Best Time to Visit Egypt

Winter is the sweet spot

For most of Egypt, November to March is the best time to go. Days are warm enough for the Pyramids at Giza, Cairo's Islamic quarter and the Egyptian Museum area without wilting. Luxor's Valley of the Kings and Karnak are best from November to February. Aswan is a little narrower, from December to February.

Along the Red Sea, Hurghada works from November to April. Sharm el-Sheikh is good from November to March. Alexandria, on the Mediterranean, stretches from October to April, but it's the one place where winter feels properly damp and grey. January is its wettest month, and the sea breeze can be chilly.

Rain barely matters elsewhere. Cairo's wettest month is November, and Luxor and Aswan are almost dry all year.

Summer is hard work in the south

From June to September, the heat is serious. Aswan hits 43°C in August, and Luxor reaches 42°C. Cairo and Giza peak in July at 39°C. Temple visits in the south only work at sunrise, with the afternoons spent indoors or on the water.

Beach towns are easier. Hurghada and Alexandria top out at 35°C in August, and the sea helps. If you're set on a summer trip, pick the coast and keep the Nile for later.

Crowds, holidays and prices

High season runs from about October to April. Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks, especially for Nile cruises and Red Sea resorts. Summer is low season for sightseeing, so hotels in Luxor and Aswan are quieter and cheaper.

Ramadan, the month of daytime fasting, moves about eleven days earlier each year. Sights stay open, but hours can shorten and many restaurants close until sunset. Evenings are lively, though, with shared iftar meals. Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha bring Egyptian families to the beaches and Alexandria's seafront, so book ahead for those weekends. Sham el-Nessim, a spring holiday in April or May, also fills parks and the coast.