Edfu (also spelled "Idfu") is an Egyptian town in the region of Upper Egypt, located on the west bank of the river Nile some 100 km south of Luxor, 53 km south of Esna and 115 km north of Aswan.
Apart from its ancient remains, Edfu is best known as a largely agricultural town, its main products being sugar cane and pottery.
- Temple of Horus at Edfu. Oct-May: 7AM-4PM, Jun-Sep: 7AM-5PM. The large Ptolemaic period Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best-preserved ancient temple structure in Egypt (closely followed by the Temple of Dendera. The sun-deity Horus, usually depicted as a falcon or as a falcon-headed man, enjoyed popular worship in ancient Egypt as one of the chief deities, the son of Osiris. The temple as it stands was started in 237 BCE by Ptolemy III on the site of an earlier New Kingdom structure, and completed almost two centuries later in 57 BCE by Ptolemy XII (father of the famous Cleopatra). Entrance to the temple is by means of a massive pylon, standing 36 m high and decorated with reliefs of a traditional nature depicting Ptolemy XII smiting his enemies - the monumental gateway is guarded by twin granite falcons, well above life-size. Adults LE140, students LE70.
Temple of Horus at Edfu. Oct-May: 7AM-4PM, Jun-Sep: 7AM-5PM. The large Ptolemaic period Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best-preserved ancient temple structure in Egypt (closely followed by the Temple of [[Dendera]]. The sun-deity Horus, usually depicted as a falcon or as a falcon-headed man, enjoyed popular worship in ancient Egypt as one of the chief deities, the son of Osiris. The temple as it stands was started in 237 BCE by Ptolemy III on the site of an earlier New Kingdom structure, and completed almost two centuries later in 57 BCE by Ptolemy XII (father of the famous Cleopatra). Entrance to the temple is by means of a massive pylon, standing 36 m high and decorated with reliefs of a traditional nature depicting Ptolemy XII smiting his enemies - the monumental gateway is guarded by twin granite falcons, well above life-size. Adults LE140, students LE70.
- Kom Ombo, a riverside temple town, lies some 65 km south of Edfu and makes a great stop-off on the way south to Aswan. You can get there by train or bus, both stations are at the east bank.
- Esna, another riverside temple and town around 60 km north of Edfu. Also a convenient stop-over, if you are going to Luxor. Easy to reach with both buses and trains.
[[Kom Ombo]], a riverside temple town, lies some 65 km south of Edfu and makes a great stop-off on the way south to [[Aswan]]. You can get there by train or bus, both stations are at the east bank.