, the paintings start to blur.
Frequently asked questions
Which tomb in the Valley of the Kings is the best?
Seti I (KV17) is widely considered the finest, followed by Ramesses VI (KV9). Both need extra tickets at the time of writing.
Is Tutankhamun's tomb worth the extra ticket?
It is small, and the treasures are in the Grand Egyptian Museum, but the mummy remains in the tomb. Worth it for the story; Seti I is better for decoration.
Is the tomb of Nefertari worth the price?
For anyone who loves art, yes. The paintings are among the best preserved in Egypt. Visits are limited to about 10 minutes.
Are Egypt's tombs suitable for claustrophobic people?
Most royal tombs have high corridors and are manageable. Avoid the interiors of the Great Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, which have low, steep passages.
Does the Luxor Pass include the premium tombs?
At the time of writing, the premium Luxor Pass includes the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari. See our sightseeing passes guide.
