A short distance from the Valley of the Kings, on the same stretch of Luxor's West Bank, lies a second, smaller desert valley with its own separate set of tombs: the Valley of the Queens. It is easy to assume the name means it is simply a smaller annex of the Valley of the Kings reserved for royal wives, but the valley has its own history, its own numbering system, and one tomb in particular that specialists and travelers alike tend to describe in superlatives.
This guide focuses on what makes the Valley of the Queens distinct from its better-known neighbor, including the Tomb of Nefertari and the access complications that surround it. For the broader West Bank necropolis and ticket logistics, see our Valley of the Kings guide.
What Is the Valley of the Queens, and How Is It Different From the Valley of the Kings?
The Valley of the Queens is a distinct necropolis on Luxor's West Bank, separate from the Valley of the Kings rather than a section within it, used mainly during the New Kingdom, with construction peaking in the 19th and 20th Dynasties. Its tombs are numbered with a "QV" prefix, distinguishing them from the "KV" numbers used in the Valley of the Kings, and the two sites require separate consideration when planning a visit, including, at times, separate tickets.
Earlier in the New Kingdom, during the 18th Dynasty, royal women were generally buried further out in a set of outlying desert valleys now known as the Western Wadis, rather than in what became the Valley of the Queens. Egyptologists are not entirely certain why burials shifted to the valley now called the Valley of the Queens by the 19th Dynasty, though easier accessibility compared to the more remote Western Wadis is one commonly suggested reason.
Who Was Buried in the Valley of the Queens Besides Queens?
Despite the name, the valley was not reserved exclusively for queens. A significant number of its tombs belonged to princes and princesses, the sons and daughters of pharaohs who died, in some cases, in childhood, as well as other members of the royal family. The variety of occupants reflects how the site functioned less as a single-purpose "queens' cemetery" and more as the New Kingdom's main burial ground for royal women and royal children together.
After the New Kingdom ended, far fewer new tombs were cut in the valley, though a number of the existing tombs were reused for later burials, sometimes centuries after they were first built. In the Ptolemaic period and beyond, some tombs saw continued reuse, and still later a small monastery known as Deir el-Rumi was established in the valley, with several tombs repurposed as monastic cells, a layer of the site's history that has little to do with its original royal function.
Visit the West Bank's Royal Necropolises
A licensed Egyptologist guide can confirm which tombs are open at the Valley of the Queens on the day of your visit and whether Nefertari's tomb is accessible.
What Makes the Tomb of Nefertari (QV66) So Famous?
QV66 belongs to Nefertari, the chief wife of Ramesses II and one of the best-documented royal women of the New Kingdom. The Italian archaeologist Ernesto Schiaparelli discovered the tomb in 1904, and it is now routinely cited by Egyptologists and guidebooks as among the most beautifully decorated tombs in Egypt, a reputation earned by the vividness and condition of its painted walls rather than its size, since the tomb itself is relatively modest in scale compared to major royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
The decoration throughout the tomb depicts Nefertari in richly colored scenes drawn from funerary texts such as the Book of the Dead, showing her in the company of various deities as she moves through the afterlife. The quality of preservation is unusually high for a tomb of its age, which is precisely why access to it has long been treated with more caution than most other tombs on the West Bank.
Why Does Nefertari's Tomb Often Have Restricted or Extra-Fee Access?
Because its painted plaster is especially fragile and sensitive to humidity from visitors' breath and body heat, Nefertari's tomb has at various times been sold only as a separate, significantly higher-priced ticket on top of general valley admission, with figures reported in past years ranging roughly from the low thousands of Egyptian pounds, and visitor numbers inside have at times been capped more tightly than at other tombs to limit exposure. At other points, the tomb has been closed to the public entirely for extended conservation periods.
Given how much both the price and the open-or-closed status have shifted over the years, and continue to shift, this guide deliberately avoids quoting a single current figure as fact. Confirm whether Nefertari's tomb is open at all, and what it costs if so, at the official ticket office or the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site before counting on seeing it, and have a backup plan among the valley's other decorated tombs in case it is closed on the day.
What Else Can You See With General Admission to the Valley of the Queens?
General admission to the valley covers a rotating selection of other decorated tombs beyond Nefertari's, commonly including tombs belonging to sons of Ramesses III, such as Amun-her-khepeshef (QV55) and Khaemwaset (QV44), both of which carry well-preserved painted scenes of the young princes being presented to various gods. Which tombs are open on a given day can change, similar to the rotation system used in the Valley of the Kings, so it is worth asking at the ticket office which tombs are currently accessible rather than assuming a fixed list.
These secondary tombs are smaller than Nefertari's and attract far fewer visitors, which in practice often means a quieter, less rushed experience standing in front of well-preserved New Kingdom painting, even without the premium name recognition that draws people specifically to QV66.
How Does a Visit to the Valley of the Queens Fit Into a West Bank Day?
The Valley of the Queens sits close enough to the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut that most visitors treat it as one stop within a broader West Bank itinerary rather than a separate trip in its own right. A typical half-day or full-day West Bank plan might combine a few tombs in the Valley of the Kings, as covered in our Valley of the Kings guide, with a shorter visit here and time at the Temple of Hatshepsut, adjusting the order depending on which sites and tombs are open that day.
Because the Valley of the Queens generally takes less time than the Valley of the Kings, perhaps 45 minutes to an hour for two or three tombs rather than two to three hours, it fits naturally as a shorter addition rather than a destination that needs its own half-day. Travelers specifically weighing whether Nefertari's tomb is worth the extra cost, when it is open, may also find it useful to compare that decision against the similarly extra-ticketed tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, since both involve the same basic trade-off between a modest tomb and its outsized historical or artistic significance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Valley of the Queens the same place as the Valley of the Kings?
No. They are separate necropolises on Luxor's West Bank, close to each other but requiring separate consideration when planning tickets and time.
Was only royal women buried in the Valley of the Queens?
No. Alongside queens, a significant number of tombs belonged to princes, princesses and other royal family members, making it the New Kingdom's main burial ground for royal women and children together.
Is Nefertari's tomb included in the general Valley of the Queens ticket?
Generally no. It has historically required a separate, higher-priced ticket when open, and has also been closed entirely for conservation at times; confirm its current status before your visit.
What can you see if Nefertari's tomb is closed?
General admission covers a rotating selection of other decorated tombs, commonly including those of sons of Ramesses III such as Amun-her-khepeshef (QV55) and Khaemwaset (QV44).
How much time should I budget for the Valley of the Queens?
Generally 45 minutes to an hour for two or three tombs, less than the Valley of the Kings, which makes it a natural shorter addition to a West Bank day rather than its own half-day stop.
