Main image

Maler der Grabkammer der Nefertari CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Tomb of Nefertari

Tomb

In the Valley of the Queens near Luxor, the Tomb of Nefertari contains some of ancient Egypt's most vividly painted funerary wall scenes; access is limited and visitors go for its exceptional tomb art.

Tomb of Nefertari CairoLuxorGizaAswanSharm El SheikhAlexandriaTomb of Nefertari
In this guide

Tomb of Nefertari essentials

Address: Valley of the Queens, West Bank, Luxor, Egypt
Website: egymonuments.gov.eg
Hours: Valley of the Queens: Daily 6:00am-5:00pm (tomb access and special opening hours may vary)
Admission: Special access and guided tour required; tickets for the Valley of the Queens and special Tomb of Nefertari permit cost more than standard tomb entries (pricing varies-ask at Luxor West Bank ticket office).
GoogleAppleOSM

About Tomb of Nefertari

The Tomb of Nefertari is an ancient Egyptian royal tomb in the Valley of the Queens on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor, built for Queen Nefertari of the 19th Dynasty (wife of Ramesses II). It is catalogued as tomb QV66 and is celebrated for some of the finest and most colorful wall paintings surviving from ancient Egypt.

Inside QV66 visitors encounter richly painted scenes covering multiple chambers, including a decorated burial chamber and adjoining side rooms; the iconography and pigments are unusually well preserved compared with many other royal tombs. The scale and quality of decoration make it a major attraction for specialists in Egyptian art and conservation, though public access is limited to protect the pigments.

The tomb was carved during the 13th century BCE for Nefertari and belongs to the 19th Dynasty royal tomb complex. It was excavated in the modern era by the Italian Egyptologist Ernesto Schiaparelli in 1904 and has since undergone conservation efforts to stabilise the paintings.

QV66 sits on the west bank of the Nile in the Valley of the Queens, adjacent to the Theban necropolis opposite the modern city of Luxor in Upper Egypt.

  • Tomb number: Tomb QV66 is one of the most richly decorated royal tombs in the Valley of the Queens, noted for large areas of surviving polychrome wall paintings.
  • Access: Access is restricted for conservation and the tomb is often closed to the general public or open only in controlled visits.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Tomb of Nefertari

Winter months (Nov-Feb) are best for comfortable visits; early mornings help avoid the heat and middays crowds.

Winter
November-February · 10-22°C
Cooler weather and more comfortable touring conditions in Luxor.
Spring-Autumn
March-May, Sept-Oct · 25-35°C
Hotter but manageable in early morning or late afternoon visits.

Weather & Climate near Tomb of Nefertari

Climate

Tomb of Nefertari's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 7°C to 40°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.

Air Quality: AQI 105 Unhealthy (Sg)
Best Time to Visit
MayAprilOctober
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
47°
Warmest Month
0°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Excellent 7° - 22° 14° 0 mm clear 45% 2.4 m/s 1.0 high 10.6h
February Ideal 8° - 25° 16° 0 mm clear 36% 2.7 m/s 1.4 high 11.2h
March Ideal 12° - 29° 20° 0 mm clear 26% 2.9 m/s 1.9 very high 11.9h
April Ideal 18° - 35° 26° 0 mm clear 20% 2.9 m/s 2.3 extreme 12.6h
May Ideal 22° - 39° 30° 0 mm clear 18% 3.1 m/s 2.5 extreme 13.3h
June Ideal 24° - 40° 32° 0 mm clear 18% 3.3 m/s 2.7 extreme 13.6h
July Ideal 25° - 40° 33° 0 mm clear 20% 2.8 m/s 2.7 extreme 13.4h
August Ideal 25° - 40° 33° 0 mm clear 21% 2.8 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.9h
September Ideal 23° - 38° 30° 0 mm clear 25% 3.1 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.2h
October Ideal 19° - 35° 27° 0 mm clear 30% 2.7 m/s 1.6 very high 11.4h
November Ideal 13° - 28° 20° 0 mm clear 40% 2.4 m/s 1.2 high 10.8h
December Ideal 8° - 24° 16° 0 mm clear 47% 2.2 m/s 0.9 moderate 10.4h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Tomb of Nefertari

From Luxor’s West Bank, the Valley of the Queens is a short drive from the Luxor temple area; most visitors take a taxi or arranged tour from Luxor city. The site is part of the wider West Bank necropolis circuit.

Tips for Visiting Tomb of Nefertari

  • The Tomb of Nefertari is one of the most colourfully preserved tombs-arrange a timed entrance with the Luxor West Bank ticket office and consider a licensed Egyptologist guide.
  • Photography is usually prohibited inside the tomb-confirm current rules and respect them.
  • Visit early in the morning if possible; heat and crowds build later on the West Bank.