Tomb of Nefertari: The Complete Guide to Egypt's Most Beautiful Tomb

The tomb of Nefertari, known as QV66, is the burial place of Queen Nefertari, the first and favourite Great Royal Wife of Ramses II. It lies in the Valley of the Queens on Luxor's West Bank. Italian archaeologist Ernesto Schiaparelli found it in 1904. Its bright wall paintings show the queen's journey to the afterlife, and many experts call it the most beautiful tomb in Egypt.

1. Key Facts About the Tomb of Nefertari (QV66)

What does QV66 mean?

QV stands for "Queens' Valley," the short name for the Valley of the Queens. The number 66 is the number given to Nefertari's tomb in the official list of tombs in the valley.

2. Who Was Queen Nefertari?

Nefertari was one of the most famous Egyptian queens. She lived in the 19th Dynasty and married Ramses II before he became pharaoh. Her name is often translated as "the most beautiful of them." She became his first Great Royal Wife, the highest title a queen could hold.

What does the name Nefertari mean?

Nefertari is often translated as "the most beautiful of them" or "beautiful companion." Her full name, Nefertari Meritmut, adds "beloved of Mut," a mother goddess of Thebes. Ramses II also called her "the one for whom the sun shines," a sign of his deep respect for her.

Nefertari had at least four sons and two daughters. Her eldest son, Amun-her-khepeshef, was crown prince and head of the army. She also took part in royal diplomacy. Clay tablets found in the old Hittite capital in Turkey record letters and gifts she sent to Queen Puduhepa, wife of the Hittite king. One gift was a gold necklace with 12 strands.

Ramses and Nefertari: A Royal Partnership

Ramses II had many wives, but Nefertari held a special place. Temple scenes at Luxor and Karnak show her beside the king, shaking sacred rattles called sistra. Ramses called her "the one for whom the sun shines." She died around 1255 BC, more than four decades before her husband, and he gave her one of the finest tombs ever made for a queen.

Was Ramses II buried with Nefertari?

No. Ramses II was buried in his own tomb, KV7, in the Valley of the Kings. Kings and queens had separate burial grounds. Ramses does not even appear in Nefertari's tomb paintings, as the walls focus only on the queen and the gods.

How did Queen Nefertari die?

No one knows for sure. Nefertari disappears from records around year 24 of Ramses II's reign, soon after the temples at Abu Simbel were opened. Some historians think she was ill at that time, and her daughter Meritamen later took over many of her royal duties.

3. Where Is the Nefertari Tomb?

The tomb is in the Valley of the Queens, a dry desert valley on the West Bank of Luxor. In ancient times it was called Ta-Set-Neferu, often translated as "the place of beauty." More than 90 tombs were cut here for royal wives, princes and princesses. The valley is close to the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut.

How do you get to the Valley of the Queens from Luxor?

Most hotels are on Luxor's East Bank. You can cross the Nile by road over the Luxor Bridge or by local ferry, then drive to the valley. The trip usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes by car, and most visitors go with a guide or on an organised West Bank tour.

4. How Was the Tomb Discovered?

In 1904, an Italian mission led by Ernesto Schiaparelli, director of the Egyptian Museum in Turin, found the tomb of Nefertari during its second season of work in the valley. The team quickly learned that robbers had arrived first, probably in ancient times. The queen's gold, jewellery and most of her mummy were gone (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities).

The robbers left a few pieces behind. These included pieces of the sarcophagus lid, about 30 small servant figures called ushabti, pottery and a pair of palm-fibre sandals. Parts of a pair of legs, probably the queen's, were also found. Most of these objects are now in the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy.

Was Nefertari's mummy found?

Not complete. Robbers took most of the mummy in ancient times. Schiaparelli found only parts of a pair of legs, which are kept in the Egyptian Museum in Turin. Experts believe these remains most likely belonged to the queen, as no one else is known to have been buried in the tomb.

Who was Ernesto Schiaparelli?

Ernesto Schiaparelli (1856–1928) was an Italian Egyptologist and director of the Egyptian Museum in Turin. Besides finding Nefertari's tomb in 1904, his team also found the tomb of Kha and Merit at Deir el-Medina in 1906, one of the most complete private tombs ever found in Egypt.

5. Inside the Tomb: Rooms and Layout

A long staircase leads down into the rock. The upper level has an antechamber with a ceiling painted as a starry night sky, a side chamber and a small vestibule. A second stairway goes down to the burial chamber, which covers about 90 square metres. Four square pillars hold up its ceiling (Wikipedia). Ramses II does not appear anywhere in the paintings.

How big is Nefertari's tomb?

The tomb covers about 520 square metres, making it one of the largest in the Valley of the Queens. Its painted walls cover about 5,200 square feet. The burial chamber alone is about 90 square metres, with four pillars supporting the ceiling.

Why is the tomb ceiling painted with stars?

The dark blue ceiling with yellow stars shows the night sky. Ancient Egyptians believed the dead travelled through the sky to reach the afterlife, so the starry ceiling surrounded the queen with the heavens she would pass through.

6. What Do the Nefertari Tomb Paintings Mean?

The walls are covered with scenes and texts taken mainly from the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells that helped the dead reach the afterlife. In the antechamber, scenes from Spell 17 show the queen changing into a ba, her soul in the shape of a bird with a human head. The colours are bright: blue, green, red, yellow and gold on a white background.

Ancient Egyptian Afterlife Beliefs in the Tomb

Ancient Egyptians believed the dead had to pass through gates guarded by dangerous spirits before joining the god Osiris. The burial chamber shows Spells 144 and 146, which name these gates and give the words needed to pass. Gods such as Isis, Osiris, Anubis, Hathor and Ra welcome the queen, and Nefertari offers them gifts. The message is simple: she will live forever.

One famous scene shows Nefertari playing senet, a board game linked with passing into the next world. Another shows her before Thoth, god of writing, holding a scribe's palette. Some experts think this suggests she could read and write, which was rare at the time.

How were the Nefertari tomb paintings made?

The local limestone was too poor to carve well, so workers covered the walls with a layer of plaster. Artists then cut the scenes into the plaster in low relief and painted them with natural colours made from minerals, such as ochre for red and yellow, and copper-based pigments for blue and green.

7. Saving the Paintings: The Getty Conservation Project

When Schiaparelli opened the tomb, the paintings were already damaged. Salt in the limestone pushed the plaster away from the walls. By the 1980s, at least one-fifth of the paintings had been lost. In 1986, the Getty Conservation Institute and the Egyptian Antiquities Organization began a six-year rescue project. It was the institute's first field project.

An international team studied, cleaned and secured the paintings until the work ended in 1992. They removed dust and soot but did not repaint lost areas. The project also trained Egyptian conservators. Today, about two-thirds of the original paintings survive.

Are the Nefertari tomb paintings original or repainted?

The paintings you see are original. Conservators cleaned them, fixed loose plaster and secured the walls, but they did not repaint any missing parts. This is why some areas are blank where the old plaster was lost.

8. Can You Visit the Queen Nefertari Tomb Today?

Access to the tomb has always been tightly controlled. The breath and sweat of visitors raise humidity, which can damage the fragile plaster. In the past, visits were limited to about 10 minutes. The tomb closed for urgent restoration in March 2024. In October 2024, antiquities officials inspected it and began studying a reopening under strict rules (Egypt Independent). Reports since then disagree about whether it is open, so always check the latest status before you go.

Why is there a time limit inside the tomb?

Visitors' breath and sweat add moisture to the air. Moisture dissolves salt inside the limestone and plaster, which can make painted plaster fall off the walls. A time limit of about 10 minutes was used in the past to protect the paintings from this damage.

Before the 2024 closure, the tomb needed a special ticket of about EGP 2,000, on top of the general Valley of the Queens ticket. Recent travel guides list the general ticket at about EGP 220, but prices in Egypt change often. If the tomb is closed, a free virtual reality tour by CuriosityStream and Experius VR lets you explore it online (Smithsonian Magazine).

Can you take photos inside the tomb?

Rules on photography in Egyptian tombs change often. Phones without flash have usually been allowed in many Luxor tombs, while flash is always banned because it can harm the paintings. Check the current rules at the ticket office before you enter.

What is the best time to visit the Valley of the Queens?

Go early in the morning, when it is cooler and less crowded. The most comfortable months are October to April. Summer days in Luxor are very hot, so bring water, a hat and sun protection if you travel then.

9. The Temple of Nefertari at Abu Simbel

Nefertari is also honoured far to the south. At Abu Simbel, Ramses II built a Small Temple for the queen and the goddess Hathor. Its front has six standing statues: four of the king and two of Nefertari. Her statues are the same size as his, which was very rare for a queen (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities). Both temples were moved to higher ground in the 1960s to save them from the waters of Lake Nasser.

Why did Ramses II build a temple for Nefertari?

Ramses II built the Small Temple at Abu Simbel to honour Nefertari as his chief queen and to link her with the goddess Hathor. An inscription on the temple says it was made for the Great Royal Wife Nefertari, "for whom the sun shines."

10. Other Tombs in the Valley of the Queens

The general valley ticket usually includes a few other tombs, which change from time to time. Popular ones include:

• QV55, Amun-her-khepeshef: a young son of Ramses III, shown with a child's side-lock of hair. Its colours are very well preserved.
• QV44, Khaemwaset: another son of Ramses III, presented to the gods by his father.
• QV52, Tyti: a queen of the 20th Dynasty, probably a wife of Ramses III, with scenes of gods and goddesses.

Why was the Valley of the Queens chosen for royal burials?

The valley was quiet, hidden and close to the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. At its far end is a natural grotto where rainwater sometimes fell like a waterfall. Ancient Egyptians may have linked this place with Hathor and with rebirth, which made it a fitting place for queens and royal children.

11. Timeline: Key Dates in the Story of Nefertari

• About 1279 BC: Ramses II becomes king, with Nefertari already his wife.
• Before year 20 of his reign: The Small Temple at Abu Simbel is completed.
• About 1255 BC: Nefertari dies and is buried in QV66.
• 1904: Ernesto Schiaparelli discovers the tomb.
• 1950: The tomb is closed because of damage to the paintings.
• 1986–1992: The Getty project conserves the paintings.
• March 2024: The tomb closes again for urgent restoration.

How long did Ramses II rule Egypt?

Ramses II ruled for about 66 years, from about 1279 BC to 1213 BC. This makes him one of the longest-ruling pharaohs in Egyptian history. He outlived Nefertari by more than 40 years.

12. Why the Tomb of Nefertari Still Matters Today

Nefertari's tomb gives a rare, colourful look at how ancient Egyptians imagined eternity. Like Queen Hatshepsut and Cleopatra, she remains a symbol of royal women's power and beauty. Her paintings also show how science and care can protect fragile art for the future. Each new study of the tomb, from salt in the walls to the queen's letters, adds another piece to the story of this remarkable woman.

Ready to explore further? Plan your West Bank visit with our Luxor travel guide, or browse our Luxor day tours and the Valley of the Kings, Queens and Hatshepsut Temple day trip. You can also time a trip south for the Abu Simbel Sun Festival. Fill in the inquiry form to plan a tailor-made trip that follows in the footsteps of Ramses and Nefertari. Our Egypt tour packages, private Luxor tours and Nile cruise holidays are all fully customisable, so book your Egypt vacation package today and travel with peace of mind.

Why is Nefertari's tomb called the Sistine Chapel of Egypt?

The tomb is often compared to the Sistine Chapel in Rome because its walls and ceilings are covered with bright, detailed paintings of very high quality. Like Michelangelo's chapel, it is seen as one of the greatest works of art of its time.

13. Frequently Asked Questions