What's the best time to visit Egypt?
The best time to visit Egypt is during the shoulder seasons of October-November and February-April, offering cooler weather and fewer crowds than the peak winter season. These months provide comfortable temperatures for outdoor activities and beach vacations, with daily temperatures averaging in the low 80s.
Additionally, spring and late fall in Egypt are ideal for diving in the Red Sea, experiencing local festivals like Coptic Easter and Sham el-Nessim, and exploring the desert without the extreme heat or khamsin winds.
Egypt is home to one of the world’s most ancient civilizations and a must-visit destination for lovers of history.
Even if you don’t spend most of your free time with your nose in an archeology book, the towering sites of the Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, the Valley of the Kings, and other Ancient Egyptian monuments will take your breath away.
That’s not to say that Egypt doesn’t have more modern attractions. The capital city of Cairo has thousands of years of history piled on top of each other, from great Islamic mosques to ancient Coptic churches to medieval souks.
The modern Red Sea resorts of Hurghada offer all the amenities visitors may want to pamper themselves, along a beautiful shore. Visiting Egypt requires good timing to avoid the worst of the desert heat and the crowds. But don’t worry — we’ll show you exactly when to go below. Let us be your guide!
Overall Best Time to Visit Egypt
Cairo – Egypt – October 4, 2020: View of Cairo old historical residential district with narrow street and british-style architecture, Eastern Downtown/ViktoriyaFivko/Shutterstock
The best time to visit Egypt is during the shoulder seasons of October-November and February-April, when the weather is cool, but you can avoid the worst of the crowds during high season.
Egypt is a desert country — about 96% of the country is covered by the desert. That means that its climate is mostly the extreme temperatures that you would expect from a desert area.
Summers in all parts of Egypt are oppressively hot. In Cairo, average temperatures near 100 degrees Fahrenheit in June, July, and August, and it’s the same throughout the country.
The hot, dry air makes it difficult to spend lots of time outdoors, and most of the country’s best sights are outside. Temperatures outside of summer are still warm, perfect for a beach vacation, but are far more pleasant.
In March-April and October-November, expect daily temperatures in the low 80s. Even winter temperatures in Egypt tend to be pleasant, rarely dipping below 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, although nighttime temperatures are much cooler.
Another factor when you are planning your trip to Egypt is crowds. Popular sites such as the Great Pyramids tend to be very crowded during the winter high season, especially since December and January see the most visitors at popular Red Sea resorts from cold Northern Europe.
October also sees a lot of tourist arrivals, especially on cruise ships and organized tours (the Alexandria sea port has the most cruise ship arrivals scheduled for October).
To beat the crowds and the sweltering summer heat, visit in late fall or during the spring. Egypt is also a popular destination for diving as the Red Sea Coast has spectacular coral reefs and marine life.
According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, March to November are good times to go diving, especially May-September when you can spot whale sharks and hammerhead sharks. The best time to visit the famous Dahab reef is spring or fall, when you can also see plenty of dolphins.
Spring is a good time to visit Egypt if you want to see some local festivals and traditional cultural events.
In spring is Coptic Easter (the exact date changes each year), followed by the traditional spring festival of Sham el-Nessim, when Egyptians celebrate the changing of the season by picnicking along the Nile and visiting fairgrounds.
This festival dates back to ancient Egyptian times and is celebrated by all faiths. If you want to spend lots of time in the desert, then the best time to visit is during the fall shoulder season.
Temperatures are milder, and you avoid the fierce khamsin desert winds of spring that can disrupt travel plans. Early fall is the date harvest season in oases throughout the Western Desert, so you can taste this fruit fresh from the tree.
Cheapest Time to Visit Egypt
Cairo, Egypt – April 29, 2023: People riding camels in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza/Salvador Aznar/Shutterstock
The cheapest time to visit Egypt is during the late spring, when you can find good package deals, and in certain regions, the summer.
Summer is Egypt’s low season as many international visitors tend to stay away due to the sweltering heat. If you base yourself in Cairo or one of the other interior cities, you can often find good deals on accommodation.
However, the high heat makes it almost impossible to meaningfully explore anything unless you are willing to explore before dawn, making it questionable if the less expensive hotels are worth it. You also shouldn’t expect to find good deals along the coast in the summer.
Thanks to the school holidays and the hot weather in the cities, wealthier Egyptian families tend to flock to the Mediterranean or Red Sea coasts during this season, and the demand causes the price to increase.
The best time to get deals no matter where you go in Egypt is the late spring. In May, the hotter temperatures mean the end of the high season for international visitors, but the summer rush hasn’t started yet.
Many popular resorts along the Red Sea Coast offer discounts for travelers that book package deals during this time.
During the spring, flights also tend to be least expensive to Egypt. If you are flexible with when you can go, make sure that you compare the prices of flights before booking.
Least Busy Time to Visit Egypt
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The least busy time to visit most of Egypt is the summer, when the sweltering heat keeps many tourists away. During the summer, many international visitors avoid Egypt because temperatures can get uncomfortably hot in most of the country.
If you aren’t sensitive to the heat, this is the best time to visit to beat the crowds. You’ll find few other people in line at popular sites such as Luxor or the Great Pyramids.
The exception is the coast, because many Egyptians and international visitors alike flock to the Mediterranean and Red Sea Coasts to get some relief from the heat.
If you want to beat the crowds at popular beach resorts, visit during the late spring or early fall, when school is in session and the weather isn’t quite cool enough to attract international visitors yet.
Worst Time to Visit Egypt
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The summer is the worst time to visit Egypt because the temperature simply makes it impossible to visit any prominent sites.
Don’t underestimate the Egyptian heat — even if normally you are fine with high temperatures, standing outside the Great Pyramids in the middle of the desert at 100 degrees, with no shade and no breeze may make you reconsider your trip.
It’s not worth visiting in the summer just to get some discount on hotels or avoid some of the crowds. Plus, because Egyptian kids are out of school during this summer, there is plenty of domestic travel, so demand tends to drive prices up.
It is still possible to visit Egypt in the summer. Stick to places with milder climates such as the coasts. Do most of your sightseeing very early in the day (such as 6 A.M.) before the temperatures really get unbearable.
Things to Consider
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Here are a few additional tips for picking the best time to visit Egypt:
- Ramadan tends to disrupt travel. Most Egyptians are Muslim, and many restaurants close during this fasting month, and many people travel to visit their families. The date changes every year, so check before booking your trip.
- Late December and early January are very busy. Coptic Christmas is January 7th, and many people travel to see their families during this holiday and New Year. Others visit to see the unique atmosphere of Christmas in Egypt.
- Head to popular temples early to beat the crowds. You can avoid the crowds even during high season by visiting the Great Pyramids very early or very late.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are some of the most common questions people have asked about visiting Egypt:
What is the best month to go to Egypt?
October has some of the best weather conditions in Egypt. November also has good weather, warm but not too hot, and fewer crowds than October.
What month is the least expensive to go to Egypt?
May is the least expensive month to go to Egypt. It marks the beginning of the low season, and that’s before school vacations drive up the prices in popular seaside resorts.
What are the hottest months in Egypt?
The hottest months in Egypt are June, July, and August. Temperatures get unbearable in most of the country during this time.
Is there a rainy season in Egypt?
Egypt doesn’t have a true rainy season and doesn’t get much rain at all since it is a country mostly covered in desert. During the winter, there is some rain along the coast and the Nile.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Egypt?
The best time to visit Egypt is during the shoulder season months of February-April and October-November, when both the temperatures and the crowds tend to abate. For good deals, visit during the beginning of the summer (May), before temperatures get truly unbearable.