8 Best Hotels in East Bank, Luxor and the Nile Valley

One of the top places to stay on Luxor's East Bank, this riverside Hilton property is a treat to return to after a dusty day of temple-touring, and you can enjoy spectacular views (best seen with a discounted happy-hour drink in hand) of the Nile from the heated pools or unwind in the thermal bath area. If you're not staying at the hotel but want to take some time off from the city, a day pass is available for LE430.

The Nefertiti Hotel ticks every essential travel box—clean rooms with comfortable beds, enviable central location, no-request-is-too-much service, and a top-notch rooftop restaurant—and it all comes at an unbeatable price. This small family-owned hotel is Luxor's best midrange stay, but even if you're overnighting elsewhere, it's worth stopping by to dine upstairs or at one of the tables in the alleyway—a people-watching extravaganza—or to ask about tours to the temples, the West Bank, and beyond.

Ideally situated at the southern end of the Corniche, this blocky, white, Nile-front hotel offers the necessities without pretension. Rooms and facilities are comfortable but don't go above and beyond, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're out all day anyway.

Set on its own island linked to Luxor by a bridge, Jolie Ville is a beautiful place to disconnect and recharge after a long day out, and it's a good choice for families, too. Kids will love having their own dedicated water park and playground, and parents will love how much space there is for the kids to run around.

Set in a traditional mud-brick home, the only guesthouse on the East Bank guarantees an authentic, personal touch. Its lively neighborhood location gives an insight into a more genuine side of Luxor. The Belgian owners are passionate Egyptophiles who arrange tours and build custom itineraries.

Built in 1886, this famous hotel has seen its fair share of history and still maintains elegant period fixtures and features, from afternoon tea in the Victorian lounge with original Venetian chandeliers and parquet flooring to the posh, suit-jacket-required restaurant. The huge well-manicured grounds hide a swimming pool, and this might be the only hotel in town where the garden rooms are a better option than the Nile-view rooms (the hotel is separated from the water by the traffic-heavy Corniche, so the garden rooms are much quieter). To get most of the Winter Palace experience for a lower price, book into the Pavilion wing, 110 years newer and lacking the period atmosphere but still on the property with the same access to amenities.

Outfitted with marble surfaces, dark wood, and rich, ruby-colored fabrics, the Sonesta St. George has a stately air that extends from its grand lobby to the sleek rooms upstairs. Higher category rooms have balconies with lofty views, whirlpool tubs, and "smart" showers and toilets.

Sandwiched among other chain hotels on Luxor's southern strip, this cream-colored, art deco–style hotel has the resort-y feel of being a city within the city, with stacks of rooms, restaurants, and entertainment options. Executive rooms have a more modern look, and the rooftop tennis court promises a match with a spectacular view.