# Great Temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt: what it is and when to go

> Great Temple of Abu Simbel is a visitor attraction (المعبد الكبير) in Egypt. Interests: History and Temples. The best time to visit is October to April. In June there are 13 h 22 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 38. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Egypt: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/gran-templo/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Activity · History, Temples
- **Local name:** المعبد الكبير
- **Where:** Egypt
- **Best time:** October to April.
- **Nearest airport:** ASW Aswan, 218 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [egymonuments.gov.eg](https://egymonuments.gov.eg/archaeological-sites/abu-simbel/)
- **Coordinates:** 22.33689, 31.62526

## What it is and where

Great Temple of Abu Simbel is a visitor attraction (المعبد الكبير) in Egypt. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Egypt: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

Its coordinates are 22.33689, 31.62526; the nearest main airport is Aswan International Airport (ASW, Aswan), 218 km as the crow flies. How to get around Egypt (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=22.336893%2C31.625264)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=22.336893%2C31.625264)

It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/historia/) and [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/espiritual/) places in Egypt. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Great Temple of Abu Simbel is **October to April**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 10 h 46 |
| February | Best time | 11 h 15 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 51 |
| April | Best time | 12 h 31 |
| May | Possible | 13 h 04 |
| June | Better not | 13 h 22 |
| July | Better not | 13 h 15 |
| August | Better not | 12 h 46 |
| September | Possible | 12 h 07 |
| October | Best time | 11 h 28 |
| November | Best time | 10 h 54 |
| December | Best time | 10 h 38 |

In June there are 13 h 22 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 38. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| History | October to April | May and September |
| Temples | October to April | May and September |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Great Temple of Abu Simbel has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Egypt in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Egypt

To enter Egypt there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport valid for six months from entry”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Egypt checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP); plugs: Type C and F · 220 V · 50 Hz (the same plug as in Spain); emergencies: 122 police · 123 ambulance · 180 fire · 126 tourist police.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Abu Simbel](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/templos-de-abu-simbel/): UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Egypt · 162 m
- [Small Temple of Abu Simbel](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/templo-de-nefertari/): Temple · 174 m
- [Temple of Ellesyia](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/temple-of-ellesyia/): Ancient Egyptian rock-cut temple · 47 km
- [Temple of Derr](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/temple-of-derr/): Ancient temple in Southern Egypt, now covered by Lake Nasser · 79 km
- [New Amada](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/amada/): Archaeological site in Egypt · 79 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Egypt guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/).

## More in Egypt: History

- [Great Pyramid of Giza](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/piramide-de-keops/): oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis; one of the seven ancient wonders of the world
- [Lighthouse of Alexandria](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/lighthouse-of-alexandria/): lighthouse in Egypt, built in the 3rd century BC and destroyed in the Middle Ages
- [Giza pyramid complex](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/piramides-de-guiza/): archaeological site on the Giza Plateau, Egypt
- [Great Sphinx of Giza](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/gran-esfinge-de-guiza/): ancient Egyptian monumental sculpture
- [Memphis, Egypt](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/memphis/): ancient capital of Egypt
- [Valley of the Kings](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/valle-de-los-reyes/): necropolis in ancient Egypt

Every Egypt place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/historia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Great Temple of Abu Simbel?

It is a visitor attraction (المعبد الكبير in the local language) in Egypt. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Egypt: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Great Temple of Abu Simbel?

October to April. In June there are 13 h 22 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 38.

### How do you get to Great Temple of Abu Simbel?

The nearest main airport is Aswan International Airport (ASW), 218 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=22.336893%2C31.625264) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Egypt is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Egypt map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Abu Simbel](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/templos-de-abu-simbel/), [Small Temple of Abu Simbel](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/templo-de-nefertari/), [Temple of Ellesyia](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/temple-of-ellesyia/). The rest is in [the Egypt guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/egipto/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/18781682), licensed under the ODbL. More about Great Temple of Abu Simbel on [Wikipedia](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templo_de_Rams%C3%A9s_II_(Abu_Simbel)). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).