When is the cheapest time to visit Egypt?

May through September is cheapest for Cairo and Luxor — hotel rates drop 30-50% because of the heat. For Red Sea resorts, June-July are paradoxically cheaper than October-November because European school holidays don't align with Egyptian off-peak.

Is Egypt too hot in summer?

Inland (Cairo, Luxor, Aswan) — yes, June through August regularly hits 40-42°C with no relief. Outdoor sightseeing is brutal after 10am. Red Sea coastal areas (Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam) are 5-7°C cooler and stay tolerable thanks to sea breeze.

What is the best month to visit Egypt?

October-November and February-March are sweet spots — warm but not hot, sea still swimmable, fewer crowds than December-January peak. Locals would pick November.

When is Ramadan in 2026 and 2027?

Ramadan 2026: approximately February 17 to March 19. Ramadan 2027: approximately February 6 to March 8. Many restaurants close during daytime; tourist sites stay open but with reduced hours. Travel is still totally fine — just plan around it.

Climate guide · 2026

Best Time to Visit Egypt

Month-by-month: temperatures for Cairo, Luxor and the Red Sea; crowd levels; hotel pricing; what locals actually recommend. Honest answers, not generic "October to April" advice.

The short answer

If you mainly want pyramids and temples: October, November, or March. Warm enough to enjoy the desert, cool enough to walk Karnak without heatstroke, lower prices than December peak.

If you mainly want Red Sea (diving, snorkeling, beach): May, September, or October. Water 25-27°C, 30m+ visibility, fewer crowds than July-August chaos, lower rates than Christmas spike.

If you want both in one trip: Late October or early-to-mid November is the only window where inland temperatures are pleasant and Red Sea water is still warm. Locals' favorite combination.

Avoid: Mid-June through mid-September for inland trips (Luxor regularly hits 42°C — genuinely dangerous). Christmas/New Year week if you hate crowds and premium pricing.

Month-by-month breakdown

January

Peak season

Cairo9-19°C

Hurghada14-22°C

Luxor6-22°C

Coolest month, perfect for Cairo and Luxor sightseeing. Red Sea water 21-22°C — wetsuit recommended for diving. Hotel rates at highest. Book 3+ months ahead.

February

Peak season

Cairo10-21°C

Hurghada15-23°C

Luxor8-25°C

Still cool, perfect for desert and temples. Khamsin (sandstorm) season starts late month — short-lived events. Valentine's week premium pricing in Hurghada.

March

Excellent

Cairo12-24°C

Hurghada17-25°C

Luxor11-29°C

Warming up nicely. Last chance before summer heat. Spring Easter holidays push prices up late month. Sea temperature 22°C — comfortable for swimming.

April

Good

Cairo15-29°C

Hurghada20-28°C

Luxor15-34°C

Warm but pleasant. Khamsin winds peak — occasional dusty days. Ramadan timing affects opening hours of some sites (check dates yearly).

May

Hot for inland

Cairo18-33°C

Hurghada22-31°C

Luxor20-39°C

Cairo and Luxor getting uncomfortable midday — start temples at sunrise. Red Sea perfect — water 25°C, fewer tourists, lower hotel rates.

June

Beach only

Cairo20-35°C

Hurghada24-34°C

Luxor23-41°C

Luxor unbearable midday (41°C+). Stick to Red Sea or do Cairo with very early starts. Cheap hotel rates inland — 40-50% off.

July

Beach only

Cairo22-36°C

Hurghada26-35°C

Luxor25-42°C

Peak summer. Red Sea diving conditions ideal — water 27°C, visibility 30m+. European school holidays = packed Hurghada/Sharm. Inland tourism dies.

August

Beach only

Cairo22-36°C

Hurghada27-35°C

Luxor25-42°C

Same as July. Hurghada at maximum occupancy. Heat index in Luxor crosses 50°C in afternoon — genuinely dangerous for prolonged exposure.

September

Improving

Cairo20-33°C

Hurghada26-33°C

Luxor23-40°C

Heat starts easing late month. Diving still excellent — water 27°C. Whale shark and dolphin sightings peak in southern Red Sea (Marsa Alam).

October

Excellent

Cairo17-30°C

Hurghada23-30°C

Luxor18-36°C

Sweet spot returns. Inland temples comfortable again. Water still warm (26°C). Marathon and dive festivals — book early if dates clash.

November

Peak season

Cairo14-25°C

Hurghada20-26°C

Luxor12-30°C

Many travelers' favorite month. Pleasant everywhere. Christmas/New Year demand starts pushing rates up late month.

December

Peak season

Cairo11-21°C

Hurghada17-23°C

Luxor8-25°C

Cool for sightseeing. Sea slightly chilly (22-23°C). Christmas and New Year extremely busy — book 4+ months ahead, especially Hurghada and Sharm resorts.

Seasonal pricing reality

Egypt has three pricing regimes that don't always align with the weather:

Inland (Cairo, Luxor, Aswan): Peak Nov-Feb (+30-60% on hotels), shoulder Mar-Apr and Oct (+0-15%), off-peak May-Sep (−30-50%).
Red Sea resorts: Peak Christmas/New Year + Easter (+50-100%), high July-Aug European school holidays (+20-40%), value Apr-May and Sep-Oct (baseline), cheapest Nov-early Dec (−10-20%).
Nile cruises: Peak Oct-Apr (sold out 6 months ahead for premium boats), discount Jun-Aug (heat).

Counter-intuitive tip: The "best weather" months (Oct, Nov, Mar) are not always the most expensive — those crowns belong to Christmas week and school holidays regardless of weather quality.

Ramadan and religious holidays

Egypt is a Muslim-majority country and Ramadan affects your trip more than you'd think — though not in bad ways.

Ramadan 2026: approximately February 17 to March 19.
Ramadan 2027: approximately February 6 to March 8.

Tourist sites stay open with slightly reduced hours (usually closing 1 hour earlier). Tourist-area restaurants serve all day, but local-area restaurants close until sunset (iftar). Hotel buffets continue as usual. After sunset, the country comes alive — markets, cafes, late-night dining — it's actually a magical time to be in Cairo.

Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan, ~March 20-22 in 2026) and Eid al-Adha (~May 27-30 in 2026) are domestic-tourism peaks — Hurghada and Sharm get packed with Egyptian families. Hotel rates spike for ~5 days; book early or shift dates.

Red Sea water temperatures

Sea temperature lags air temperature by about 2 months — the water is coldest in February-March (21°C) and warmest in August-September (28°C).

Dec-Mar: 21-23°C — divers need 5mm wetsuit; snorkelers will feel cold after 20 min.
Apr-May: 23-25°C — comfortable with 3mm wetsuit for diving.
Jun-Sep: 26-28°C — shorty or no wetsuit; tropical conditions.
Oct-Nov: 26-25°C — still very comfortable, this is when many seasoned divers come.

Plan your trip in the right month

We help you pick exact dates based on what you want to see, then build the trip around them. Free, no-obligation planning conversation.

See sample itineraries What to do in Egypt