Best time to go to Egypt for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Egypt?
Depending on the region and what you want to discover, traveling to Egypt is possible all year round.
However, if you want to visit the country as a whole, the best time to go to Egypt is undoubtedly autumn. Indeed, from late September to late November, the temperatures are summery without being scorching, and the rains have not yet reached Alexandria on the north coast.
Spring is also a good option: the days are long and sunny, although the sea water is still a bit cool.
When to go to Egypt depending on your desires?
- For a beach holiday, the months from April to October are perfect for enjoying the beach and practicing water sports.
- For diving, the ideal period extends from March to November. The rest of the year, visibility remains excellent, but the sea water is cold and will only be bearable with a thick wetsuit.
- For hiking and visiting historical sites, prefer the months from early November to late April. In summer, the heat is unbearable inland, not to mention the scarcity of shade!
- For a cultural experience, the Ramadan period is ideal. Breaking the fast after sunset is an invitation to sharing and conviviality. Check the dates in advance as they change every year.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Lower Egypt
Cairo, Alexandria, Mersa Matruh...
Middle Egypt
Sohag, Mallawi, Beni Suef (Bani Suwayf)...
Red Sea coast of Egypt
Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Ras Gharib...
Sinai Peninsula
Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Arish...
Upper Egypt
Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel...
Western Desert
Siwa, Kharga, Farafra...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Egypt for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Egypt in january Egypt in february Egypt in march Egypt in april Egypt in may Egypt in june Egypt in july Egypt in august Egypt in september Egypt in october Egypt in november Egypt in december
Best time to travel to Egypt by cities
Climate and Weather in Egypt
Located on the African continent and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east, the climate in Egypt will be quite similar to that of neighboring countries such as Israel, Libya, or Sudan.
Egypt experiences three main types of climates:
- Mediterranean
- Semi-desert
- Desert
As one moves south, the weather in Egypt becomes drier and hotter, but overall, the sunshine duration remains very high, regardless of the region.
In general, the seasons in Egypt can be summarized as follows:
- Short, mild winters.
- Very hot and particularly dry summers.
- Long and very pleasant transitional seasons.
Climate differences in Egypt will mainly depend on its geography, with very distinct climates between the coasts, the inland areas, and the desert regions in the south:
Climate on the north coast of Egypt
With its Mediterranean climate, it is possible to visit the region of Alexandria throughout the year:
- Winters are more like half-seasons: the climate is mild with temperatures around 18°C (65°F) during the day. However, from mid-December to late February, it is not uncommon for strong winds and heavy rains to occur.
- Summers are relatively hot, with highs around 30°C (86°F) , but sea breezes make the temperatures quite bearable. Moreover, humidity levels are high, especially in the Nile Valley. The season is long and includes, with some variations, spring and autumn.
Climate in the center of Egypt
Inland, especially around Cairo, the climate is rather semi-desertic. Thus, it rains much less than on the Mediterranean coast, and temperatures approach the scorching heat of the Far South.
- Summer is a season to avoid if you want to visit this region. Between June and September, temperatures can rise to around 40°C (104°F) , especially in Luxor. In the capital and along the Nile, humidity levels are high, making the climate unpleasant.
- Winter temperatures are very pleasant, with highs around 25°C (77°F) in Luxor. Cairo, on the other hand, is often overcast, which brings a certain sadness to the city.
- Inter-seasons are perfect for exploring the region in the best conditions: the sun shines, and temperatures are very pleasant. It is the ideal time to take a cruise on the Nile! If you have to choose, prefer autumn. Indeed, it is not uncommon in spring to see sirocco winds blowing in from the desert, bringing large amounts of sand, causing sudden temperature increases, and some dust storms.
Climate in the Far South of Egypt
Most of Egypt, especially towards Mount Sinai or the Red Sea, experiences a desert climate. Here, precipitation is very scarce, almost nonexistent, and temperatures rise as you move southward.
If you want to admire the wonders of this region, prefer the months of November to March, during which the climate is reminiscent of early summer in the south of France, especially around Sharm el-Sheikh.
Note that in the desert, temperature variations are considerable: in winter, days are very pleasant, but nights are freezing, and in summer, the thermometer can easily rise to around 45°C (113°F) during the day and drop by a good twenty degrees.
In summer, the scorching heat of the inland areas is less intense along the coasts. If you only want to enjoy the beach or have a diving-themed stay, a trip to Egypt during this period is entirely feasible.
Temperatures and rainfall in Egypt
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Egypt and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Hurghada and Luxor, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Egypt
Find out when Egypt has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Egypt
The months with low numbers of tourists are: March, April, May, June and November. The number of visitors to Egypt is high in: January, February, July, August, September, October and December.
- Very low season in Egypt: March, May, June and November.
- Low season in Egypt: April.
- High season in Egypt: February and July.
- Peak season in Egypt: January, August, September, October and December.
Figure: Visitor index for Egypt month by month
Average price for flights to Egypt
A return flight between London and Cairo is generally cheaper if you go in january ($ 423 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 281 more for your airline ticket to Cairo if you go in august.
Where to go in Egypt?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Cairo | 70°F | 74°F | 79°F | 88°F | 95°F | 101°F | 103°F | 103°F | 99°F | 90°F | 81°F | 72°F |
| Alexandria | 67°F | 68°F | 70°F | 76°F | 81°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 76°F | 70°F |
| Aswan | 74°F | 81°F | 88°F | 95°F | 103°F | 106°F | 108°F | 108°F | 104°F | 99°F | 85°F | 76°F |
| Hurghada | 70°F | 74°F | 77°F | 83°F | 88°F | 94°F | 95°F | 95°F | 94°F | 88°F | 81°F | 74°F |
| Luxor | 74°F | 79°F | 86°F | 95°F | 103°F | 106°F | 108°F | 108°F | 104°F | 97°F | 86°F | 76°F |
| Marsa Alam | 74°F | 76°F | 79°F | 85°F | 90°F | 94°F | 95°F | 97°F | 94°F | 88°F | 81°F | 76°F |
| Sharm El Sheikh | 70°F | 74°F | 77°F | 83°F | 88°F | 94°F | 95°F | 95°F | 94°F | 88°F | 81°F | 74°F |
| Taba | 68°F | 72°F | 77°F | 86°F | 94°F | 99°F | 103°F | 103°F | 97°F | 90°F | 79°F | 70°F |
| Abu Simbel | 76°F | 83°F | 88°F | 97°F | 104°F | 108°F | 108°F | 108°F | 104°F | 99°F | 86°F | 77°F |
| Arish | 67°F | 68°F | 72°F | 77°F | 85°F | 88°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 85°F | 77°F | 70°F |
| Beni Suef (Bani Suwayf) | 70°F | 74°F | 81°F | 88°F | 97°F | 101°F | 103°F | 103°F | 99°F | 92°F | 83°F | 72°F |
| Farafra | 68°F | 72°F | 81°F | 90°F | 97°F | 101°F | 103°F | 103°F | 97°F | 90°F | 79°F | 70°F |
| Kharga | 72°F | 77°F | 85°F | 94°F | 101°F | 104°F | 104°F | 106°F | 101°F | 94°F | 83°F | 74°F |
| Mallawi | 70°F | 74°F | 81°F | 90°F | 97°F | 101°F | 103°F | 103°F | 99°F | 92°F | 81°F | 72°F |
| Mersa Matruh | 65°F | 65°F | 68°F | 72°F | 77°F | 83°F | 86°F | 88°F | 85°F | 79°F | 74°F | 67°F |
| Ras Gharib | 68°F | 70°F | 76°F | 81°F | 88°F | 92°F | 95°F | 95°F | 92°F | 86°F | 79°F | 70°F |
| Siwa | 67°F | 70°F | 77°F | 86°F | 95°F | 101°F | 103°F | 101°F | 97°F | 88°F | 77°F | 68°F |
| Sohag | 72°F | 77°F | 85°F | 94°F | 101°F | 104°F | 104°F | 106°F | 101°F | 95°F | 85°F | 74°F |
| Abu Zenima | 68°F | 70°F | 76°F | 81°F | 88°F | 92°F | 95°F | 95°F | 92°F | 86°F | 79°F | 70°F |
| Al Wahat Al Dakhla | 70°F | 76°F | 83°F | 92°F | 99°F | 103°F | 104°F | 104°F | 99°F | 92°F | 81°F | 72°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
About Egypt
What can I do in Egypt?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Egypt reliable?
Climate data for Egypt has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Egypt allows us to determine the average for each month in Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Hurghada, Luxor, Marsa Alam, Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, and 57 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.