May in Cairo averages highs of 34 °C (94 °F) and lows of 19 °C (66 °F), with almost no rainy days and 13 h 39 min of daylight.
May weather in Cairo at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is May a good time to visit Cairo?
Mixed weather: very hot and fairly dry. May is usually low season in Cairo: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in May 2026
- Thu 7 May: Labour Day (عيد العمال) public holiday
- Wed 27 May: Eid Al-Adha public holiday
- Thu 28 May: Eid Al-Adha public holiday
- Fri 29 May: Eid Al-Adha public holiday
- Sat 30 May: Eid Al-Adha public holiday
- Sun 31 May: Eid Al-Adha public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Cairo in May
May is hot, so do outdoor sights early in the morning or after 5 pm and save museums and markets for midday.
- Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx — go at opening outdoors
- Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili outdoors
- Saqqara and Dahshur — older pyramids, fewer people outdoors
- Nile felucca at sunset outdoors
- Grand Egyptian Museum — near the pyramids indoors
- Coptic Cairo indoors
Where to stay: Downtown or Zamalek for central bases; Giza for pyramid views.
What to pack for Cairo in May
- Light, breathable clothes, a hat and a water bottle: highs reach 34 °C (94 °F), so plan indoor time around midday.
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for mosques and temples.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Cairo costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €25–65 | €80–200 |
Excluding flights. May is usually low season in Cairo: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
May in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petra | 28° / 17° | 0 | Good time to go |
| Santorini | 22° / 17° | 2 | Great time to go |
| Athens | 25° / 16° | 4 | Great time to go |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is May a good time to visit Cairo?
By the numbers, May is a mixed month: very hot and fairly dry, with average highs of 34 °C (94 °F) and almost no rainy days. May is usually low season in Cairo: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper. The best months for weather are January, February, March, November, December.
How warm is Cairo in May?
Average highs are 34 °C (94 °F) and lows 19 °C (66 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Cairo in May?
Expect about 0 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 0 mm in total. It is the driest month of the year in Cairo.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.