Philae Temple at a glance
The temples of Philae stand on Agilkia island in the Nile near Aswan. The buildings were relocated to this island, and most of them date to the Ptolemaic period. The main sanctuary belongs to Isis. Nearby you will find a temple of Hathor and the Kiosk of Trajan, the open pavilion that most visitors photograph first.
You cannot walk to the island. Every visit includes a boat ride to the island, and the boat is paid separately from the temple ticket. The prices below come from the listing of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, as read in October 2026. This is an independent guide, not an official site.
Tickets and what they cover
Three different costs sit behind a visit to Philae: the temple ticket, the boat and, if you want it, the evening show. Prices as of 2026.
| Item | Foreign adult | Foreign student | Egyptian adult / student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple ticket | EGP 550 | EGP 275 | EGP 40 / EGP 20 |
| Temple panorama (listed separately) | EGP 200 | EGP 100 | EGP 40 / EGP 20 |
| Boat to Agilkia | paid to the boatman | – | – |
| Sound and Light show | $20 | – | – |
The ministry lists the "temple panorama" as its own line. Do not assume it is a required surcharge or part of the basic ticket. Ask at the ticket office what you are buying. For the show, children aged 6 to 12 pay $11 according to the show organizer.
Our picks: Philae Temple
A group tour, a private guide with entry and the evening show.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private guided tour of Philae Temple with entry
Entry tickets, hotel transfer, an English-speaking guide, the motorboat and water are included. Food, other drinks and tips are not.
Check availability →
Philae Temple sound and light show
Hotel transfer, the boat to Agilkia island, an audio guide, water and entry fees are included. There is no personal guide, and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Philae Temple guided half-day group tour
An English-speaking guide, hotel transfer and the boat to Philae are included. Entry fees are only included with the matching option, and tips are extra.
Check availability →Philae tours from Aswan
Half-day trips to Philae, combinations with the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, and evening options, with live prices and availability.
The boat to Agilkia
Boats take visitors from the mainland to the island. A local operator that offers Philae transfers separates the car, guide and boat from the entrance tickets. That is the right way to compare offers: ask what is included and what you still pay at the gate.
- Price: there is no single public fare to quote, so agree the price for the boat and the waiting time with the boatman before you board.
- Private transfer example: one operator lists $98 for 1 to 2 guests for Philae alone, with car, driver, guide and boat but without entrance tickets. The same operator lists $120 for 1 to 2 guests for Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk together. Both are single-operator prices from 2026, not a market rate.
- Starting point: that operator starts from the east bank of Aswan. Pickup on the west bank, for example from a Nubian guesthouse, costs extra.
What to see on the island
Start with the colonnade in front of the Temple of Isis and continue to the main sanctuary, the heart of the complex. After that, find the temple of Hathor and the Kiosk of Trajan, the pavilion that appears on most photographs of the island.
The visit takes place outdoors, so bring water and a hat. Long-term averages from the WMO for Aswan (1981–2010) show daily highs of about 41 °C from June to August and about 23 °C in January, so winter mornings are the comfortable choice. See our Aswan weather guide for the full table.
Philae Sound and Light show
An evening show in the temple area, bought separately from the daytime ticket.
Ticket
The organizer lists $20 for the regular ticket and $11 for children aged 6 to 12 in 2026.
Times and languages
There are two shows each evening, and the language changes by weekday. The organizer's listings show different start times, 19:00 and 20:00 on one version and 20:00 and 21:00 on another. Check the current schedule before you plan the evening.
Minimum group
The organizer says the second show needs at least 5 foreign guests but promises to hold it for bookings made on its website. A transfer company mentions more than 13 people at the ticket office. If you want the late show, book ahead.
Boat transfer
For the show, operators arrange a boat with a captain who waits. Agree this when you book, since the boat is not part of the basic temple ticket.
Combine Philae with other stops
Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk are often booked together, and one local operator offers all three as a single trip. See the Aswan High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk pages for tickets and hours. For a longer day, Abu Simbel is a separate full-day trip.
Back on the west bank, Gharb Soheil and a felucca ride at sunset fit well into the afternoon. Temples farther north on the Nile belong to the Luxor area, which our sister guide Visit Luxor covers.
Philae Temple: frequently asked questions
How much is the Philae Temple ticket in 2026?
The ministry listing shows EGP 550 for a foreign adult and EGP 275 for a foreign student. Egyptian visitors pay EGP 40 and EGP 20. A separate "temple panorama" line costs EGP 200 and EGP 100 for foreigners.
When is Philae open?
The ministry lists daily opening from 07:00 to 16:00 and no weekly closing day. Check the current hours before you go, because individual closures can still happen.
Is the boat included in the ticket?
No. The temple ticket and the boat to Agilkia are paid separately. Private transfer offers usually list the boat, but not the entrance tickets.
Is the Sound and Light show worth the extra cost?
It suits visitors who want to see the island after dark and are happy with a set program. It costs $20 per regular ticket in 2026 and needs a separate boat transfer. It does not replace the daytime visit.
Are the temples on their original site?
No. The temple buildings stand on Agilkia island. They were relocated there.