Winter
Dec → Feb20 to 22°
nights 9 to 11°
- 1 rainy days · 6 mm
- 9.3 h of sun
- sea 23°
When is the best time to visit Egypt?
In short: October to March, when the heat eases: 20 to 22 °C in the afternoon from December to February at the pyramids of Giza, against 39 °C in July. November and March are the best compromise, with 27 and 25 °C at Giza, without the cool nights of January (9 °C) or the furnace of summer in Upper Egypt.
- Luxor temples and a Nile cruise: From November to March, winter stays warm and sunny in Luxor and Aswan, which makes long outdoor visits bearable.
- The pyramids and museums of Cairo: From December to February, afternoons top out at 20 to 22 °C at Giza, against 34 °C on the plateau from May.
- Sunlight in the sanctuary of Abu Simbel: On 22 February and 22 October, the sun's rays pass through the temple and light up the statues at the back of the sanctuary.
- The Red Sea in the winter sun: From October to April, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh stay warm and sunny while Cairo cools down.
- Spring and autumn: In April and October, the shoulder season brings 25 to 35 °C depending on the region, but the khamsin can whip up sandstorms in March and April.
Best avoided: June to August: 37 to 39 °C in the afternoon at Giza, and even more in Upper Egypt, which makes daytime visits to outdoor sites gruelling.
Sources: experienceegypt.eg, diplomatie.belgium.be, egymonuments.gov.eg
- Jan20°recommended
- Feb21°recommended
- Mar25°recommended
- Apr31°fair
- May34°fair
- Jun37°not recommended
- Jul39°not recommended
- Aug38°not recommended
- Sep36°fair
- Oct32°recommended
- Nov27°recommended
- Dec22°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Egypt, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20° | 9° | 9.3 h | 4 mm | 1 d | 23° | ✓ |
| February | 21° | 9° | 9.4 h | 7 mm | 2 d | 21° | ✓ |
| March | 25° | 12° | 10.8 h | 15 mm | 2 d | 22° | ✓ |
| April | 31° | 15° | 11.5 h | 1 mm | 0 d | 23° | |
| May | 34° | 19° | 12.4 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 25° | |
| June | 37° | 22° | 13.6 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 27° | |
| July | 39° | 23° | 13.5 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 29° | |
| August | 38° | 24° | 12.2 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 30° | |
| September | 36° | 23° | 11.7 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 28° | |
| October | 32° | 19° | 10.7 h | 1 mm | 0 d | 27° | ✓ |
| November | 27° | 15° | 9.7 h | 2 mm | 1 d | 26° | ✓ |
| December | 22° | 11° | 9.2 h | 6 mm | 1 d | 24° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Egypt, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Pyramids of Giza) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May25 to 34°
nights 12 to 19°
- 1 rainy days · 5 mm
- 11.6 h of sun
- sea 23°
Summer
Jun → Aug37 to 39°
nights 22 to 24°
- 0 rainy days · 0 mm
- 13.1 h of sun
- sea 29°
Autumn
Sep → Nov27 to 36°
nights 15 to 23°
- 0 rainy days · 1 mm
- 10.7 h of sun
- sea 27°
Book early for October to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Egypt, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h04 of daylight, in December 10h13, a difference of 3h50.
10h25Jan
11h05Feb
11h55Mar
12h52Apr
13h39May
14h04Jun
13h54Jul
13h13Aug
12h18Sep
11h23Oct
10h36Nov
10h13Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Pyramids of Giza" (29.98°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Egypt, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsAbu Simbel solar alignmentFebruary, OctoberSham el-NessimApril to MayCairo International Film FestivalNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: January, February, March, November, December
- Beach & swimming: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, April, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: May, June, July, August, September, October, November
- Long days: June
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Egypt, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- February, OctoberAbu Simbel solar alignment big crowds
On 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun passes through the great temple and lights up the statues at the back.
- April to MaySham el-Nessim
On the Monday after Coptic Easter, families picnic in gardens with salted fish and spring onions.
- NovemberCairo International Film Festival
Screenings and red carpet at the Cairo Opera House for about ten days, in the middle of autumn.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Egypt, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇬 Cairo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇪🇬 Luxor and the Nile Valley | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇪🇬 The Egyptian Red Sea | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended20°9° at night
- 4 mm · 1 d
- 9.3 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
February
Recommended21°9° at night
- 7 mm · 2 d
- 9.4 h
- sea 21°
High season, book early
March
Recommended25°12° at night
- 15 mm · 2 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair31°15° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- 11.5 h
- sea 23°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair34°19° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 12.4 h
- sea 25°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended37°22° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 13.6 h
- sea 27°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended39°23° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 13.5 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended38°24° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
September
Fair36°23° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 11.7 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
October
Recommended32°19° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
November
Recommended27°15° at night
- 2 mm · 1 d
- 9.7 h
- sea 26°
Busy, without the crush
December
Recommended22°11° at night
- 6 mm · 1 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (4 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
February. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (7 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
March. 25 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. Hardly any rain (15 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 31 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Real heat: 34 °C at the warmest of the day, 19 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Real heat: 37 °C at the warmest of the day, 22 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 39 °C at the warmest of the day, 23 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Real heat: 38 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. Real heat: 36 °C at the warmest of the day, 23 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 19 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
November. 27 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 9.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Egypt?
October to March, when the heat eases: 20 to 22 °C in the afternoon from December to February at the pyramids of Giza, against 39 °C in July. November and March are the best compromise, with 27 and 25 °C at Giza, without the cool nights of January (9 °C) or the furnace of summer in Upper Egypt.
Which month should you avoid in Egypt?
June to August: 37 to 39 °C in the afternoon at Giza, and even more in Upper Egypt, which makes daytime visits to outdoor sites gruelling.
What is the hottest month in Egypt?
July, with 39 °C on average in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Pyramids of Giza).
What is the coldest month in Egypt?
January, with 20 °C at best during the day and 9 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Pyramids of Giza).
What is the driest month in Egypt?
May: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 15 mm in March, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Egypt?
June, with 13.6 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Egypt?
The gap between day and night reaches 16 °C in April: 31 °C in the afternoon, 15 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When can you swim in Egypt?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December (warmest 30 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Hurghada).
When is the best time to hike in Egypt?
January, February, March, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Pyramids of Giza), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Egypt?
May, June, July, August, September, October, November: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Hurghada).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Egypt guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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