Egypt Travel Weather

March - May

A very good time to visit all over Egypt. From mid-March the temperature rises and can reach around 26°C - 29°C, the nights are also getting warmer. This is an ideal time for those who want to avoid the heat. Sunny and warm days encourage relaxation on the Red Sea, the beach season is underway in the resorts of the Sinai Peninsula (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Taba). You can also enjoy sun and sea bathing in Hurghada, El Gouna and Safaga.

From May onward, the Mediterranean coast is also much warmer. It is then worth visiting the Nile Delta (Cairo, Alexandria, Giza) and the deserts. Friendly weather arrives in the Nile Valley, around Aswan, Karnak and Luxor. It is also possible to organize treks and hikes to higher elevations in the Sinai Peninsula at that time.

The only complication at this time is the dry desert wind (chamsin) that appears in late April and blows until June. It brings waves of hot air and dust, causing sandstorms.

June - August

The hottest months of the year, with temperatures reaching above 40°C. Heat waves and the scorching sun make this not a good time to visit most areas in the country.

In the resorts on the Red Sea coast (Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Taba, El Gouna, Safaga) the heat is less noticeable, you can relax on the beach, swim in the sea or pool or take advantage of the extremely developed range of water sports.

It is also worth visiting the northern regions of Egypt then. This is a good time to visit the cities of the Nile Delta (Alexandria, Cairo and the pyramids of Giza). Cloudless skies and sunny days encourage you to enjoy the beaches off the Mediterranean coast. Temperatures in this region are not as high as in the rest of the country, hovering around 30°C.

September - November

It is gradually getting a little cooler across the country. The weather is giving a bit of a respite from the heat of previous months. It is still warm and sunny, with temperatures settling around 25°C - 30°C. Exploring the cities of the Nile Valley (Aswan, Karnak, Luxor) at this time, along with the ruins and tombs on the west bank of the Nile, is much more pleasant.

The weather makes for comfortable sightseeing in the Nile Delta, including Cairo, Alexandria and the ancient pyramids at Giza. The beach season is underway on the Red Sea coasts of Hurghada, El Gouna, Safaga and the resort areas of the Sinai Peninsula (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Taba). This is also a good time to organize a boat cruise on the Nile and mountain excursions in the Sinai Peninsula.

December - February

The coldest months of the year, temperatures drop to 18°C - 25°C in most parts of Egypt. The blowing cold wind makes the nights cool with temperatures even lower than 15°C.

The sea water is reasonably warm, with temperatures around 21°C, so you can enjoy swimming, especially on the Red Sea coasts. In the resorts of Marsa Alam or El Qoseir it is slightly warmer than in Hurghada. Days are sunny but short, with the sun setting around 5pm.

The winter months are a good time to visit the desert areas, but be aware of large nighttime temperature drops. The cities of the Nile Valley can offer sunny and warm weather during this time, especially those located more to the south: Aswan, Karnak and Luxor along with Western Thebes (Valley of the Kings).

The Nile Delta cities (Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said) are rainy during this period, and there may even be snowfall. Due to cloud cover and precipitation, most Mediterranean resorts are closed during the winter.

Despite the greater cold weather, the period around Christmas and New Year's is a popular time to visit among tourists from Europe.