How to choose the best tombs in the Valley of the Kings
The best tombs in the Valley of the Kings depend on what you want to see. The basic ticket (EGP 750, students EGP 375 in 2026) lets you enter 3 regular tombs. The tomb of Tutankhamun, the tomb of Seti I and the shared tomb of Ramesses V and VI each need an extra ticket. Which regular tombs are open changes, so check on site which tombs are open before you decide.
This page is an editorial selection, not a ranking. It sorts the tombs by what you will actually see: painted walls, astronomical ceilings, long descending corridors and the discovery story. For the full price list, read the Valley of the Kings tickets guide. For the smallest and most famous tomb, go to the Tutankhamun tomb page.
The three tombs that cost extra
Adult and student prices in 2026. The basic ticket is still required.
| Tomb | Known for | Adult | Student |
|---|---|---|---|
| KV62, Tutankhamun | A small tomb with a painted burial chamber and the mummy in a glass case | EGP 700 | EGP 350 |
| KV9, Ramesses V and VI | Straight corridors, books of the underworld and astronomical ceilings | EGP 220 | EGP 110 |
| KV17, Seti I | The first tomb in the valley decorated from entrance to burial chamber | EGP 2,000 | EGP 2,000 |
Seti I has no student discount, so the price is the same for everyone. For most visitors, KV9 is the best-value extra: it is the cheapest of the three and its corridors and ceilings are covered in decoration. Add KV17 if wall art is the reason you came and EGP 2,000 fits your budget. Add KV62 if the story of the 1922 discovery matters more to you than painted walls.
Our pick: a private day for the tombs
Our take: with a private guide you set the pace between the tombs.
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.
Valley of the Kings tours and tickets
Guided West Bank days, tomb visits and transfers, with live prices and availability.
What each extra tomb gives you
Pick by interest, not by fame.
KV17, Seti I
The first tomb in the valley to be fully decorated. The burial chamber has a vaulted ceiling with astronomical motifs, and the pillared hall and corridor carry painted reliefs. It costs far more than the other two extras, and for wall art lovers it is the one to save for.
KV9, Ramesses V and VI
Ramesses V started the tomb and Ramesses VI extended it. A straight run of corridors leads to texts from the books of the underworld, and the burial chamber ceiling is covered with astronomical scenes. Look up as much as you look ahead.
KV62, Tutankhamun
Smaller than many royal tombs, with paint only on the burial chamber walls. You come for the history and the mummy, not for corridors of reliefs. Read the Tutankhamun tomb guide before you pay.
Regular tombs to look for
These are included in the basic ticket when they are open.
Check on site which tombs are open. Ask at the ticket area, then pick three.
KV2, Ramesses IV
Painted walls and ceilings with texts from the Book of Caves and the Book of the Dead. Coptic graffiti are still visible.
KV6, Ramesses IX
A decorated corridor and a viewing point toward the burial chamber, which is protected by glass.
KV8, Merenptah
A long descending corridor to a large burial chamber with the sarcophagus lid. Expect more steps and a longer walk than in the shorter tombs.
KV14, Tausret and Setnakht
A long tomb assigned to both rulers, with painted scenes including a winged goddess in the burial chamber.
KV11, Ramesses III
Long corridors with painted gods, parts of the decoration behind glass.
Which tomb for which visitor
A quick way to pick when the list on the day is short.
| You want | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Colorful walls and ceilings | KV17 or KV2 | Fully decorated rooms from entrance to chamber |
| Astronomical ceilings | KV9 | Corridors and burial chamber covered in sky scenes |
| A long corridor and a big chamber | KV8 or KV14 | Long, deep tombs with large chambers |
| The discovery story | KV62 | The tomb Howard Carter opened in 1922 |
| A low budget | Three regular tombs | No extra ticket needed |
For most visitors: use the three regular tombs on whatever is open, and add KV9 as the one extra ticket.
Tombs to know about, but not to plan around
Famous names that are not a safe part of a normal visit.
KV34, Thutmose III
Reached by a stair and a rock cleft, with a cartouche-shaped burial chamber and an underworld text on the walls. It is not part of the regular rotation, so do not count it among your three.
KV5, sons of Ramesses II
A large branching tomb known from research plans. Do not plan a visit around it.
C4, Thutmose II
The tomb of Thutmose II was identified in Wadi C, about 2.4 km west of the valley, after its entrance was found in 2022. It is not a bookable extra tomb. Do not mix it up with KV34.
Ay, West Valley
Ay (Eje) has its own add-on ticket: EGP 200, students EGP 100. Ask on site whether it is open.
Nefertari, QV66
Nefertari belongs to the Valley of the Queens, not to this valley, and her tomb has been closed since 2024 with no reopening date set. See the Valley of the Queens page.
Plan the rest of the day
Tickets, hours and the neighbors in the West Bank.
Tutankhamun tomb
What you see inside, the extra ticket and the discovery.
Opening hours
Opening time, last entry and the best start.
Valley of the Queens
Tickets, tombs and the status of Nefertari.
Karnak and the other East Bank temples have their own guide: see Karnak Temple.
Best tombs in the Valley of the Kings: frequently asked questions
Which are the best tombs in the Valley of the Kings?
There is no single answer. KV9 is the best-value extra, KV17 has the fullest decoration, KV62 has the discovery story and KV2, KV8 and KV14 are good regular choices when they are open. The table above matches tombs to interests.
How many tombs can I enter with one ticket?
The basic ticket (EGP 750, students EGP 375 in 2026) covers 3 regular tombs. KV62, KV9 and KV17 each need an extra ticket, and the basic ticket is still required.
Are all the tombs open at the same time?
No. The open tombs rotate, so ask on site which tombs are open today before you choose.
Is the tomb of Seti I worth EGP 2,000?
It costs far more than the other extras, and there is no student discount. It makes sense if painted walls and a vaulted burial chamber are what you came for. If you are unsure, KV9 costs EGP 220.
Can I visit the tomb of Nefertari?
Not at the moment. The tomb belongs to the Valley of the Queens and has been closed since 2024, with no reopening date set.
Is this the official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. Prices, rules and open tombs are set by the Egyptian antiquities authorities and can change, so confirm them at the ticket office.