National park · Egypt
Dendera
Enter the Temple of Hathor for LE80 (≈ US$4) and walk the site in 1–2 h; go early in winter (Nov–Feb) to avoid crowds and heat.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
1900
Best months
Apr, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Egypt ↗Check visa rules for your passport on the official Egypt e-visa portal before flying; visa on arrival availability depends on nationality and can change.
- Egypt ↗Drones need prior permission and are routinely confiscated on arrival; leave them at home.
- Egypt ↗Do not photograph military sites, police, bridges or government buildings; some museums and tombs charge for or ban photography.
- Egypt ↗During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants still serve.
- Middle Egypt ↗Some sites and roads in Minya and Assiut governorates sit in areas where police escorts or permits are requested; ask your hotel or operator the day before.
- Middle Egypt ↗Assume no usable public transport between sites: hire a car with a driver for the day.
- Middle Egypt ↗Carry cash in Egyptian pounds; card machines are rare outside city hotels.
At a glance
- Country
- Egypt
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- The protected temple complex occupies roughly 0.5 km² (check).
- Established
- 1900
- Best months
- Apr, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Dendera is best known for the exceptionally preserved Ptolemaic Temple of Hathor, featuring a famous astronomical ceiling and reliefs; the site is small enough to explore on foot in a couple of hours.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1900.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1900
The protected temple complex occupies roughly 0.5 km² (check).
Why go
- Visit the best‑preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt.
- See the famous Hathor reliefs and the astronomical ceiling.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCool, low tourist flow
- FebMild, few visitors
- MarWarm, still manageable
- AprWarm, dry
- MayHeat rises
- JunHigh heat, crowds
- JulVery hot, peak season
- AugExtreme heat
- SepCooling but still warm
- OctComfortable, fewer tourists
- NovCool, pleasant
- DecCool, low crowds
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local birdsMar–May | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Luxor
Train 40–55 min to Qena, then taxi 5 km (3.1 mi) to Dendera (≈ LE50 return).Train 40–55 min to Qena, then taxi 3.1 mi (5 km) to Dendera (≈ LE50 return).
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Qena
Taxi or local bus 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest to the site.Taxi or local bus 3.1 mi (5 km) southwest to the site.
15 min
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Temple complex | Main temple, inner sanctuary, museum. | Open with ticket during opening hours. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from Wikidata; approximate centre of the temple complex.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple entry | EGP 80 | person | Includes guide audio if hired |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Temple entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Photography
- Allowed everywhere in the temple.
- Dress code
- Shoulders and knees covered; no shorts.
- Guides
- Not required but available for a fee.
Where to stay
Near the park
Qena town hotels
Budget and mid‑range options, 5 km (3.1 mi) away.Budget and mid‑range options, 3.1 mi (5 km) away.
Near the park
Luxor
Wide range of accommodations; 1‑hour train.
Safety
Heat medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Site is flat and reachable on foot from the gate.
Visiting lightly
- Buy tickets at the gate; avoid unofficial guides promising extra access.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Dendera?
LE80 per person (≈ US$4) at the gate; no extra fee for photography.
What are the best hikes in Dendera?
The site is small; the main walk around the Temple of Hathor takes 1–2 h and is the only marked route.
When is the best time to visit Dendera?
Cool months November to February give comfortable temperatures and few visitors; avoid June‑August heat.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- secondaryWikipedia – Dendera
- secondaryWikivoyage: Dendera, revision 5314232 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Dendera
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