Reading the multi-site passes honestly.
A short explanation of the Cairo Pass and the Luxor Pass: what they include, who benefits, the break-even thresholds. The Pass broadsheet itself does not sell — this section is editorial.
Egypt operates two officially-issued multi-site passes for foreign visitors — the Cairo Pass and the Luxor Pass. Both are issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities through the antiquities authority, sold at designated site windows in the country. They are not sold by this broadsheet.
The Cairo Pass
Valid for five consecutive days. Grants entry to most museums and archaeological sites in Greater Cairo, including the Giza necropolis, the Saqqara complex, Dahshur, the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), the Coptic Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Cairo Citadel and its three on-site museums. Not included: Grand Egyptian Museum (separate admission), Royal Mummies Hall at NMEC (separate add-on), special temporary exhibitions.
Where the pass pays. A traveller intending to enter four or more of the included sites within a five-day window typically reaches break-even, given the per-site rates published by the Supreme Council of Antiquities. A traveller doing only Giza, Tahrir and NMEC at a relaxed pace will likely come out ahead with individual entries.
The Luxor Pass
Valid for five consecutive days. Two tiers: the standard Luxor Pass, and the Premium Luxor Pass (which includes Nefertari's tomb in the Valley of the Queens and Seti I's tomb KV17 in the Valley of the Kings). The standard pass covers all west-bank sites — the Valley of the Kings (three-tomb selection), Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, Deir el-Medina — and the east-bank temples of Karnak and Luxor and the Luxor Museum.
Where the pass pays. A traveller doing a full west-bank day plus Karnak and Luxor Museum will reach break-even on the standard pass in two days. The Premium pass becomes worthwhile if you specifically intend to enter KV17 (Seti I) and the Nefertari tomb — both of which carry significant single-tomb fees in addition to general west-bank admission.
Where the passes are issued
The Cairo Pass and Luxor Pass are sold only at designated SCA windows in country. They are not sold online; they are not sold by travel agencies; they are not sold by this site or any third party that claims to act on behalf of the antiquities authority.
- Cairo Pass · Egyptian Museum, Tahrir The central ticket window of the Tahrir museum issues the Cairo Pass to foreign passport holders. Bring your passport and a passport photograph.
- Cairo Pass · NMEC, Fustat A secondary window at the NMEC visitor centre issues the same pass with the same requirements.
- Luxor Pass · Public Relations Office, Karnak The principal issuing office sits beside the Karnak ticket counter. Open during regular site hours.
- Luxor Pass · Antiquities Inspectorate, West Bank A secondary window at the central west-bank ticket complex (the new visitor centre near Medinet Habu) issues the pass to travellers who land first on the west bank.
You will need your passport in physical form (not a photocopy) and one passport-sized photograph at the time of issue. Payment is by cash (EGP or USD) or by card at the larger windows.
The honest verdict
For a four-day Cairo focus that covers Giza + Tahrir + NMEC + Saqqara + Citadel: the Cairo Pass is generally worth it. For a Cairo visit shorter than three nights, or one limited to Giza and one museum, individual entries are easier.
For a full Luxor stay including both banks: the standard Luxor Pass is worth it. The Premium tier is worth it only if KV17 and Nefertari are on your specific list — and both are very much worth a separate consideration on their own merit.
A pass is not a discount product. It is a permission to stop calculating each entry. That, more than the saving, is what makes it useful.
Who should skip the passes
- Travellers with limited time who are doing only the headline sites (Giza, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel as separate excursion).
- Travellers who plan to enter only one museum and one archaeological site per city.
- Travellers under 30 holding a valid international student ID (ISIC) — student admission usually beats the pass arithmetic by a comfortable margin.
- Egyptian residents and Egyptian citizens — entry rates are substantially lower and not equivalent to the foreigner rates the passes cover.
The point of a pass is to stop counting. If you are still counting at site four, the pass has done its job.
Issuance procedures verified February 2026. The Supreme Council of Antiquities revises pass rates and inclusions; readers should confirm current pricing and included sites at the issuing window on arrival.