Philae Temple Aswan at a glance
Philae is a group of temples on Agilkia Island, a short way upriver from Aswan. The main building is the temple of Isis, begun under Ptolemy II. Around it stand the birth house that celebrates the birth of Horus, a temple of Hathor, a temple of Imhotep, the Kiosk of Nectanebo I, Trajan's Kiosk and Hadrian's Gate. The site is part of the UNESCO listing "Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae", inscribed in 1979.
There is no road to the temple. You drive to the landing at Marina Philae (Shellal), then cross by boat, which takes 10 to 15 minutes each way. The boat is paid separately from the temple ticket. Admission for foreign adults is EGP 550 in 2026, and the temple is open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This guide covers the ticket and the boat, tours from Aswan, the evening show, the myth of Isis and Osiris, the move to Agilkia, the history, the town of Aswan, the High Dam, Edfu and Kom Ombo, the weather, where to stay and how to get there. Everything is written to help you plan one good day.
Our picks: Philae tours from Aswan
The half-day drive with the High Dam is the low-cost way in, and the private tour covers entry and boat in one booking. The full day adds the obelisk and a Nubian village, the show is the evening option, and the two-day trip suits anyone continuing to Abu Simbel.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and 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.
Two days from Luxor: Abu Simbel, Philae and Aswan
- One hotel night
- Entry tickets
- Breakfast and lunch
A private two-day trip with a guide, air-conditioned transfers and the return to Luxor. Ask whether the Philae boat is included before you book.
Check availability →
High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Philae and a Nubian village
- All entry tickets
- Philae motorboat
- Egyptologist guide
Six hours that combine the dam, the obelisk, the temple island and a Nubian village in one trip, with hotel pickup and return.
Check availability →
Private guided tour of Philae with entry
- Entry ticket
- Motorboat to the island
- English-speaking guide
A private visit to the temple with the entry ticket, the motorboat across and a guide, collected from your Aswan hotel. Water is included.
Check availability →Philae sound and light show with transfers
- Show entry
- Boat to Agilkia
- Audio guide
Show admission, the boat to Agilkia, an audio guide and car transport from your hotel are included. There is no personal guide.
Check availability →
Philae Temple and High Dam half-day tour
- Egyptologist guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
A guided drive to Philae and the High Dam with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Ask whether entry tickets and the boat to Philae are included before you book.
Check availability →Philae and Aswan tours
Half-day trips to the island temple, combined days with the High Dam and the unfinished obelisk, and evening show visits, with live prices and availability.
The temple of Isis on Agilkia Island
What you see on the island, in the order of a normal visit.
Pylons and courtyards
The first pylon is the big entrance wall, covered with reliefs. Behind it the temple opens into courtyards and colonnades that lead to the sanctuary of Isis.
The Kiosk of Nectanebo I
This small hall belongs to the reign of Nectanebo I, 380 to 362 BC. It is a good reminder that the buildings on the island come from different periods and not only from the Ptolemies.
Trajan's Kiosk
The open pavilion at the water's edge is named after Emperor Trajan, who ruled from 98 to 117 AD.
Trajan's Kiosk →The temple of Hathor was built under Ptolemy VI and Augustus, and the small temple of Imhotep was dedicated by Ptolemy V. Philae is a complex of several buildings, so allow time for the side buildings as well as the main hall.
Philae tickets, the boat and the show
Four costs that are easy to mix up.
| Item | 2026 price | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Temple ticket, foreign adult | EGP 550 | Ticket office or online |
| Temple ticket, foreign student | EGP 275 | Ticket office or online |
| Boat to the island and back | Priced per boat, agreed before you board | The boat crew |
| Evening sound and light show | USD 20 adults, USD 11 children 6 to 12 | The show operator |
For most visitors the simplest plan is a daytime visit with the temple ticket and a boat agreed at the landing. The details are on the tickets and boat page, and the evening show has its own page with times and languages.
Everything on this site
Pick the page that matches your question.
Philae tickets and boat access
Prices, hours, discounts and how the boat fits in.
Aswan tours to Philae
Day trips with the High Dam and the unfinished obelisk.
Sound and light show
Weekly schedule, languages and ticket prices.
Isis and Osiris
The story behind the temple and the role of Hathor.
Trajan's Kiosk
The Roman pavilion at the water's edge.
Agilkia Island
How the buildings were moved after the flooding.
History of Philae
Ptolemies, Romans and the last hieroglyphs.
Aswan
The corniche, the Nubian Museum and short trips on the Nile.
Aswan High Dam
Dam, Lake Nasser and the old dam.
Edfu and Kom Ombo
Two temples on the Nile route to Luxor.
Aswan weather
Monthly temperatures and the best time to go.
Where to stay
The corniche, Elephantine and the west bank compared.
Getting to Philae
Airport, train, taxi and the boat landing.
A few things to know before you go
The points that most often change a plan.
The ticket price
Foreign adults pay EGP 550 and students EGP 275 in 2026. Children under 6 are free. Students need a valid ID and must be 24 or younger.
Ticket details →Opening and last entry
The temple is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last entry is at 3 p.m., in summer, winter and Ramadan alike, so arrive well before then.
The boat
The island is reached only by boat from Marina Philae (Shellal). The boat is priced per boat and paid separately. Agree the price before you board.
The evening show
The show has its own ticket and its own times. Evening shows start between about 7 and 9 p.m. depending on the date. Check the times on site.
Show times →Entry to Egypt
An e-Visa for a single entry costs USD 30, and USD 65 for multiple entries. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from arrival.
Getting there →More independent Egypt guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place in Egypt.
Luxor
Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Nile cruises to Aswan.
Nubian Aswan
Gharb Soheil, Elephantine, Philae and day trips to Abu Simbel.
Giza Pyramids
Pyramid tickets, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Saqqara.
Valley of the Kings
Tomb tickets, Tutankhamun, Hatshepsut and the West Bank of Luxor.
The Nile
Nile cruises from Luxor to Aswan, dahabiyas, feluccas and Lake Nasser.
Abu Simbel
The temples of Ramses II and Nefertari: day trips from Aswan, flights and the Sun Festival.
Karnak Temple
The temple of Amun in Luxor: tickets, the Hypostyle Hall, the light show and the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Khan el-Khalili
The great bazaar of Islamic Cairo, Al-Muizz Street, the Citadel and Cairo at night.
Luxor Temple
Tickets, evening visits, the Avenue of Sphinxes and Ramses II on the East Bank.
Marsa Alam
Red Sea snorkeling, Dolphin House trips, dugongs and day trips to Luxor.
Philae Temple: frequently asked questions
How much is a Philae Temple ticket in 2026?
EGP 550 for foreign adults and EGP 275 for foreign students. Egyptians pay EGP 40 and EGP 20. Children under 6 enter free. The boat and the evening show are separate costs.
How do I get to Philae from Aswan?
By car or taxi to the landing at Marina Philae (Shellal), roughly 8 to 12 km south of the center, then a boat of 10 to 15 minutes. The getting there page has the steps from the airport and the train.
Do I need to book the boat in advance?
Not necessarily. The boat is priced per boat and the price is agreed before you board. If you join a tour, the boat is usually part of the plan, so check what the offer includes.
Is Philae Temple worth seeing at night?
The evening show takes place at the temple and lasts about an hour. It is a separate ticket and a separate trip, so plan 2 to 3 hours for the evening including transfers. See the show page.
Is it the same as Agilkia Island?
Yes, today's temple stands on Agilkia. The original island of Philae was flooded, and the buildings were taken apart and rebuilt on higher ground. The Agilkia page explains the move.
Is philae-temple.org the official website of the temple?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities or any authority, and it has no connection to boat operators, tour operators or hotels.