When is the best time to travel to Egypt?
We get asked the question, “When is the best time to travel to Egypt?”, a lot!
The answer depends on a lot of different factors, like weather, the peak season where there are a lot of crowds, and whether or not Egypt will be observing Ramadan. Also, it depends on the type of trip you are doing - a honeymoon getaway on the Red Sea, or a sightseeing tour with a Nile Cruise?
We will talk about all of the different factors to the best times to visit Egypt, and also answer your frequently asked questions about when the best time to visit Egypt is.
When is the Best Time to Travel to Egypt
The overall best time to travel to Egypt is between November - April, because this is when the temperature in Egypt and the weather is the most conducive to being outdoors at the ancient sites. Most people want to explore Egypt by seeing the temples, tombs, and pyramids, which are mostly outdoors, so the popular time of November - April is also the best time of year to visit Egypt for not being too hot when exploring the Pyramids, doing a Nile Cruise, or scuba diving in the Red Sea. In general, the tourist season in Egypt is from September - May, because this is the ideal time to visit Egypt, avoiding the hot summer months. Christmas and New Years are the worst time to visit Egypt, because prices are often much higher for accommodations and tours, and all of the sites are overrun with tourists.
Best Month to Visit Egypt
The best month to go to Egypt depends on what a traveler wants to do, but generally, November or April are great months to go to Egypt for a combination of good weather, with fewer crowds.
Best Time for a Nile River Cruise
The best time for Nile Cruises is during the months of November - April, when the weather is more mild, however, this is also when tourism is at its height, so this means that there are thousands of traavelers all taking Nile Cruises, stopping at the same sites on generally the same timeline. This is why taking a Dahabiya Nile Cruise is a great option, because even during the most popular time to be in Egypt, they can be flexible with their itienraries, bringing travelers to the tombs and temples when there are fewer visitors.
Best Time for Snorkeling and Diving The Red Sea
The Red Sea is great for snorkeling and scuba diving year-round. The winter months are cooler, so you may want to wear a wetsuit when spending a lot of time in the water. The summer months are very hot, so spending the day snorkeling or diving in the Red Sea is the perfect way to stay cool, and you'll be thankful for having a resort, hotel, or apartment that has air conditioning for when you are finished in the water.
Weather in Egypt
Luxor (left) has beautiful weather in the winter, but can be intensely hot in the summer, whereas Alexandria (right) is perfect weather-wise in the summer and fall, but can be rainy and windy in the winter.
Egypt, and much of the Middle East, is generally warm or hot and sunny year round. You will see variations depending on what part of the country you are in (Cairo, the north coast like Alexandria, in the south like Aswan, on the Red Sea like Hurghada, in the Sinai like Sharm, etc.), but for the most part, if you want warm or hot weather, visiting Egypt any time of the year is a good idea. The nuance comes in when you decide just how hot you want to be during your trip.
Generally, between November and May the weather is more mild, with temperatures between 50 degrees and 80 degrees Farenheit in Cairo, with December, January, and February being the coldest months, and November, March, April, and May being warmer.
Further south in Luxor, similar temperatures can be had between November and April (May is already fairly hot), with the variation during the day being greater (out in the desert the sun makes it hotter during the day, but as soon as the sun goes down, temperatures drop drastically, sometimes 30 degrees).
The summer months of June-September are fairly hot everywhere except Alexandria, with average highs above 90 degrees for Cairo and above 100 degrees for Luxor. If you like the heat, or don’t mind the heat, summer is a great time to visit. In the heat of summer, there are not as many tourists, sites are more open, hotel prices are more affordable, and travelers often receive more attentive service. The only place we would not recommend visiting in the summer is Alexandria. Since so many Egyptians use it as a summer escape, prices skyrocket and the beaches and streets become packed with throngs of people.
October is a wildcard--toward the beginning of the month the weather can still be fairly hot, especially the further south one goes, but toward the middle of the month temps become much more mild as fall transitions into winter.
Some destinations, like Sharm El Sheikh, are perfect to visit with beautiful weather year-round. After all, even if it is over 100 degrees in the summer, but you are right by the sea, is that really a bad thing?!
Best times to visit Egypt by city
Cairo
Best time to go to Cairo
November-December or April-May to get the best weather--warm and sunny during the day, cool at night. December is a fairly busy month to visit, but the other months are not as crowded.
Worst time to go to Cairo
If you are not used to very hot weather, avoid July-September. These months can be brutally hot, and not a lot of places besides hotels, private cars, and fancy restaurants have air-conditioning
Advice for visiting Cairo
Cairo does have rain, but not often. Rainy season is in the winter, when roads can sometimes flood, but will never be so bad as to impede travel. Cairo also has sand storms that kick up in the spring and can feature high winds that will kick up intense amounts of sand and dust. The Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara are really the only sights in Cairo sandstorms would make difficult to see though, and they usually only last a few hours.
By the way, you can get your visa upon arrival at Cairo International Airport (or any other airport or point of entry) whenever you arrive, whether it's in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve, or during the hottest day of the year in July or August.
Luxor and Aswan
Best time to go to Luxor and Aswan
November-April feature hot, sunny weather by day and cool, sometimes cold temps at night. Even in the heart of winter the desert will heat up by midday to a relatively scorching heat when standing in the sun.
Worst time to go to Luxor and Aswan
Like Cairo, if you are not used to heat, avoid the summer months. June-October are punishingly hot in Luxor and Aswan, and most of the sites are outdoors and in the desert, where it is hard to find shade.
Advice for visiting Luxor and Aswan
Taking a cruise to Luxor and Aswan is a great way to avoid the heat if you are traveling in the summer. Many cruise ships have a pool in order to cool down when on the ship, and you will visit all sites with air-conditioned buses, leaving the amount of time you need to be in the sun to a minimum.
Many tourist destinations in Luxor and Aswan, like Hatshepsut’s Temple (pictured above) are mostly in direct sunlight and can be very hot in the summer.
Alexandria
Best time to go to Alexandria
Alexandria is absolutely gorgeous during the fall and spring, so we would recommend October-December or March-May for your visit to this Mediterranean jewel.
Worst time to go to Alexandria
Alexandria is hit with intense crowds during the summer months (June-September), so beaches can be overwhelmingly crowded, hotels expensive, and streets packed during these months. Alexandria can also be somewhat cold, rainy, and windy during the winter (December-March), so if you are trying to escape to Egypt for sunshine and warmth, it would be best to avoid Alex during this time.
Advice for visiting Alexandria
If you want to visit Alexandria to see the sights, have some seafood, and enjoy the view of the sea (but not necessarily go to the beach), then summer is actually a fine time to visit. Most Egyptians just want to escape the heat and spend some time on the water, but tourist sites do not have an influx of people in the summer. As long as you don’t mind crowds when you go from place to place, summer will treat you well in Alexandria.
Dahab, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, etc.
Best time to go to the Sinai or Red Sea
Anytime! The weather is almost always warm or hot and sunny, and the Red Sea is relatively warm. There are not many times that are crowded, except for during Egyptian holidays.
Worst time to go to the Sinai and Red Sea
Dahab and the resort cities on the Red Sea can become busy during the two Eid breaks (a holiday that occurs right at the end of Ramadan and again a few months after the end of Ramadan), but this sometimes means the cities will be more lively, with more people out at the bars and clubs and lounging on the beach, providing better people watching opportunities!
Advice for visiting the Sinai and Red Sea
If you are interested in diving or snorkeling, make sure you wear a full-length wetsuit when in the water December-April, since it can be cold! Bring plenty of towels and warm clothes for when you get out of the water and need to warm up. Even if it is sunny and 65 degrees outside, it can feel pretty chilly after stepping out of the water. Also, if you have any interest in hiking in the desert and climbing up Mt. Moses, we would recommend bringing full-on winter gear (long pants, jacket) if doing so in the winter. It can get very cold up in the Sinai mountains!
Visit Egypt during Ramadan
Ramadan is a magical time in Egypt, with many mosques being lit up similarly to houses being lit up at Christmastime in the United States.
Ramadan is a month-long religious holiday observed by Muslims all over the world. It involves a lot of things, most notably fasting during the day from sunup to sundown (refraining from even drinking water), and then breaking the fast each evening with a special meal called “iftar”, usually with family or loved ones.
Egypt in Ramadan provides a unique opportunity for travelers to experience a unique part of Egypt’s culture. During Ramadan certain special foods are prepared, the city comes alive at night with popup restaurants all over providing the iftar meal, and Egyptians have a special spirit of reflection, generosity, and self-improvement.
At the same time, Ramadan in Egypt means that things will be much quieter than normal during the day. In cities like Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and cities on the Red Sea, many restaurants will be open during the day, but they will be virtually empty, and many others will be closed until sundown. In smaller cities, almost everything will be closed until sundown. Everyone and everything moves more slowly during Ramadan, since Muslim Egyptians try to conserve energy during the day while they forgo eating and drinking (imagine no water for a whole day!).
Our recommendation if a trip falls near or on Ramadan is to try and plan the trip so that it falls either toward the beginning or the end of the holy month, so that some days of the trip occur during Ramadan, and some days occur outside of Ramadan. That way, a traveler gets the best of both worlds--they get to experience all the wonder of Ramadan, but also get to see what Egypt is like outside of that festive, religious time. Ramadan occurs at a different time each year--in 2021 it will begin around April 12 and will end around May 13.
Food spots are busy during Ramadan, but only at night. Almost everyone in the whole country breaks their fast each day at the same time, which is awesome to see and experience.
Special Events in Egypt
Like any destination, Egypt has special events that happen at different points of the year that provide unique opportunities for adventurers. Here are just a few to note for your trip:
22 February and 22 October, Ascension of Ramses II Sun Festival
This happens at Abu Simbel Temple south of Aswan twice a year, when the sun aligns with the temple in a way that illuminates the statues of the gods inside the heart of the temple.
An awesome time to visit Abu Simbel Temple is on the 22nd of February or October, when the sun aligns perfectly with the temple’s center.
Downtown Contemporary Art Festival (DCAF)
Cairo has tons of amazing visual and performing arts, and DCAF is an intense festival providing tons of opportunities to take in all the arts has to offer, from watching a film screening to visiting a painter’s studio and meeting with the artist. Dates and plans change, so the best way to stay up-to-date is to follow their website: https://d-caf.org/
Sandbox
Usually happening in May, and set in El Gouna, a gorgeous resort city on the Red Sea, Sandbox is a multi-day festival featuring tons of DJs providing live music sets while revelers party outside on the beach. Fun for festival enthusiasts, but definitely not kid-friendly. https://www.instagram.com/SandboxFestival/
Cairo International Film Festival
Usually happening in November, this film festival features films from all over the world, and happens at the gorgeous Cairo Opera House. Dress up and take in a film or two, followed by a fancy dinner or cocktail hour at one of the flashy restaurants in Zamalek.
Frequently asked questions about the best time to tour Egypt
Here are all of the frequently asked questions we get in regards to the best time to travel to Egypt:
What is the hottest month in Egypt?
The hottest month in Egypt is July and August, with average temperatures getting well over 100 degrees F every day, and sometimes as hot as 130 or 140 degrees F in southern Egypt, in places like Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel. Alexandria and Egypt's North Coast are the coolest areas to visit in the summer, although they are overrun with Egyptian toursits during this time.
What is the coldest month in Egypt?
The coldest month in Egypt is January and February, although the weather these months is still warm and sunny during the day. It's a good idea to pack clothing that can be layered when visiting Egypt in these months, since it may be cool in the morning, warm during the day, and then cold at nighttime. Wearing layers allows you to take off or put on clothing to stay comfortable throughout the day.
What is the cheapest time to go to Egypt?
The cheapest time to visit Egypt is during the summer months, because this is when hotels, Nile Cruise ships, and tours cut prices in order to encourage travelers to visit when there are not many tourists.
What is off season for Egypt?
The off season for Egypt is in the summertime, starting in May, and going all the way until mid-September. During this time, there are few tourists, since the weather is inhospitible in many parts of Egypt, especially in Upper Egypt like Luxor, Aswan, and in the Abu Simbel sun. However, this is also a good time to visit for fewer crowds, since all of the sites are virtually empty. So if you want to know when to visit Egypt in order to have an ancient temple all to yourself, or to not have to wait in long queues at specific sites, the summer months are your best bet.
When is the best time to go to Sharm el Sheikh?
Sharm el Sheikh can be visited year-round, since most visitors are going for the Red Sea beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling, and other water-activities, and during all the seasons in Egypt, Sharm's beaches are still perfect. In the wintertime, Sharm can be a welcome break from colder climates, although it may be a bit chilly some days to get in the water without a wetsuit, and in the fall and spring the hot weather is perfect for lounging on the beach or at the pool. Even in the heat of the summer, relaxing in the water feels great during the day, and at night when the sun is down, the temperature drops considerably.
When is the busiest time to Visit Egypt?
The busiest time to visit Egypt is definitely between Christmas and the New Year, around December 20 - January 3. During this time, there are thousands of tourists throughout the country, tour operators, hotels, and Nile Cruises often have a supplemental charge, increasing prices around 25%, and throngs of people sightsee at the Giza Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, and relax on the beaches at Red Sea resorts.
Is December a good time to travel to Egypt?
December is a great time to travel to Egypt, weather-wise, because it is warm and sunny during the day, and cool at night, in most parts of Egypt. However, December is not the best time to go to Egypt for those trying to avoid crowds, since it is also one of the busiest times to visit Egypt. Tons of tourists flock to the country, especially around the Christmas and New Year Holidays.
Now that you have an idea of when the best time to tour Egypt is, when do you want to plan your Egypt trip? Will you visit in the winter, when the weather is more mild, or during the Egypt summer, when there are almost no tourists?
Let us know in the comments section! Have a specific question about the timing for your trip? Ask us below!
