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.
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.
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.
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).
