Over 5,000 years ago, the Pharaohs of the Ancient Egyptians led one of the world’s oldest and greatest civilisations. Today, Egypt is considered one of the leading travel destinations on the African continent. If you’re wondering about the best time to visit Egypt, there are several things to consider.
Egypt has long been the gateway for global shipping routes between the east and the west, thanks to a coastline of around 3,000 km (1800 miles) and the Suez Canal. This unique position was a boon to Egypt’s economy and culture. Egypt is a vibrant country with over more than 102 million people, making it the third-largest in the African continent. It has a continuous flow of visitors from all over the world all year round.
Visitors worldwide continue to flock to Egypt to see the Pyramids of Giza, attend the Abu Simbel Sun Festival, visit the historic Bibliotheca Alexandrina, among other sights. Additionally, Egypt is considered the go-to winter destination for a ‘wintercation’ for Europeans looking for a beach vacation under the sun.
Egypt has 1/3 of the world’s known monuments, dozens of museums, hundreds of beaches stretched across the Red and Mediterranean Seas, and thousands of hotels and resorts overlooking historical landmarks and sandy beaches. Not to mention the fact that the weather is hot and dry in the summer, while moderate in winter with very little rainfall, making it the perfect place to visit all year round.
Because of its size, Egypt has a variety of climates, so that it could be rainy in Alexandria’s northern city and extremely hot in the southern city of Luxor. This means choosing the best time of the year to visit Egypt can make a big difference to your travels. There are two types of travellers to Egypt: those who visit to see ancient landmarks while others enjoy the sandy beaches and coral reefs.
Egypt is a relatively cheap country to visit. A seven-day trip will average at around US$1000 to $2,000 for a solo traveller. But make sure to always check for vacation offers with a travel agency while planning the trip, and try to make your booking months ahead to save as much as possible. Egypt’s currency is the Egyptian Pound, and it’s advisable not to exchange your US dollars for Egyptian pounds before arriving, as you’ll get better rates for exchange within Egypt.
Here are some insider tips on the best time to visit Egypt, no matter what time of the year you plan to make your visit. But remember, Egypt is a large country with dozens of ancient monuments and landmarks that dates back thousands of years ago, so you might have to come back again and see what you’ve missed the first time.
Also read:
Best Time To Visit Egypt
Egypt in Summer
It’s safe to say Egypt is a relatively hot country in the summertime. The temperatures would generally average at around 95F (35C) during June, July, and August. But can reach a high of about 115F (46C) in some cases.
The locals usually migrate towards the coastal cities on the Red and Mediterranean Seas during the summer, such as the Northern Coast, Alexandria, and Gouna. As a result, beachgoers have an average of 14 hours of daylight.
Despite the heat, visiting Egypt in the summer still has its pros, as fewer tourists will be around during the hottest months, which gives travellers more time to explore the country away from the crowds.
Additionally, prices for hotels and flights tend to be lower in the summer, so you could be saving big time if you choose to visit during this time of the year.
Temperatures by month:
● June: Daylight hours: 14, Average Low: 19 °C (67 °F), Average High: 35 °C (95 °F)
● July: Daylight hours: 14, Average Low: 21 °C (69 °F), Average High: 35 °C (94 °F)
● August: Daylight hours: 13, Average Low: 21 °C (69 °F), Average High: 34.5 °C (94 °F)
Five Things To Do In Egypt In Summer
1- Enjoy the beaches of Sharm El-Sheikh, the massive tourist destination with dozens of beaches, hotels, nightclubs, and bazaars.
2- Visit The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the most significant archaeological museum in the world.
3- Dive the Blue Hole in Dahab, notorious for having the most diver fatalities in the world.
4- Go shopping for souvenirs in Khan El-Khalili, the famous bazaar, and souq in the historic centre of Old Cairo.
5- Embark on a cruise along the Nile River.
Top tips:
● Avoid going out during the hottest hours of the day: 12 noon to 5 pm.
● Pack light clothing and always have a hat with you.
● If you choose to go sightseeing outdoors during the summer, schedule your visits early in the morning to avoid the heat.
● Choose a hotel with a pool that enables you to make the best of the hottest hours of the day.
● Stay hydrated.
Egypt in Autumn
Autumn is the time in Egypt when tourists start swarming the country from every port by the end of September.
The weather tends to be perfect, with an average of around 86F (30C) in most locations during September, October, and November. And with cooler weather comes more tourists, and prices tend to rise.
Autumn is also considered one of the best times to head west to the Siwa Oasis.
The trip west will allow you to take a dip in the oasis, which is on the doorstep of the Great Sand Sea.
Temperatures by month:
● September: Daylight hours: 12, Average Low: 19 °C (66 °F), Average High: 32.5 °C (91 °F)
● October: Daylight hours: 11, Average Low: 17 °C (62 °F), Average High: 30 °C (86 °F)
● November: Daylight hours: 11, Average Low: 13 °C (56 °F), Average High: 25 °C (78 °F)
Five Things to do in Egypt in Autumn
1- Visit Old Cairo during the local Mawlid festival and see the celebrations of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
2- Climb Mount of Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments according to the Bible.
3- Take a day trip to Alexandria and explore the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the library built in commemoration of the Great Library of Alexandria.
4- Visit the Citadel of Cairo, the medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo.
5- Go on a hot air balloon ride at sunrise in Luxor.
Top tips:
● The weather is generally warm, which means you could pack lighter clothes.
● Pack light clothing, a couple of jackets and an umbrella for unexpected showers.
● Sometimes it gets a bit cold at night by the end of October in some locations.
● You must pay in cash for most historical sites and other activities, so make sure you always have enough money at hand.
● Use the Underground Metro in Cairo or order an Uber.
Egypt in Winter
In winter, the weather is much cooler but the temperature rarely drops under 50F (10C).
Escape the cold weather by heading for places that are sunny all year round. Winter is the best time in Egypt to visit the Red Sea resort cities in the Sinai Peninsula, such as Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, Dahab, or even Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh.
If you’re not a beachgoer, head to Luxor and Aswan, where you can take a deep dive into the mysteries of the Ancient Egyptian civilisations.
There you can visit the Valley of Kings, Karnak Temple, Deir el-Medina, Horus Temple, Aswan High Dam, and many other impressive historical landmarks.
The weather in these cities is hot by day, yet a bit chilly at night.
Temperatures by month:
● December: Daylight hours: 10, Average Low: 9 °C (48 °F), Average High: 21 °C (70 °F)
● January: Daylight hours: 10, Average Low: 7 °C (45 °F), Average High: 19 °C (67 °F)
● February: Daylight hours: 11, Average Low: 7.5 °C (45 °F), Average High: 21 °C (70 °F)
Five Things to do in Egypt in Winter
1- Attend the Nutcracker Ballet show in Cairo Opera House, the leading performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital.
2- Go kayaking from Aswan to Luxor.
3- Celebrate Christmas in the revolving restaurant overlooking the Nile River.
4- Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
5- Attend the Sun Festival in Abu Simbel Temple in Aswan, celebrating the two dates each year when the sun illuminates the temple’s central chamber.
Top tips:
● Pack a couple of jackets with your light clothes, because it gets chilly at night.
● Schedule your attraction visits to take into consideration fewer hours of daylight.
● Since there will be a lot of sightseeing, note that there are tickets for most tourist sites, in addition to extra fees for using your camera.
● Book a hotel close to the Nile River in Cairo to enjoy the views and breeze.
Egypt in Spring
Spring is a season of significant volatility in Egypt. It could be warm in general, and then a desert sandstorm hits out of nowhere.
Still, there is not much to worry about when visiting the cities as the temperatures average around 83F (28.5C).
It’s around this time of the year in Egypt when Egyptians celebrate the national spring holiday of Sham Ennessim, which falls on Easter Monday every year.
The locals go out picnicking all day in the green spaces while savouring a type of salty dried fish called Fesikh.
Temperatures by month:
● March: Daylight hours: 12, Average Low: 10.5 °C (51 °F), Average High: 24 Celsius (76 °F)
● April: Daylight hours: 13, Average Low: 13 °C (55 °F), Average High: 28.5 °C (83 °F)
● May: Daylight hours: 14, Average Low: 16 °C (61 °F), Average High: 32 °C (90 °F)
Five Things to do in Egypt in Spring
1- Visit The Royal Mummies Hall in Cairo, the exhibition hall displaying gold coffins and mummies of pharaohs who ruled Ancient Egypt thousands of years ago.
2- Go rock climbing in Sinai.
3- Visit The Hanging Church in Old Cairo, one of the oldest churches in Egypt that date back to the third century.
4- Spend the day at Castle Zaman in Dahab, an impressive monument that commands a dramatic mountainous view overlooking four countries.
5- Visit St Catherine’s Monastery, which is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. In 2002, the monastery became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6- Snorkel in the Ras Mohamed National Park, overlooking the Gulf of Suez to its west and the Gulf of Aqaba in the east.
Top tips:
● Pack light clothes because the weather starts getting warmer as the summertime closes in.
● Always carry sunscreen and a hat.
● The holy month of Ramadan is when Muslims fast and usually falls during these months, so consider the fact that many shops may be closed during the day.
● Stay hydrated.
● Check for offers with travel agencies to save as much money as possible.
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