Temple of Dendera in Egypt

Situated on the West Bank of the Nile, roughly 60km north of Luxor, Dendera receives far fewer visitors than the fabled pharaonic highlights further south. It is included on some of the longer Nile cruise itineraries or can be visited by land from Luxor; those who make the effort are usually glad they did. The temple complex here is beautifully preserved, its sprawling layout surrounded by a huge mud-brick wall and an attractive ribbon of verdant green countryside, spilling out from the Nile towards the Western Desert.
The dominant structure within the walls is the impressive Temple of Hathor, containing an array of treasures including a hypostyle hall, numerous shrines and staircases and some vivid reliefs, including some that portray Cleopatra. Her depictions highlight that this complex was influenced by Rome, and some of the temples and reliefs display clear Roman iconography rather than Ancient Egyptian. With a user-friendly visitors’ centre and a café for much-needed refreshments, this is an extremely pleasant place to spend a few hours, often in conjunction with a trip to Abydos, further north.