Best Time to Visit Egypt: A Month-by-Month Guide

Egypt has two tourism climates, and choosing between them is easier than most guides make it. Inland Egypt — Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the deserts — is at its best from October to April, when days run 20–28°C and temple mornings are crisp. The Red Sea coast is a different machine: sea breezes keep Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam comfortable all year, and the water is warmest (28–29°C) from July to October.

Some fine print worth knowing: hot-air balloons in Luxor fly most reliably October–May; the Abu Simbel Sun Festival lights the sanctuary on 22 February and 22 October; and Ramadan shifts opening hours but rewards visitors with lantern-lit evenings and iftar hospitality. December–January is peak season — book cruises and balloons well ahead.

Our honest recommendation for first-timers: a Red Sea base in late October or November, with day trips to Luxor and Cairo. Summer visitors should simply flip the plan — reef by day, and take the desert trips at sunset.