Quick answer: The best time to visit Egypt is October to April. Peak season is December to February (Nile and pyramids), and the months to avoid are June to August (40C+ in Luxor, Aswan and Cairo).
Egypt is hot and dry almost year-round, but the comfortable window is October to April – warm days and cool nights, ideal for the pyramids and Nile cruises. Summer is brutally hot inland, though the Red Sea stays popular.
Egypt Weather by Month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rain | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C / 66°F | 9°C / 48°F | Dry | High | Best – Warm days, cool nights – ideal; peak. |
| February | 21°C / 70°F | 10°C / 50°F | Dry | High | Best – Pleasant and dry. |
| March | 24°C / 75°F | 12°C / 54°F | Dry | High | Great – Warm and dry; occasional khamsin winds. |
| April | 29°C / 84°F | 15°C / 59°F | Dry | Med | Good – Hot building; still dry. |
| May | 33°C / 91°F | 18°C / 64°F | Dry | Low | Shoulder – Hot; the Red Sea is still pleasant. |
| June | 35°C / 95°F | 20°C / 68°F | Dry | Low | Avoid – Very hot; Nile sites tough midday. |
| July | 36°C / 97°F | 22°C / 72°F | Dry | Low | Avoid – Extreme heat; Red Sea diving popular. |
| August | 36°C / 97°F | 22°C / 72°F | Dry | Low | Avoid – Hottest; avoid Luxor and Aswan. |
| September | 33°C / 91°F | 20°C / 68°F | Dry | Med | Shoulder – Heat easing late month. |
| October | 30°C / 86°F | 18°C / 64°F | Dry | High | Best – Warm, dry – excellent; peak returns. |
| November | 25°C / 77°F | 14°C / 57°F | Dry | High | Best – Warm and pleasant – ideal. |
| December | 20°C / 68°F | 10°C / 50°F | Dry | High | Best – Warm days, cool nights; festive; peak. |
Best Time to Visit Egypt
For the best balance of weather, value and manageable crowds, target October to April. The table above breaks down every month.
Egypt Weather in July
July is peak heat in Egypt – 40C+ in Luxor, Aswan and Cairo, making daytime sightseeing exhausting. The Red Sea resorts (Hurghada, Sharm) stay popular for diving, with sea breezes taking the edge off.
Egypt Weather in October
October is one of the best months: the extreme summer heat has broken, leaving warm, dry days ideal for the pyramids, a Nile cruise and the Red Sea, with peak crowds yet to fully arrive.
The Real Sweet Spot: Why November and Late February Beat the Christmas Rush
The October-April window is correct, but it hides a sharper truth: the smart booking targets are November and late February into early March, not the deep-winter peak everyone defaults to. Prices and crowds spike hardest in the fortnight from roughly December 20 to January 5, with the nights around the 24th, 25th, and 31st commanding the steepest hotel and Nile-cruise rates of the year and the longest queues at Giza and the Valley of the Kings. Skip that two-week crunch and you keep almost identical weather for noticeably less.
What each season actually delivers:
- Shoulder (Nov, late Feb-early Mar): warm, dry days in the low-to-mid 20s C in Cairo and warmer in the south, with thinner site traffic and lower rates than December.
- Peak (Dec-Feb): the most comfortable temperatures but the busiest, priciest sites.
- Avoid (May-Aug): Luxor and Aswan routinely clear 40 C, punishing for daytime temple visits.
Two dates reward precise timing: the Abu Simbel Sun Festival on February 22 and October 22, when dawn light reaches the inner sanctuary and lights Ramses II, Amun, and Ra while Ptah stays in shadow. One spring caveat: the dusty khamsin winds usually arrive around April, so an early-spring trip dodges them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Egypt?
October to April, when warm days and cool nights make the pyramids and Nile cruises comfortable. December to February is peak.
Is Egypt too hot in summer?
Inland (Cairo, Luxor, Aswan) hits 40C+ in June to August – very tough for sightseeing. The Red Sea coast remains bearable with sea breezes.
When is the best time for a Nile cruise?
October to April, ideally November to March, when Luxor and Aswan are warm rather than scorching.
Looking for a recommendation, not just data? See our best time to visit Egypt guide.
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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.