Best time to visit Egypt

2 min summary Best time to visit Map & highlights Grand Egyptian Museum Families Luxor & the Valley of the Kings The pyramids & the Sphinx Egypt & Jordan Nile cruises Egypt & Nile cruise Advice Responsible Tourism

Best time to visit Egypt

It doesn't rain often in Egypt. Some parts of the country can go years without seeing more than a few drops.

It rarely rains in Egypt and neither does it get very cold – visiting in winter can get chilly at night, but nothing a few extra layers can’t conquer. The best time of year to visit Egypt is in two seasons: spring (February to April) and autumn (October and November); it’s cooler then than in high summer, when Egypt is really hot – around 40°C-plus. Of course, ‘cooler’ is a relative concept when you're talking about the weather in Egypt. During spring and autumn daytime temperatures will still hit 25-30°C, but you’ll get relief in the evenings.

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A month by month guide on when to go to Egypt

January in Egypt

Winter sun

Coptic Christmas

Cairo International Book Fair

January is ideal for touring Egypt, being pleasantly warm, but chillier at night, especially in the desert. This is peak season, so expect crowds in temples and museums. Egypt in January is marked by two major occasions: Coptic Christmas, usually around 7 January, and the Cairo International Book Fair, one of the largest literary events in the Arab world.

January is great for our Nile cruise holiday in Egypt

February in Egypt

Mild, sunny weather

Cool at night

Abu Simbel Sun Festival

Pleasant weather continues throughout Egypt in February, it is sunny and mild, with cooler temperatures after nightfall requiring a light jacket. On 22 February, the rising sun shines in through the entrance corridor of the Abu Simbel temples, illuminating three of the four statues at the end of the passage, but leaving Ptah, God of the Underworld, in shadow.

March in Egypt

Dolphin watching

Shoulder month

Crowds thinning out

March is a shoulder month for Egypt, as the seasons shift from winter to spring. By the end of the month, temperatures are significantly warmer and tourist attractions tend to be quieter. You can enjoy good weather for watersports in Egypt in March, and with clear waters in the Red Sea, you may see dolphins off the Dahab coral reef.

March is great for our felucca cruise in Egypt

April in Egypt

Khamsin desert winds

Red Sea diving

Temperatures rising steeply

Egypt in April sees temperatures climb rapidly at the start of spring. That said, if you can stand the heat then this can be a good month to travel to see the sights with fewer crowds – though Easter can be busy. Hot, sandy winds known as khamsin blow in from the desert during April, but the visibility is much better underwater, perfect for diving in the Red Sea.

April is great for our Red Sea diving holidays

May in Egypt

Warm seas

Explore early

Crowd-free cruising

Visit Egypt in May and you’ll find spring in full swing. But while attractions like the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Kom Ombo are much quieter than winter, it’s best to rise early and explore before the heat of the day. Staying hydrated and plastering on the eco-friendly suncream are vital, too. The seas, both Red and Mediterranean, are lovely for diving and swimming.

June in Egypt

Summer heat

Cooler further south

Diving & cruising

Summer arrives to Egypt in June, bringing oppressive heat – daytime temperatures hit 35°C-plus. Egypt weather in June can be stifling, especially in inland cities like Cairo, but it tends to be a few degrees cooler further south and on the coasts. So while you will need shade at midday, diving holidays, or cruises along the Nile, are still pleasurable in June.

In the hot summer months we adapt the itinerary to visit the Valley of the Kings earlier in the day when it’s cooler and crowd-free.

– Danniell Saunders of our partner Encounters Travel

July in Egypt

Low season

Red Sea fun

Sweltering temperatures

We'd recommend avoiding Egypt in July unless you're headed for the coast, where you can have a lot of fun snorkelling and diving in locations like the Blue Hole. It's uncomfortably hot and as the climate crisis continues that will only get worse. Egypt’s low rainfall also puts great strain on water supplies, which are often prioritised for tourists over local people.

August in Egypt

Hottest month

No queues

Flooding of the Nile Day

August is the hottest month in Egypt, temperatures hitting 40°C+, so if you’re determined to enjoy the temples and monuments along the River Nile, or to get your photo with the iconic Sphinx, you’ll find them free of queues. Egypt in August celebrates Flooding of the Nile Day, recognising the significance of the river to the country’s culture and prosperity.

September in Egypt

Temperatures dip

Low season deals

Great underwater visibility

September is one of the best months to go to Egypt. Temperatures drop a little after the highs of August, but as summer tips into autumn the country’s ancient sites remain fairly quiet. Egypt in September is fab for scuba diving and snorkelling – the water is very clear at this time of year and with fewer family holidays on the coast you can find good deals.

October in Egypt

Autumn

Cruise ships flock in

Still hot in south

Egypt in October is lovely and milder temperatures make touring a lot more comfortable, so this can be the best time to visit Egypt weather-wise. October also heralds the main season for cruising on the Nile, but our holidays use far smaller, more environmentally friendly vessels. Autumnal weather means cooler evenings, though it remains hot in the south.

November in Egypt

Getting busier

Comfortable temperatures

Cruises, diving & ancient sites

November is another great month to visit Egypt, with cooler weather reflected in growing crowds in Cairo and along the Nile, though Egypt in November is still quieter than later in the winter. Whatever draws you here, be it a cruise along the Nile, a scuba diving trip in the Red Sea, or the incredible Grand Egyptian Museum, November is the perfect time.

November is great for our Egyptian adventure for families

December in Egypt

Crowded sites

Peak winter season

Wettest month

Egypt sees barely any rain, but that which does fall, falls mostly in December. The very rare shower aside, Egypt in December is glorious, with clement weather (highs around 20°C) making it very easy to wander the country’s ancient sites. It is very busy, though, so our tours will often set off early or visit later in the day to beat the coach and cruise crowds.

Cairo & Dahab Weather Chart

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Best times to visit Egypt for festivals & events

Coptic Christmas (7 January)

If the idea of having two Christmases appeals, then visit Egypt in early January. As they follow the Julian calendar, rather than the Gregorian, Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas Day on 7 January, which for the devout brings an end to 43 days of fasting. Families and friends gather to break the fast with hearty meals such as fata, lamb soup. It’s a lovely time to be in Egypt, because although only around 10 percent of the population is Christian (Islam is the official state religion), there are celebrations across the country.

Cairo International Book Fair (January)

Forgot to pick up the latest bestseller at the airport? Worry not – January sees the Egyptian capital welcome the largest and oldest book fair in the Arab world, held in the last week of the month. You can attend lectures, debates, readings and more, while browsing millions of titles from 80-odd countries. Recent years have seen the festival marred by controversy over censorship, but it’s still a wondrous event for book lovers.

Sham Ennessim (March or April)

Sham Ennessim means ‘sniffing the breeze’, and that lovely name is very fitting for this countrywide festival marking the start of spring. Always falling on Easter Monday, Sham Ennessim sees Egyptians flock to parks and gardens where they play music, dance, puff on shishas and generally welcome the turning of the season. Happily, the weather at this time of year tends to be pleasantly warm but not too hot.

Abu Simbel Sun Festival (February and October)

The rock temples of Abu Simbel, relocated in the 20th century to avoid them being submerged by Lake Nasser, are a popular full-day excursion from Aswan during our Nile cruise trips. But visiting Abu Simbel during the Sun Festival is really special. Twice a year, on February 22 and October 22, the rising sun shines through the entrance corridor of the Rameses II temple and illuminates three of the four statues at the end of the passage, leaving Ptah, the God of Darkness or the Underworld, in shadow.

Flooding of the Nile Day (August 15)

Wafaa-El-Nil is a two-week celebration that begins on August 15, which is known as Flooding of the Nile Day. It acknowledges the importance of the river to Egypt’s historical wealth, as well as its culture. In the past, before the Aswan High Dam was built, the Nile would flood naturally every year, and when the waters receded, they would leave behind mineral-rich silt in which crops could flourish.

Our travellers also ask…

What is the best month to go to Egypt?

The best month to go to Egypt is February, March, April, October or November. In these months you can expect mild weather, outside of Egypt’s scorching summer, but the country’s many ancient sites are not as busy as they are during the peak winter months of December and January.

What is the hottest month in Egypt?

August is the hottest month in Egypt, with July not far behind. Daytime temperatures can easily top 40°C making this one of the least popular times of year to visit. However, if you can stand the heat (seek shade at midday and ensure your hotel has air conditioning!) then you will find Egypt’s ancient sites, normally thick with crowds, to be markedly quiet. The Grand Egyptian Museum is climate-controlled, and temperatures tend to be a little cooler on the coast.

What is Egypt’s peak tourist season?

Egypt’s peak tourist season is the winter, from December through to March. Over this period, the weather is perfect whether you’re there to enjoy a cruise along the Nile, explore the Pyramids of Giza, or get your PADI at a Red Sea diving resort.

What is the cheapest time to visit Egypt?

The cheapest time to visit Egypt is during the baking hot summer, June through August. During the summer, the temperatures are just too high to be enjoyable, and the air in ancient temples and tombs is stifling, so few people want to travel and you can find good deals.