The Best Time To Visit Egypt: Seasons, Weather And Places To Visit In Egypt

To visit this timeless country with a history dating back to millennials is every traveler's dream. Visiting these ancient Egyptian temples, monuments, and varied landscapes will make you feel like you have traveled back in time. Egypt, the Land Of Pharaohs, is now one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world.

Though most visitors come to Egypt to enjoy the historical sites and monuments, Egypt does not lack natural beauty. There is so much to do, from enjoying a Nile river cruise and riding on the dunes in Sahara to visiting the Suez Canal connecting the Mediterranean sea to the Red Sea Coast.

With so many things that you can add to your bucket list, it would help to know when the best time to visit Egypt is. Throughout the year, you can do different things in Egypt, for which planning your trip accordingly is crucial.

The first thing you will need to do is get the relevant Egypt Visa from the different visa types available. To save time, you can apply for your visa right here on Atlys to save your time.

So let us dive into this topic of when is the right time to make plans for Egypt travels. Consider this a travel guide to help you find the best time to travel to Egypt. I have made it easier to jump to the topic you want to know more about:

Seasons In Egypt

Peak Tourist Seasons In Egypt

Places and Activities In Egypt

Festivals And Events In Egypt

Seasons In Egypt

The weather and climate are favorable in Egypt throughout the year. However, Egypt is mostly a dry country and sees very little rainfall each year. So it would help if you pack an umbrella for the heat than for the rains.

The two significant seasons in Egypt are Summer and Winter; however, you might also experience a little bit of spring and autumn with some rain between the two seasons.

Winter Season

Especially if you come from a colder country, the winter months in Egypt will do you no harm. Of course, you might have to put on a jacket, but nothing harsh about the winters here, especially in the south.

Winter starts around October, but you can really feel the cold winds beginning in December until February. The temperature can go down to 18 degrees celsius, which is not considered very cold in the western part of the globe, with a maximum of 26 degrees celsius. This is great because you can rock that short or dress even in winter without getting too cold.

Since the temperature in winter is decent, you can enjoy the pleasant daytime temperatures. However, it cannot be said the same about the nights, since the temperature drops dramatically as nighttime falls.

In January, you can also experience frequent rain showers. But that is a concise window, and unlike other places, it does not constantly rain for days.

If you visit Egypt in winter, you can enjoy festivals such as the Abu Simbel Sun Festival on October 22 and February 22Though you might think that the weather will be bearable, pack some sunscreen, winter clothes, shades, and hats.

Summer Season

Unlike winter, the summer months are now a completely different story. As might have seen earlier, the temperatures in winter are high; however, the temperatures are incredibly high in the summer months.

Summer in Egypt is sweltering, with temperatures ranging from 30 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees celsius, and it can even reach 50 degrees celsius. Summer in Egypt starts around May to September, and August is one of the hottest months.

In summer, the daytime can be pretty hot; however, the temperature drops at night. It becomes cooler and pleasant with the sun going down. Most people avoid going to Egypt because of the extreme heat and the busy tourist sites will be empty.

If you decide to go during the summer, you can visit the Red Sea coast and relax at the fantastic resorts. You might even get a great deal at some resorts as not many travelers visit Egypt during the season.

For summers, you must pack a lot, and I mean a lot of sunscreens, bathing suits, shades, and water bottles.

Spring And Autumn

In Egypt, you experience spring in March and April, whereas autumn during October and November. Therefore, if you want to visit Egypt when the weather is nice, you should plan your travel during spring or autumn.

Around the end of March and into April, the 'Khamsin' wind blows from the desert in the south, causing hot air to circulate. However, in spring, the temperature can fall between 11 to 28 degrees celsius, and in autumn between 21 to 33 degrees celsius.

Because of the pleasant daytime weather, you can enjoy many different activities and day trips during this time of year. Furthermore, these seasons also fall between Egypt's high and low tourist seasons, meaning you can take advantage of the discounted Egypt tours.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are occasionally sandstorms in March.

Peak Tourist Seasons In Egypt

You can guess the peak tourist seasons in Egypt by looking at this country's weather and climate changes. There is a high tourist season, low tourist season, and shoulder season in Egypt.

Egypt experiences a high season in October and February when the weather is perfect for sightseeing. Autumn rolls in October, meaning winter is around the corner. Spring commences in February/March, making it easy to travel across Egypt without the intense heat.

During the beginning and end of winter, the weather is warm, not very cold or hot, and there is little to no rain. Therefore, for some people, the winter season in Egypt will not feel like a winter season at all. On the contrary, it has slightly higher temperatures than what you would experience in your country.

The high peak season in mid-October and mid-February is when the majority of the tourist will flock to Egypt. This is when all the major tourist sites like the Pyramids of Giza, Cairo, and Valley of the Kings are crowded.

The low season in Egypt is during the summer season, starting May to August. The sun is scorching hot during the summer season, and you really would not want to be out in the sun; hence, it is a low tourist season.

Hence, the best time to visit Egypt is during the shoulder seasons, between March and May and September and October. There would be fewer tourists flooding the area as well as the weather in Egypt is usually quite pleasant during this period. With no need to book months in advance, you will have an easier time finding the hotel you want.

Places and Activities In Egypt

There is no limit to the places you can visit in Egypt. There are so many hidden gems in this country that you can uncover. If I was to sit and list all the places, it would take me forever. However, let me name a few that you can use to tailor your itinerary.

Giza: Of course, this is the first on the list. All the history nerds like me visit this country to visit the Pyramids of Giza. You would need a full day to explore these marvelous structures.

Cairo: Ah, to explore the hustling and bustling city of Cairo. In Egypt's largest city, you can visit the historical buildings, the mosques, the churches, and the libraries. Do not forget about all the shopping you can do when visiting Cairo.

Luxor: From visiting the Temple of Karnak, Valley of the Kings, to Felucca Ride to Banana Island, it is simply the best place to stay in Egypt.

Aswan: People often overlook this city when they visit Egypt. However, this city is one of the prettiest cities with so many historical sites, including the magnificent monuments of Abu Simbel.

Sharm-el-sheikh: This resort town is situated between the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea and is best visited in the summer. If you want to spend some relaxing time by the beaches snorkeling and swimming, look no further than Sharm-el-sheikh.

Mount Sinai: Also known as Jabal Musa, this place has some of Egypt's best sceneries. You can also enjoy the trailhead at the monastery car park – the camel trail and the Steps of Repentance.

Alexandria: It is Egypt's second-largest city, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. You can visit the legendary Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Antiquities Museum, or simply soak up the sun at Mamoura Beach.

Hurghada: It is another beach resort town known for its scuba diving, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. While here, the old town, El Dahar, is home to traditional Egyptian coffee shops and souks.

Nile Cruise: Another way of seeing some of Egypt's most outstanding ancient temples is on a Nile cruise which takes you across the country on the Nile river.

Siwa Oasis: This place is truly an oasis where you can enjoy your time away from the hustle of Egypt's cities. You can explore the Shali Fortress, wander the tombs of the mountain of the dead, take a dip in the salty lakes, and much more.

Before you visit Egypt, definitely check our post on "Is Egypt A Safe Country For Travel?" or go through other posts on Egypt.

Festivals And Events In Egypt

Egypt is a secular and very religious country; therefore, many religious holidays fall throughout the year. During some of the holidays, you can visit Egypt and experience the culture firsthand.

The people in Egypt are warm and welcoming, and they take utmost care of the guests visiting their country. As a result, Egypt sees thousands of visitors who come to enjoy events like the Cairo Jazz Festival, Birth of Ramses at Abu Simbel, El Gouna Film Festival, and Moulid of Sayyid Al-Badawi.

Other festivals that fall through the year are:

Coptic and Orthodox Christmas on January 7.

Muharram, approximately on January 10

Moulid El Nabi, approximately on March 20

Sham El Nessim/Easter, on April 9Sinai Liberation Day, on April 25

Labor Day, May 1

National Day, July 23

The month of Ramadan (the month when Muslims fast during daylight hours), approximately September 2 to October 2

Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, is a three-day festival in Egypt on about October 2

Armed Forces Day, October 6

Eid Al Adha, approximately December 8

The dates for specific festivals are challenging to predict since many Islamic religious holidays fall according to the lunar calendar.

You can always check with tour companies based in Egypt to book your tours to enjoy a well-balanced trip.

So if you want to enjoy the best of both worlds, visit Egypt during the shoulder months. With so many places to visit and so many activities, make sure you plan your travel properly. Explore Atlys if you need more information on Egypt.

Happy Traveling!