The best time to visit Egypt is October to April. Weather, crowds, Nile cruise season and prices for Cairo, Luxor and the Red Sea, month by month.
The best time to visit Egypt is October to April. Cairo is mild enough to walk between the pyramids and the museums, Luxor and Aswan are warm rather than scorching, and the Nile cruise season is in full swing. For the sweet spot between good weather and lower prices, aim for November or March and skip the Christmas and New Year peak.
Egypt is really three climates in one trip: the north (Cairo, Alexandria), the hot desert south (Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel) and the Red Sea coast (Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab). Here's how the year breaks down for each.
Best month to visit Egypt: the short answer
- Best all-round: November and March. Comfortable days in Cairo, pleasant heat in Luxor, and the Red Sea still warm enough to swim.
- Best for temples and the Nile: October to April. Summer in Upper Egypt regularly tops 40 °C.
- Best for the Red Sea: almost any month. Winter water is cooler and windier, summer is perfect in the water.
- Cheapest: May to September, outside the Eid holidays, if you can handle the heat.
- Busiest and priciest: mid-December to early January, plus Easter week.
Egypt month by month
Winter (December–February)
Peak season, for good reason. Cairo sits around 18–22 °C by day, Luxor and Aswan are warm and sunny, and the light on the temples is beautiful. Nights get cold on the desert and on cruise decks, so pack a jacket. December and January bring the highest prices of the year and the biggest crowds at Giza and the Valley of the Kings. February is quieter and still lovely, with the Abu Simbel sun festival around 22 February.
Spring (March–May)
March is one of the best months to visit Egypt: warm, bright and busy without the winter crush. Watch for the khamsin, a hot, dusty wind that can turn the sky orange for a day or two between March and May. By April, Luxor afternoons push past 35 °C, so plan temples for early morning. May starts the quiet season: Cairo is hot but bearable, Upper Egypt is very hot, and prices fall noticeably.
Summer (June–August)
Summer is hot everywhere and extreme in the south. Luxor and Aswan regularly reach 40–45 °C, so sightseeing happens at dawn and after sunset. The Red Sea is the exception: warm water and long days make it a great time for diving and snorkelling in Hurghada, Dahab or Sharm El Sheikh. If temples are your main goal, summer is the cheapest option, but only with 6 a.m. starts and a hotel pool for the afternoon.
Autumn (September–November)
September is still very hot in the south, but quiet. Egypt in October is when the season restarts: the heat eases, cruises fill up, and the second Abu Simbel sun festival falls around 22 October. November is arguably the best month of the year: ideal temperatures everywhere, clear water on the Red Sea, and prices still below the December peak.
Best time for a Nile cruise
Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan run all year, but the best time for a Nile cruise is October to April, when the deck is cool and you can walk around Edfu and Kom Ombo without wilting.
- Shoulder months (October, November, March, April) are the best value: good weather, slightly lower fares and easier booking.
- December to February is peak. Book early and expect to pay more for the same cabin.
- May to September is cheapest and quietest, but the afternoon heat limits what you can do on shore.
Prices vary a lot between operators, so compare a few and check what's included (excursions, guide, drinks) before you book.
Cairo, Luxor and the Red Sea: when each works best
- Cairo and Giza: October to April. Be at the pyramids at opening time, when it's cooler and quieter, and pair them with the Grand Egyptian Museum next to the plateau. Check opening hours and ticket rules before you go.
- Luxor and Aswan: November to March for the most comfortable temple days. Shoulder months are fine with early starts.
- Red Sea (Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab): year-round. Water is warmest from June to October and coolest in January and February, when a thin wetsuit helps.
Ramadan, Eid and holidays
Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year, so check the dates before you book. Travelling during Ramadan is fine: sites open with shorter hours, and the evening iftar atmosphere in Cairo is special. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are busy domestic holidays, when trains, flights and Red Sea resorts fill with Egyptian families and prices rise for about a week. Christmas and New Year bring the biggest wave of foreign visitors.
When is the cheapest time to visit Egypt?
The cheapest time to visit Egypt is May to September, followed by late April and early October. Flights from Europe are cheaper and Nile cruises discount heavily. The trade-off is the heat.
Most hotels and cruises quote in US dollars or euros; day-to-day costs are in Egyptian pounds (EGP), whose rate has moved a lot in recent years. Rough ranges per night for a mid-range double room:
| Season | Cairo / Giza | Luxor / Aswan | Red Sea resort (half board) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (May–Sep) | €35–80 | €30–70 | €50–110 |
| Shoulder (Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr) | €50–110 | €45–100 | €70–150 |
| Peak (Dec–Feb) | €70–160 | €60–150 | €90–200+ |
Day to day, a koshary or falafel meal is usually under EGP 150, a sit-down dinner in a tourist area EGP 300–700, and a short Cairo ride-hail trip EGP 80–200. Tickets for big sites like Giza and the Valley of the Kings run from roughly EGP 500 to over EGP 1,000 and change often, so check before you go. Adding it all up by hand is tedious, which is why it helps to plan a trip on a budget with AI.
Tips for planning your Egypt trip
- Start south, end north. Fly Cairo to Aswan, cruise to Luxor, then fly back to Cairo for the pyramids and museums.
- Book Nile cruises and December hotels early. Peak season sells out months ahead.
- Mornings are everything. Be at the gate at opening, rest at midday, go out again late afternoon.
- Carry small EGP notes for tips, bathrooms and taxis.
- Combine with Jordan. Cairo to Amman is a short flight, and our Petra in 2 days plan slots neatly onto the end of an Egypt trip.
Comparing destinations for the same dates? Our guides to the best time to visit Morocco and the best time to visit Turkey use the same month-by-month format.
Plan it in one sentence
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FAQ
What is the best month to visit Egypt?
November and March are the best months for most travellers. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are warm but not extreme, the Red Sea is still swimmable, and prices sit below the December to February peak.
When is the cheapest time to visit Egypt?
May to September is the cheapest time, outside the Eid holidays. Hotels and Nile cruises discount heavily, but temperatures in Luxor and Aswan often exceed 40 °C, so you'll need early starts.
Is Egypt too hot in summer?
Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel) is very hot from June to August, often 40–45 °C by afternoon. Cairo is hot but manageable, and the Red Sea coast is a popular summer destination for diving and beaches.
What is the best time for a Nile cruise?
October to April is the best time for a Nile cruise. October, November, March and April offer the best mix of comfortable weather and value, while December to February is peak season and books up early.