Best Time to Visit Egypt by Month (Weather & Seasons)

Egypt encompasses approximately 1 million square kilometers from Mediterranean coastal plains through Nile Delta farmlands to desert highlands and southern cataracts. The Egypt flag appears across transport signage and official wayfinding, but route confirmation still depends on live mapping.

Regional climates separate sharply between northern coastal moderation receiving seasonal precipitation and southern Upper Egypt extremes approaching zero annual rainfall. Egypt's location produces latitude-driven patterns where Alexandria's winter months average around 28 mm of precipitation, while Aswan registers trace amounts yearly. The Nile Valley corridor bridges these zones, though its floodplain temperatures fluctuate widely between diurnal extremes regardless of calendar position. Cairo maintains low but measurable rainfall around 25 mm annually, distinct from southern desert aridity.

Weather patterns dictate archaeological site access durations and transportation cadences across governorates. Nile Valley midday temperatures above 35°C constrain exposure times at exposed temple complexes, directing visitors toward dawn openings when security checkpoints activate. Coastal wind velocities sometimes disrupt ferry departures from Alexandria harbor toward Marsa Matruh, while khamsin events from March to May transport Western Desert particulates southward, temporarily limiting plateau visibilities. Festivals generate concentrated attendance during Coptic Christmas on January 7, when Cairo religious sites approach capacity before sunrise, alongside the Abu Simbel sun alignment on February 22, drawing southern hotel demand. Moulid observances honoring regional saints occur variably October through March across Nile communities, producing localized roadway congestion patterns. Reduced international arrivals during the shoulder season affect thermal comfort, as the timing of Ramadan fasting cycles inconsistently modifies dining and illumination schedules.

This article provides detailed monthly weather information, seasonal differences for coastal, valley, and desert areas, suggestions for the best times to visit based on preferences, comparisons of travel demand, notes on operational challenges, and requirements for planning trips to Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, and Hurghada. Also keep in mind that the capital of Egypt sits within a low-rainfall zone that still differs from Upper Egypt’s near-zero precipitation profile.

Climate and Weather in Egypt

Egypt maintains three primary climate classifications: coastal Mediterranean north (Alexandria annual precipitation approximately 116 mm, winter maximums near 28 mm January), transitional Cairo-Nile Delta low-rainfall zone (25 mm yearly), and hyper-arid The The Upper Valley-desert south experiences an annual rainfall of less than 5 mm, with Luxor and Aswan falling below this threshold. Daytime maxima diverge 8–12°C by latitude position. Alexandria August averages approach 30°C, while southern stations regularly attain upper 30s°C in the same interval—though universal low relative humidity below 30% characterizes interior exposures except for coastal summer peaks of 50–60%. Summer thermal maxima from June to August elevate Luxor readings toward 40°C+ for multiple weeks, compressing viable outdoor intervals toward the 0700–1100 and 1700–2000 brackets before facilities implement heat-related capacity restrictions. Wintertime coastal disturbances originating in the Mediterranean basin lower Alexandria overnight minima to near 10°C in January, though Luxor equivalents sustain 12–16°C, generating reversed gradient patterns favoring southern site continuity during northern chill episodes. Western Desert particulate sources supply khamsin circulation systems, periodically depositing surface dust films across the Giza and Saqqara plateaus during elevated wind velocity passages.

Precipitation distributions localize entirely upon the Alexandria coastal band from November to February (20–30 mm monthly peaks), with Cairo experiencing 5–10 mm during the same timeframe, while the southern Nile registers negligible volumes even coincident with northern events—atmospheric inversions preferentially confine particulates rather than vapor masses inland. The temperature difference during the day in Aswan in the summer ranges from 18 to 25°C, with daytime highs reaching 42°C and nighttime lows dropping to 17°C. In contrast, Alexandria has a smaller range. Infrastructure limitations constrain climate-controlled convoy transport south to Luxor, where persistent security convoys to sites depart predawn absent onboard cooling capacity—governorate administrative divisions produce localized precipitation gradients where Qena province sustains under 2 mm annually versus Damietta coastal 150+ mm equivalents.

Relative humidity gradients culminate coastal summers at 55–65% Alexandria-Hurghada exposures are declining below 25% in Cairo-Luxor interiors, where airborne particulate concentrations occasionally trigger Cairo International runway suspensions in 1–3 episodes seasonally alongside Luxor airfield holding patterns. Red Sea coastal evaporation maintains consistent onshore breeze corridors penetrating 8–15 km inland, tempering daytime highs in Sharm El Sheikh 2–4°C beneath Aswan parallels, though persistent marine boundary layers intermittently compromise nocturnal celestial observations. Occasional haboob formations advancing northward from Sudanese sources reach the Aswan basin in June-October intervals, contributing reddish silts to Nile surfaces absent accompanying washout precipitation volumes.

Understanding the Seasons in Egypt

Egypt observes extended subtropical summer intervals punctuated by abbreviated temperate winters, with coastal-interior exposures generating divergent manifestations across 27 governorates. Primary Nile Valley archaeological complexes sustain accessibility throughout absent episodic meteorological extremes.

Spring in Egypt (March to May)

Daytime readings advance from 25–29°C in Cairo in March toward 35–39°C in Luxor in May, with overnight intervals of 14–22°C throughout the Nile progression.

Precipitation volumes remain minimal below 5 mm monthly Cairo-Luxor; Alexandria accumulates 15–25 mm of scattered coastal events.

Khamsin circulation from March to May conveys 40–70 km/h wind velocities transporting desert particulates, periodically constraining Giza-Saqqara visibilities below operational thresholds.

Summer in Egypt (June to August)

Daytime averages register 37–42°C in Luxor-Aswan, with excursions above 45°C multiple weeks annually; nocturnal periods stabilize at 25–30°C absent diurnal relief.

Rainfall approaches absolute zero in Nile interior zones; Red Sea littoral traces 0–2 mm of sea-derived condensates monthly.

Thermal peaks compel 1100–1600 capacity limitations Valley of Kings-Hatshepsut complexes; the Giza sphinx enclosure enforces visitor restrictions exceeding 40°C ambient readings.

Autumn in Egypt (September to November)

Readings descend from 32–38°C in Cairo in September to 22–28°C in November; Luxor's trajectory parallels this, offset southward approximately 30 days.

Precipitation is sustained below 5 mm in the Cairo-Aswan corridor; Alexandria registers 10–20 mm of early autumn coastal condensates.

Post-khamsin wind regimes subside below 25 km/h averages; sustained clear conditions facilitate 11–13 hour daylight sightseeing envelopes.

Winter in Egypt (December to February)

Daytime spans 18–25°C in Cairo and 22–29°C in Luxor-Aswan; nocturnal declines are 8–15°C coastal and 12–19°C interior.

Nile Valley precipitation 0–8 mm; Alexandria 25–45 mm northerly disturbances with 2–4 day overcast sequences.

Coastal boundary layer fog periodically restricts Alexandria harbor departures below 1 km visibility; interior aridity preserves operational continuity.

Best Time to Visit Egypt by Travel Style

Timing optimization varies according to thermal thresholds, coastal marine conditions, religious observance cycles, and occupancy positioning across Nile-Red Sea geographic divides.

Best Time for Sightseeing

October to April.

Extended 10–12 hour daylight envelopes permit comprehensive Giza Plateau itineraries from 0700 to 1900 absent midsummer thermal curtailments. Nile Valley entry queues develop post-0900 at Luxor Temple, coinciding with group capacity activations of around 40–60 visitors hourly. Alexandria maritime ferries sustain published timetables absent June-August swell amplitudes exceeding 1–2 meters. Karnak perimeter gates implement 150–250 person ingress limits dawn activations; Valley of Kings enforces thermal exposure guidelines absent above 36°C conditions—Dendera convoy schedules maintain predawn departures year-round.

Best Time for Value-Focused Travel

May-June and September.

Accommodation tariffs decline 25–45% following the preceding European winter maxima preceding domestic coastal relocations. Luxor occupancy contracts below 70% May facilitate immediate Nile dahabiya bookings absent December semester advance requirements. Red Sea property service intervals narrow September concurrent European charter resumptions preceding winter volumes. Aswan felucca captains extend 20–35% concessions in June absent festival price moorings; Cairo museum annex hours operate reduced staffing configurations off-peak intervals. Hurghada glass-bottom excursions fill midweek departures absent weekend saturations; Marsa Alam inland 4x4 convoys accept unscheduled manifests for shoulder positioning.

Best Time for Festivals

October-March (Moulid concentrations).

Coptic Christmas, January 7, saturates Cairo Hanging Church capacities of 1500–2000 pre-dawn; St. Anthony Monastery access routes are constrained for 36 hours preceding observance. Abu Simbel solar alignment on February 22 occupies Aswan waterfront embarkations departing 0400–0500; Philae Temple son-et-lumiere presentations suspend festival preparations. Moulid el-Hussein October cycles congest Cairo mosque precincts post-2000 absent Ramadan fasting overlaps. Sham El Nessim post-Easter Monday generates domestic Giza-Saqqara picnics are absent international volume multipliers; Wafaa El-Nil August 15 Nile cruises approach manifest limits in Cairo-Luxor.

Best Time for Nature and Adventure

June-September (Red Sea marine priority).

Surface waters of 28–32°C sustain Dahab-Brothers Islands penetration profiles of 25–40 meters. Onshore swell amplitudes of 1–2.5 meters constrain Ras Mohamed surface intervals post-1500; wadi drainages flash absent May-November precipitation, though Sinai interior access requires hydrological guidance. St. Catherine's elevation trails limit above 1200 meters June-August thermal envelopes; Monastery camel circuits suspend midday exposures. Drift dive corridors peak in July-August with thermal stratification absent of winter current interferences; Ras Abu Galum snorkel tubes operate on tide-independent schedules.

Worst Time to Visit Egypt

Late June through August superimposes extreme 40–45°C Luxor-Asyut readings atop limited mitigation capacity in south Cairo, where facility cooling systems exceed 25-year service intervals.

Valley of Kings implements 1100–1600 thermal capacity suspensions exceeding 42°C shade measurements; Hatshepsut Temple security protocols halve ingress cohorts hourly post-1000. Domestic relocations saturate Hurghada-Marsa Alam waterfronts 85–95%, while Cairo occupancy contracts 35–50% absent commercial traffic; felucca midday crossings pause absent convective Nile circulation. Giza camel circuits reduce manifest volumes and heat prostration contingencies; Luxor rail platforms concentrate predawn arrivals absent platform climate relief. Dendera-Harmonis convoy schedules compress predawn windows absent extended holding patterns.

March-May khamsin episodes compound thermal loads, delivering 50–90 km/h velocities—Karnak hypostyle inscriptions are obscured beneath 1–4 mm depositions; Cairo-Luxor air services execute 4–12 hour episodic holding protocols. Aswan granite installations constrain access roadways' wind thresholds; Philae Island crossings interrupt visibilities below 400 meters. Alexandria coastal tram networks suspend particulate track accumulations 2–6 hours post-passage absent mechanical clearing cycles.

Egypt Weather by Month

Monthly delineations reflect Cairo-Luxor Nile Valley composites alongside Alexandria coastal and Aswan southern deviations; elevated desert stations above 1500 meters are excluded from averages. Governorate microclimate boundaries generate localized disparities absent national aggregation validity.

Peak, Shoulder, and Off-Season in Egypt

Visitor demand trajectories align northern hemisphere winter migrations (December-March) with domestic coastal displacements June-August; Nile Valley-Red Sea cycles invert positionally. Continental charter schedules populate Sharm intervals May-October absent Nile winter volume multipliers.

How Weather in Egypt Can Affect Travel Plans

Meteorological regimes impose structural limitations upon Nile Valley temple sequencing, coastal maritime reliability, and desert overland convoys exceeding thermal baselines.

Explore Egypt Connected with SimCorner

Persistent data conduits validate felucca manifest boards amid variable Nile regimes and monitor khamsin advancement patterns traversing 27 administrative divisions in real time. Temple precinct signage deficiencies absent multilingual provisions necessitate translation platforms accessing contemporaneous meteorological-security bulletins; Marsa Alam offshore operations mandate marine signal continuity absent satellite augmentation. Egypt flag orientation through Cairo suq passages depends on uninterrupted geolocation absent surface wayfinding infrastructure.

eSIM deployments initialize digitally through QR matrix or manual pre-departure configuration, establishing immediate Cairo terminal access. SimCorner furnishes eSIM Egypt and Egypt SIM cards interfacing Vodafone, Orange, e& Egypt, and WE infrastructures—tiered data allocations affordability optimized, superior urban-peripheral signal precedence, instantaneous activation sequences, multi-apparatus hotspot distribution, transparent volumetric architectures, zero transborder roaming impositions, 24/7 multilingual remediation, cross-governorate redeployments, and meteorological deviations.

Conclusion

October-April constitutes the optimal best time to visit Egypt, equilibrating Nile Valley accessibilities, moderate thermal profiles, and augmented through dependable trans-governorate data conduits facilitating adaptive sequencing adjustments. Many of the top things to do in Egypt depend on continuous outdoor exposure and predictable access windows.