February is one of the two best months to visit Egypt, and in 2027 it carries two events that shape the whole trip: the Abu Simbel Sun Festival on 22 February, and the start of Ramadan, expected around Monday 8 February 2027. Cairo runs at about 21°C by day, Luxor and Aswan are warm and dry, and the temples are still comfortable all day.
Ramadan 2027: what it changes
Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and run to about 8 or 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr following. The dates depend on the sighting of the crescent moon and may shift by a day, so confirm closer to the time.
Egypt remains entirely visitable during Ramadan – millions do it – but the rhythm of the country changes:
- Opening hours shift. Museums, sites and offices often close earlier in the afternoon, and many shops reopen late in the evening instead. Check hours daily rather than assuming.
- Many local restaurants close during daylight and open at iftar, the sunset meal. Hotels, tourist restaurants and Nile cruise boats serve normally throughout.
- Eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight is not illegal for visitors, but it is discouraged and it is simply courteous not to. Do it indoors or in hotels.
- Alcohol availability narrows – many shops and restaurants stop serving; licensed hotels and cruise boats generally continue.
- Traffic is severe just before sunset as the whole country races home for iftar, then the streets empty completely for an hour. Never schedule an airport transfer for that window.
- The atmosphere is the reward. Lanterns (fanoos) across Cairo, the Khan el-Khalili and Al-Muizz Street lit at night, and a genuine communal warmth after dark that the rest of the year does not have.
The Abu Simbel Sun Festival, 22 February
Twice a year – on 22 February and 22 October – the rising sun aligns with the axis of the Great Temple at Abu Simbel and light travels roughly sixty metres into the rock to illuminate the seated statues in the inner sanctuary. Ramses II, Ra-Horakhty and Amun are lit; Ptah, god of the underworld, deliberately stays in shadow.
Two things worth knowing. The temple was moved in the 1960s to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, so the alignment is a reconstruction of the original and is usually described as falling a day later than in antiquity – the effect is intact, the date is approximate to the ancient one. And it is extremely crowded: you need to be inside before dawn, tickets and transport from Aswan sell out weeks ahead, and there is a festival atmosphere outside with music and dancing.
If the alignment is not the point, Abu Simbel on any other February morning is magnificent and far quieter.
Weather by region
- Cairo and the Delta – about 21°C by day and 9°C at night, with almost no rain. Warm afternoons, cold evenings, and some morning haze.
- Luxor and Aswan – warmer, in the mid-twenties by day and cool at night. Essentially rainless and at their best.
- The Red Sea – Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab and Marsa Alam sit around 23°C with the sea near 22°C. Windy on the Gulf of Aqaba, which is why Dahab is a kitesurfing town.
- Alexandria and the north coast – mild and still the wettest part of Egypt, with Mediterranean storms possible.
- The Western Desert – ideal: warm days, cold nights, and the White Desert at its best for camping.
Prices and crowds
High season throughout, though slightly below the January peak. Aswan spikes around the sun festival. One useful effect: if Ramadan covers the second half of the month, some hotels outside the main tourist circuit discount, because domestic and regional travel drops.
See the cost of travelling Egypt.
What to pack
Layers, because the day-to-night swing is large: light clothing for the sites, a real jacket for evenings, cruise decks and the desert. Add a hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen, and modest clothing covering shoulders and knees – more important than usual during Ramadan – plus a scarf for women entering mosques. See what to pack for Egypt.
The February 2027 calendar
- Around Monday 8 February – Ramadan is expected to begin; confirm against the moon sighting.
- Through Ramadan – reduced daytime hours, iftar at sunset, lantern-lit Cairo evenings, and heavy pre-sunset traffic.
- Monday 22 February – the Abu Simbel Sun Festival; be inside the temple before dawn and book transport weeks ahead.
- Through February – peak Nile cruise weather; the last comfortable full-day temple month.
- Through February – the White Desert and Siwa at their best.
- Around 8–10 March – Eid al-Fitr, closing Ramadan.
Read alongside
- Egypt in January – peak season and Coptic Christmas.
- Egypt in March – Eid al-Fitr and the first khamsin winds.
- Best time to visit Egypt – all twelve months compared.
- Egypt 10-day itinerary – a route built for this weather.
- Cost of travelling Egypt – high-season numbers.
- What to pack for Egypt – the winter list.
- Egypt travel guide – regions and how to combine them.
Frequently asked
When is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival?
On 22 February and 22 October, when the rising sun travels about sixty metres into the Great Temple to light the statues of Ramses II, Ra-Horakhty and Amun – while Ptah, god of the underworld, stays in shadow. You need to be inside before dawn, and transport from Aswan sells out weeks ahead.
When is Ramadan in 2027?
It is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and run to about 8 or 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr following. The dates depend on the sighting of the crescent moon and may shift by a day, so confirm closer to the time.
Can you visit Egypt during Ramadan?
Yes, and millions do. Opening hours shift earlier, many local restaurants close during daylight and reopen at iftar, alcohol availability narrows, and traffic is severe just before sunset. In exchange you get lantern-lit evenings and a genuine communal atmosphere.
Should I avoid eating in public during Ramadan?
It is not illegal for visitors, but it is discouraged and simply courteous to eat, drink and smoke indoors or in hotels during daylight hours. Hotels, tourist restaurants and cruise boats serve normally throughout.
How warm is Egypt in February?
Cairo averages about 21°C by day and 9°C at night, Luxor and Aswan are in the mid-twenties, and the Red Sea resorts sit near 23°C with a sea temperature around 22°C. Nights are cold everywhere.
Is February a good time for a Nile cruise?
Yes – with January it is the best. The deck is comfortable all day and the temples can be visited without heat pressure. Boats operate normally during Ramadan.
Why does Abu Simbel have two sun dates?
The temple was aligned so that sunlight reached the inner sanctuary twice a year. It was relocated in the 1960s to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser, so the modern dates are a reconstruction and are usually given as 22 February and 22 October.
Is Egypt expensive in February?
It is high season, slightly below the January peak. Aswan spikes around the sun festival, but if Ramadan falls across the second half of the month some hotels outside the main tourist circuit discount.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
