Best Time to Visit Sharm el-Sheikh

Winter: mild and sunny, November to March

This is the sweet spot. Days are warm rather than hot, with highs from 23°C in January to 27°C in March. Rain is almost unheard of, and the sun shines most of the day. Evenings in Naama Bay and along the Hadaba promenade are cool enough for a light jacket.

The sea stays comfortable for snorkelling at Ras Mohammed National Park and the Tiran Islands, though January and February feel fresh when you step out of the water. Divers usually wear a wetsuit. Want a day trip? The hike up Mount Sinai for sunrise is far more pleasant now than in summer, but it's properly cold at the top, so bring a coat.

Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks, with many European visitors, and hotels fill up. Early December and February are quieter. If you hate crowds, aim for those. Sharm also hosts big New Year parties, so expect loud nights near the main strip.

Spring and autumn: the shoulder months

March and April are lovely. April reaches 31°C, which is hot but fine if you're mostly in the water. Easter and school holidays bring families, so beaches fill up. In Ramadan, which moves earlier each year, resorts stay open, but daytime life outside them is slower and some local restaurants close until sunset.

October and November are the best-value months for many people. October still hits 34°C, so it suits beach days more than long walks. By November it's 29°C and the sea is still warm from summer. That's ideal if you want to dive without a thick wetsuit. May is Fair: 35°C and strong sun, so plan swims and snorkel trips for the middle of the day, when the water is the best escape.

Summer: very hot, but dry and sunny

June to September is hot every single day. August is the hottest month at 39°C, and nights barely cool down, with lows of 28 to 29°C. It's dry, so the heat feels like a hairdryer rather than a sticky sauna.

Is it worth it? If you're here to dive or snorkel, yes. The Red Sea is warm, the reefs at Ras Um Sid and Shark's Bay are busy with fish, and you'll spend most of the day in the water. Hotels often drop their prices, and Egyptian and Middle Eastern families come for the school holidays. Skip desert trips and city wandering in the afternoon. Save them for sunset, or skip them altogether.