4 Best places to stay in Luxor

Overlooking the Nile and next to Luxor Temple, the Winter Palace is the grande dame of Luxor hotels – and the place where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile.

This colonial-style hotel offers large, high-ceilinged rooms with splendid Nile views, or rooms with balconies overlooking the magnificent fragrant gardens and excellent swimming pool. The gardens are extremely pleasant and filled with bird song.

It’s in prime location convenient for all the major attractions, and a haven right in the centre of town for those interested in history and a good swim afterwards.

This stylish hotel – Luxor’s best – is the perfect, central Luxor base and a rather pleasant place to linger for a few days.

Most rooms and facilities have a superb Nile view, the gorgeous spa is the only serious one in town and the infinity pool looks across the Nile to the Theban hills.

Diwan, the in-house lounge bar set right on the Nile, is a sublime spot. Watch the sunset while sipping mint tea or Arabic coffee, and smoking a shisha with flavoured tobacco.

A car ride away from the city centre, it hosts some of the best restaurants in town. The hotel is a 15-minute walk from the Karnak temple complex.

This large family-oriented resort hotel is spread out over an island in the Nile.

It’s set amid 165 acres of landscaped gardens, filled with birds and shady trees. King’s Island is actually a resting place for thousands of migratory birds on their way to breeding grounds in Africa. Some 280 different species pass through Egypt every spring and autumn.

Removed from the often hectic and noisy centre of Luxor, the bungalow rooms dotting the grounds are wonderfully peaceful.

The property has three large pools, including a Nile-side infinity pool, a choice of restaurants, and friendly, helpful staff. A wonderful breakfast buffet is served on a terrace overlooking the Nile.

It’s away from the monuments, although that’s also a blessing. A regular free shuttle bus and boat run into Luxor centre.

It’s particularly good for families, with connecting rooms and stand-alone villas, and excellent kids facilities.