Inside the Tomb of Queen Nefertari – A Photo Tour

This tomb has a big “wow” factor. The level of detail is amazing and the colors are more vibrant than what we saw in any of the other tombs, temples, and pyramids in Egypt. If you want to get an idea of what the tombs looked like 3,000 years ago, put the tomb of Queen Nefertari on your list.

This tomb has a big price tag, costing 1400 EGP (about $48 USD as of January 2023…but with the exchange rate, this was $90 USD in January 2022, so double check the exchange rate before you go). So, is it worth it?

We think so. The tomb of Queen Nefertari is extraordinarily beautiful and we all wandered through the tomb in amazement.

You can see for yourself in our photo tour below.

But first, here is a little history about Queen Nefertari and her tomb.

Interesting Facts about Queen Nefertari and Her Tomb

Nefertari was the first queen and the most beloved wife of Ramesses II (also known as Ramesses the Great). Not only does she have one of the most exquisite tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queens, but Ramesses II also honored her by building her a temple, the Small Temple at Abu Simbel.

Her full name, Nefertari Merytmut, means “most beautiful, beloved of the goddess Mut.”

The tomb of Queen Nefertari, QV66, is one of the largest in the Valley of the Queens. It is 520 square meters and it is covered with colorful paintings of Queen Nefertari.

Her sarcophagus once sat in the middle of the chamber, but tomb raiders stole all of the buried treasure, along with the sarcophagus and Queen Nefertari’s mummy. All that was found, when the tomb was rediscovered in 1904, were the mummified knees of Nefertari. These are now in the Egyptian Museum.

On the walls of the tomb are brilliantly colored pictures of Nefertari. These show her position in the eyes of her husband and how beloved she was. There are also numerous chapters of the Book of the Dead, which are supposed to guide Nefertari on how to transform into a bird in the afterlife.

Since its discovery in 1904, the tomb has been opened and closed to the public numerous times. The tomb of Queen Nefertari underwent restoration work 30 years ago, to restore the paintings from deterioration from water damage, salt formation, and bacterial growth.

Now, the number of visitors is limited, in order to prevent further damage from traffic and the humidity of visitors’ breath. That is the reasoning behind the big ticket price.

Tomb of Queen Nefertari in Photos

Photo rules change frequently. During our visit in December 2019, cellphone photography was allowed, without having to pay for a camera ticket. Photography with cameras (including DSLR’s without a flash), Go Pros, and point-and-shoot cameras were not allowed.

All of the photos in this post were taken with a cellphone, without a flash. The lights in tomb create a yellow haze in the photos. After taking the photos, I adjusted the white balance but I did not increase the saturation of the colors. These paintings really are this vivid.

Nefertari playing the game Senet.

Protectors of the gates to the afterlife.

The Book of the Dead.

Isis offering life to Nefertari.

Nefertari and Thoth, the god of writing and wisdom.

The woman with the wings is Ma’at, the goddess of justice.

Nefertari and Isis

Hathor and Ra-Horakhty

The gods Ra and Osiris in the same body, with Nephthys and Isis.

Nefertari and Isis

Is the Tomb of Queen Nefertari Worth It?

In our opinion, yes, the tomb of Queen Nefertari is worth the big expense. It is the most beautiful tomb that we saw in Egypt, with its vibrant colors and detailed artwork.

We also went inside the tombs of Seti I and Ramesses V and VI in the Valley of the Kings. These are also very colorful, exquisitely detailed tombs that require an additional fee. However, the tomb of Queen Nefertari was our favorite, by far, and we highly recommend a visit here.

If you are traveling with kids, depending on their age, it is probably not worth paying for them to enter the tomb. There was no discount for kids, so we paid full price for Tyler and Kara. However, they are older (they were 15 and 16 during our visit), old enough to remember this for the rest of their lives.

If you travel all the way to Egypt, it is worth it to spend a little more money to see one of the most breathtaking places in this extraordinary country.

Planning Your Visit

Ticket Price

Valley of the Queens: 100 EGP
Additional Fee for the Tomb of Queen Nefertari: 1400 EGP

You will pay 100 EGP to enter the Valley of the Queens, bringing the grand total to 1500 EGP to see the tomb of Queen Nefertari. However, with your entry fee, you also get to see three more tombs in the Valley of the Queens.

Hours of Operation

Winter: 6 am to 4 pm
Summer: 6 am to 5 pm

There is a 10-minute time limit to the length of time that you are permitted to stay in the tomb. However, this was not enforced during our visit in 2019.

If you have any questions about visiting the tomb of Queen Nefertari, or if you want to comment on whether or not a visit is worth it, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Egypt

LUXOR: Get on overview on what to do in our article Best Things to Do in Luxor. We also have detailed guides to the East Bank of Luxor, the West Bank of Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings.

ASWAN: For a list of the top experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Aswan. We also have a guide on how to visit Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Esna while driving between Aswan and Luxor.

TRAVEL ADVICE: Here is list of important things to know before visit Egypt. The Luxor Pass and Cairo Pass can save you a lot of money…learn more in our guide. And we also have information on how much it costs to visit Egypt.

EGYPT ITINERARY: With 10 days in Egypt, visit Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel.

ABU SIMBEL: In our guide to Abu Simbel, we cover what you need to know to plan your day trip.

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