July is the hottest month in Egypt and the quietest for foreign visitors. Cairo sits near 35°C, Luxor and Aswan spend the month in the low forties, and the Nile valley is at its emptiest and cheapest. Meanwhile the Mediterranean coast is in full domestic season and the Red Sea is at bathwater temperature. It also carries Revolution Day on Friday 23 July 2027 and the Islamic New Year around the end of the month.
The hottest weeks
July and August are the peak of the Egyptian summer. In the Nile valley this means daytime temperatures in the low forties, sometimes higher in Aswan, with nights that stay above 25°C. Humidity is very low, which helps – shade genuinely works – but it also means dehydration creeps up without the usual warning of feeling sweaty.
A workable July day in Luxor looks like this: up at 05:00, on site at opening, finished by 09:30, indoors or in water until 17:00, then out again for a felucca at sunset and dinner late. That is how Egypt itself runs in summer, and fighting it does not work.
Weather by region
- Cairo and the Delta – around 35°C by day and 23°C at night, rainless, with more humidity than the south because of the Delta.
- Luxor and Aswan – the low forties through the month; Aswan is the hottest inhabited place in the country.
- The Red Sea – 35°C air and a sea at 28–29°C, which is warm enough that divers go without a wetsuit. Constant breeze on the coast.
- Alexandria and the north coast – low thirties with a Mediterranean breeze, and the busiest domestic season of the year.
- The Western Desert – closed as a practical destination.
The domestic summer
Egyptian schools are on holiday and the entire north coast – Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh, Sidi Abdel Rahman, Ras El-Hekma and the resort strip west of Alexandria – is at capacity. Prices there are at their annual peak, bookings are made months ahead, and the atmosphere is thoroughly Egyptian rather than international.
The Red Sea splits the difference: it has both domestic and European visitors, and July is busy but not at the pressure of the Mediterranean coast.
July holidays
- Friday 23 July – Revolution Day, a national public holiday marking the 1952 revolution. Offices and banks close; archaeological sites stay open.
- Around the end of July – Ras as-Sanah, the Islamic New Year (1 Muharram), a public holiday. The date depends on the moon sighting and may fall in early August.
Diving without a wetsuit
The Red Sea at 28–29°C is as warm as it gets, and July is prime season for the southern liveaboards – the Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone and Rocky Island – where oceanic whitetips, hammerheads and thresher sharks are the draw. It is also the season for the northern wrecks, including the Thistlegorm.
One practical note: with water this warm, sun rather than cold is the risk. A long-sleeved rash vest and reef-safe sunscreen matter more than a thick suit.
Prices and crowds
The most divided month of the Egyptian year. Luxor, Aswan and the Nile cruises are at their absolute annual low with almost no foreign visitors; the Mediterranean north coast is at its absolute annual high with almost no foreign visitors either. Cairo is cheap and quiet. The Red Sea sits in between.
See the cost of travelling Egypt.
What to pack
Loose, light, long-sleeved cotton or linen; a wide-brimmed hat; proper sunglasses; very high factor sunscreen; electrolyte sachets; and the biggest refillable bottle you will carry. A rash vest for the Red Sea. Modest clothing for mosques. See what to pack for Egypt.
The July 2027 calendar
- Through July – the hottest month; Luxor and Aswan in the low forties.
- Through July – Egyptian school holidays; the north coast at capacity and at peak prices.
- Through July – Red Sea water at 28–29°C; peak southern liveaboard season.
- Friday 23 July – Revolution Day, a national public holiday.
- Around the end of July – Ras as-Sanah, the Islamic New Year; date depends on the moon sighting.
- Through July – Nile valley hotels and cruises at their annual low.
- 22 October – the next Abu Simbel sun alignment, for anyone planning ahead.
Read alongside
- Egypt in June – the empty valley and the north coast opening.
- Egypt in August – the peak of the domestic season.
- Best time to visit Egypt – all twelve months compared.
- Cost of travelling Egypt – the cheapest Nile valley rates.
- What to pack for Egypt – the hot-season list.
- Is Egypt safe for travel – including heat and health.
- Egypt travel guide – regions and how to combine them.
Frequently asked
How hot is Egypt in July?
Cairo averages about 35°C by day and 23°C at night, and Luxor and Aswan spend the month in the low forties with nights above 25°C. The Red Sea and north coast are cooler thanks to constant breeze.
Is July a good time to visit Egypt?
For the Red Sea and for cheap, empty temples, yes – if you restructure the day around the heat. For conventional all-day sightseeing in the Nile valley it is the hardest month of the year.
Is the Red Sea too warm in July?
It is 28–29°C, warm enough to dive without a wetsuit, which most people consider a bonus. The risk shifts from cold to sun, so a long-sleeved rash vest and reef-safe sunscreen matter more than neoprene.
When is Revolution Day in Egypt?
23 July – a Friday in 2027 – marking the 1952 revolution. It is a national public holiday: offices and banks close, but archaeological sites stay open.
Why is the north coast expensive in July?
Because it is the Egyptian summer season. Schools are on holiday and Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh, Sidi Abdel Rahman and the resort strip run at capacity, with bookings made months ahead and prices at their annual peak.
Is Egypt cheap in July?
In the Nile valley, at its cheapest of the entire year – Luxor, Aswan and the cruise boats are close to empty. The Mediterranean north coast is simultaneously at its most expensive.
Can you visit the Pyramids in July?
Yes, at opening. Giza is unshaded and by mid-morning it is punishing, so go first thing and be finished by ten. The compensation is that it is far quieter than in winter.
When is the Islamic New Year in 2027?
Around the end of July or the start of August, depending on the moon sighting. It is a public holiday, so offices and banks close, and the date is confirmed only shortly beforehand.
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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.
