The Winter Palace shares the same golden-age pedigree as the Old Cataract in Aswan — opened in 1907, Agatha Christie wrote much of “Death on the Nile” here too, and it was in this hotel that the world first learned Howard Carter had discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.
Guests over the decades have included Winston Churchill, King Farouk, Empress Eugénie of France, and Rudyard Kipling. The hotel sits right on the Corniche, just a few minutes’ walk from Luxor Temple, with the Valley of the Kings visible across the river — among the best-placed hotels in Egypt.
The Winter Palace closed entirely in early 2026 for a complete restoration. Mandarin Oriental has taken over management from Accor/Sofitel and plans to reopen the property as Mandarin Oriental Winter Palace, Luxor in July 2027, with a refined collection of rooms and suites, six dining venues, and a dedicated spa set within the hotel’s historic Royal Gardens.
Howard Carter stood in this hotel in 1922 when the world first learned of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Treat the July 2027 reopening date as a target rather than a guarantee, as is typical with heritage restorations of this scale. We’re including it here for its historical significance and because the reopening plans are already public and well-documented — confirm current status directly before planning a stay, and note this same ownership group (Talaat Moustafa Group, in partnership with Mandarin Oriental) is also taking over Aswan’s Old Cataract hotel on a similar timeline.
The Winter Palace is listed here as currently closed for renovation. Check its status directly before building a Luxor itinerary around it — reopening dates for historic Egyptian hotels have a long record of moving, and a booking site showing availability is not the same as a hotel taking guests.
This is a hotel you stay in for the building. Opened 1907, with the Agatha Christie association and gardens that are the real luxury in a town this hot, it belongs in the same category as the Old Cataract in Aswan: a destination rather than a base. Travellers who want contemporary rooms and a big spa will be happier elsewhere and should not feel they are missing out.
Its sibling in spirit is Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan, the other great survivor of the same era. For open alternatives in Luxor now: Hilton Luxor for river frontage, Steigenberger Nile Palace for a central base, Al Moudira for character, and Jolie Ville for gardens.
