Last updated: September 2026. Prices are per person, in Egyptian pounds (EGP), for international visitors, and can change without notice, so check the board at the ticket hall on the day.
The standard Valley of the Kings ticket costs 750 EGP and lets you enter any 3 tombs from the day's open list. A few famous tombs need a separate extra ticket: Ramesses V & VI (220 EGP), Tutankhamun (700 EGP), Seti I (2,000 EGP), and Ay in the Western Valley (220 EGP). If you only want one extra, Ramesses V & VI is the best value. Tutankhamun is for the history, and Seti I is for the art.
Valley of the Kings Ticket Prices (September 2026)
| Ticket | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ticket | 750 EGP | Any 3 tombs from the day's open list |
| Ramesses V & VI (KV9) | 220 EGP | Extra ticket |
| Tutankhamun (KV62) | 700 EGP | Extra ticket |
| Seti I (KV17) | 2,000 EGP | Extra ticket |
| Ay (WV23), Western Valley | 220 EGP | Extra ticket |
Why You Cannot See Everything
The valley holds more than sixty tombs, but fewer than a dozen are open at any time. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities rotates them to control humidity and the damage caused by visitors' breath. Trying to rush through six or seven tombs in one morning only leaves you tired and overwhelmed, because every painted corridor starts to look the same. A better plan is to choose a route that fits your budget, your patience for crowds, and what you actually want to see.
How the Ticket System Works
Your standard ticket gives you entry to the valley and to 3 tombs from the daily open list. An attendant punches your paper ticket or scans your digital pass at each tomb, and after three entries the standard ticket is used up.
The famous tombs listed above are not included. Each one needs its own extra ticket, and you have three ways to buy it: at the main visitor center before you board the tram; online in advance through the official Egypt Monuments ticket website; or as an e-ticket by scanning the sign with a QR code at the tomb entrance (for example at Tutankhamun's tomb, KV62). The QR option works for all of these tickets, so you can buy on the spot without going back to the visitor center.
Practical Rules to Know Before You Arrive
- Payment: the main ticket window generally works with credit or debit cards only, so cash may not be accepted for entry tickets. Bring a card and check on the day.
- The tram: a small electric tram (locals call it the "Taf-Taf") takes visitors from the ticket hall up to the tomb area for a small extra fee.
- The daily list: check the board at the visitor center to see which standard tombs are open that day.
Best Standard Tombs to Use Your 3 Entries On
Since the open list changes, decide on your favorites before you arrive and pick from whatever is available. These are the standard tombs I recommend most.
1. Ramesses III (KV11), "The Harpers' Tomb"
If KV11 is open, put it on your list. It has a long descending corridor with well-preserved colors and unusual side chambers showing everyday New Kingdom life: royal kitchens, armories, ships, and two blind harpists playing before the gods. That last scene gave the tomb its nickname.
2. Ramesses IV (KV2)
KV2 is near the entrance plaza and has a wide, comfortable descent with high ceilings and bright painted walls. The texts of the Book of Gates and the Litany of Ra cover the walls, and the pink granite sarcophagus in the burial chamber is a highlight.
3. Tausert & Setnakht (KV14)
One of the largest and most interesting tombs in the valley. It was built for Queen Tausert, one of the few women who ruled Egypt as pharaoh. When Setnakht took power he extended the tomb deeper into the rock and reused it for himself, so you walk through two burial halls inside one tomb.
Good Alternatives: Merenptah (KV8) and Ramesses IX (KV6)
If any of the tombs above are closed, look for KV8, which has a steep descent to a large burial hall with giant sarcophagus lids, or KV6, which has detailed astronomical ceiling art near the entrance.
Are the Extra Tickets Worth It?
Ramesses V & VI (KV9): 220 EGP, the best value
KV9 is the safest extra. The price is low and the tomb is famous for its astronomical ceiling paintings. If you want one add-on without spending much, choose this one.
Tutankhamun (KV62): 700 EGP
This is the tomb where Howard Carter made his 1922 discovery. It is small, only four simple rooms, with yellow-toned wall paintings of the funeral procession. Tutankhamun's mummy is displayed in a climate-controlled glass case in the burial chamber.
Verdict: if you want long corridors full of carvings, KV62 may feel small for the price. If you want to stand in front of the boy-king in the tomb where he was found, it is a bucket-list experience worth seeing once.
What surprises my guests: KV62 is the tomb that was found with the king's treasures still inside it. Most visitors have already seen those treasures at the Grand Egyptian Museum, so they wonder how such a small tomb could hold so much. Then they see Tutankhamun's mummy and are surprised by its size. Many arrive believing that the ancient Egyptians were far taller than we are, and that they must have been to build their civilization and the pyramids, but the mummy is similar in size to people today.
Seti I (KV17): 2,000 EGP, "The Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt"
KV17 runs more than 130 meters into the mountain. Its walls are covered with fine raised reliefs painted in vivid colors, and the burial chamber has an astronomical ceiling. It is the most expensive single ticket of any monument in Egypt, and it is worth it mainly for travelers who love art, history, and photography.
What my guests say: nearly every visitor is amazed by KV17, by its beauty, its colors, and the way it is carved. The artists worked in raised relief, which gives the scenes a 3D look, while most other tombs in the valley use sunk relief.
Ay (WV23): 220 EGP, the quiet choice
The tomb of Pharaoh Ay, Tutankhamun's successor, is in the Western Valley, away from the main crowds. Its paintings resemble the style of Tutankhamun's tomb, and the best-known scene shows twelve baboons representing the hours of the night. It needs a separate drive from the main valley, so remember to include transport in your budget. In return you get a rare chance to see a royal tomb in near silence.
Three Routes and What Each One Costs
Route A: First-Timer on a Budget, 970 EGP
Tombs: KV11, KV2, KV14 (standard ticket, 750 EGP) plus Ramesses V & VI, KV9 (220 EGP).
Why it works: three strong standard tombs plus the best-value extra, with one of the finest astronomical ceilings in the valley.
Route B: Art and History Lovers, 3,450 EGP
Tombs: KV2, KV11, KV14 (standard ticket, 750 EGP) plus Tutankhamun, KV62 (700 EGP) and Seti I, KV17 (2,000 EGP).
Why it works: you see the mummy of Tutankhamun and the most beautiful reliefs in Egypt in a single morning, and you use all three standard entries.
Route C: Avoid the Crowds, 970 EGP plus transport
Tombs: KV14, KV8, KV6 (standard ticket, 750 EGP) plus Ay, WV23 (220 EGP).
Why it works: deep corridors, fewer tour groups, and a quiet finish in the Western Valley. Add the cost of the drive to WV23.
My recommendation: Route B is the one I recommend most, because it brings together the most beautiful tombs in the Valley of the Kings, especially Seti I (KV17). I suggest it to travelers who are comfortable with the long descent into KV17, who can afford its expensive ticket, and who have enough time to enjoy the valley properly. Some tours are quicker and do not leave time to visit all of these tombs, and in that case Route A is the better choice.
Field Tips from a Licensed Tour Guide
I have guided travelers through these tombs for years, and these are the rules I share with my private guests:
- Arrive when the gates open at 6:00 AM. You walk through the tombs in relative silence and cool air, before the Nile cruise buses arrive around 8:30 AM.
- Photography: non-flash phone photography is generally allowed with your ticket, but flash is strictly prohibited inside all tombs because it fades the ancient pigments. Set your phone to silent.
- Guides explain outside the tomb. By regulation, licensed guides use illustration boards at the tomb entrance and do not lecture inside the narrow corridors, which keeps the tombs quiet and the air moving.
- Keep your ticket until the end of your visit. The most common mistake I see is tourists throwing away their ticket after it is scanned at the main gate. You have to show the same ticket at the entrance of every tomb, so keep it with you (or keep your e-ticket open on your phone) until you leave the valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Valley of the Kings ticket?
The standard ticket is 750 EGP and covers any 3 open tombs. Tutankhamun (700 EGP), Ramesses V & VI (220 EGP), Seti I (2,000 EGP), and Ay (220 EGP) are extra tickets.
How many tombs can I enter with one ticket?
Three, chosen from the tombs open that day. Your ticket is punched or scanned at each entrance.
Where do I buy the extra tickets?
At the main visitor center before you take the tram, online in advance through the official Egypt Monuments website, or as an e-ticket by scanning the QR code sign at the tomb entrance.
Should I keep my ticket after it is scanned at the main gate?
Yes. You must show the same ticket at the entrance of every tomb, so keep it until the end of your visit.
What is the best time to visit?
Right at opening, 6:00 AM. The tour buses usually arrive around 8:30 AM.
Can I take photos inside the tombs?
Phone photos without flash are generally allowed. Flash is prohibited everywhere inside the tombs.
Continue Your West Bank Day
- Valley of the Kings: the tombs and their stories
- The Place of Beauty: the Valley of the Queens
- Deir el-Medina: the village of the artisans who carved and painted these tombs
- The Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank
Which route would you choose? Tell me in the comments and I will help you plan your day.
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