Skip to content
wheretotravel.info
Giza pyramids complex under blue sky

Egypt travel guide

Ancient temples, desert heat and Red Sea coasts from Cairo to Aswan

Best: Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Photo: Ricardo Liberato / Wikimedia Commons

Capital
Cairo
Language
Arabic
Currency
Egyptian pound
Time zone
UTC+02:00
Plugs
Type C, F · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
122 / 123 / 180

Why visit Egypt

Egypt suits travellers who want ancient history, desert landscapes and Red Sea diving in one trip, moving between Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and coastal towns like Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. The best months to go are November, December, February and March, when daytime heat is easier to handle for sightseeing. Outside this window, summer temperatures in Cairo and the Nile Valley climb high enough to make long days outdoors uncomfortable.

  • Cairo in the cooler months

    Cairo's best months are November, December, February and March. These months avoid the peak summer heat, making it more comfortable to explore the capital's streets and sights on foot.

  • Red Sea coast towns

    Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh sit on the Red Sea coast, with populations of 214,247 and 73,000. Both are set up for travellers drawn to the sea, offering a different pace from the inland cities.

  • Aswan and Luxor inland

    Aswan, with 401,890 people, and Luxor, with 202,232, lie along the Nile away from the coast. Their inland desert setting means dry air and strong sun, so the cooler months of November to March suit sightseeing better than summer.

  • Alexandria on the Mediterranean

    Alexandria is Egypt's largest coastal city with 5,362,517 people, facing the Mediterranean rather than the Red Sea. It gives a different coastal feel from the southern Red Sea resorts.

  • A compact time zone for planning

    Egypt runs on a single time zone, UTC+02:00, across its 1,002,450 square kilometres. That makes it simple to coordinate travel between Cairo, the Nile cities and the coast without time changes.

Is Egypt right for you?

Great for

  • Sightseers who want sun and almost no rain: Cairo sees just 1-2 rain days a month from November to March
  • Travellers who plan around mild highs of 19-26°C in Cairo from November to March for comfortable temple and pyramid visits
  • Beach and dive trips to coastal cities like Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh or Marsa Matruh, paired with inland sightseeing
  • Sun-seekers happy with 9-13.6 hours of sunshine a month year-round in Cairo
  • Travellers combining a capital-city trip (Cairo) with Nile cities like Luxor and Aswan

Less ideal for

  • Heat-sensitive travellers in summer: Cairo highs hit 36-38°C from June to August with lows staying near 22-24°C
  • Anyone wanting varied scenery with lots of rainfall: Cairo gets under 10mm of rain in 9 of 12 months
  • Travellers seeking cooler shoulder-season evenings: even winter lows in Cairo rarely drop below 9°C

Egypt right now: November

9.8/10
Avg high
26°C
Avg low
15°C
Rain days
1

Averages for Cairo.

Weather by month

In Cairo, the best time to go is November to March, when highs are 19 to 26°C, nights cool to 9 to 15°C, and there are at most 1.8 rain days a month. Avoid June to September, when highs reach 36 to 38°C and nights stay at 22 to 24°C, so long days of sightseeing become tiring.

Average highs and lows in Cairo by month January: high 19°C, low 9°C , 2 rain days . February: high 21°C, low 10°C , 2 rain days . March: high 25°C, low 12°C , 1 rain days . April: high 30°C, low 15°C , 0 rain days . May: high 34°C, low 19°C , 0 rain days . June: high 37°C, low 22°C , 0 rain days . July: high 38°C, low 23°C , 0 rain days . August: high 38°C, low 24°C , 0 rain days . September: high 36°C, low 23°C , 0 rain days . October: high 31°C, low 20°C , 1 rain days . November: high 26°C, low 15°C , 1 rain days . December: high 21°C, low 11°C , 1 rain days . 19°C 9°C JAN 2d 21°C 10°C FEB 2d 25°C 12°C MAR 1d 30°C 15°C APR 0d 34°C 19°C MAY 0d 37°C 22°C JUN 0d 38°C 23°C JUL 0d 38°C 24°C AUG 0d 36°C 23°C SEP 0d 31°C 20°C OCT 1d 26°C 15°C NOV 1d 21°C 11°C DEC 1d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Cairo · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Egypt: month-by-month weather →

Where to go in Egypt

City guides with their own best months and weather.

Sample itineraries

7 days

Cairo, Luxor and Aswan Highlights

  1. Day 1–3

    Cairo

    Explore the capital's ancient sites and museums. Cairo is best visited in November, February, March or December when the heat is milder.

  2. Day 4–5

    Luxor

    Luxor has a population of 202,232 and sits on the Nile, away from the coast, making it a base for exploring temple complexes on both riverbanks.

  3. Day 6–7

    Aswan

    Aswan, home to 401,890 people, is a calmer inland city on the Nile. Spend your last two days along the river and visit nearby ancient monuments.

10 days

Egypt from the Nile to the Red Sea

  1. Day 1–3

    Cairo

    Start in the capital, the political and cultural centre of the country. Visit in November, February, March or December for cooler, more comfortable days.

  2. Day 4–5

    Luxor

    Luxor, population 202,232, is an inland city on the Nile known for its temple sites. Spend two days exploring both sides of the river.

  3. Day 6–7

    Aswan

    Aswan has 401,890 residents and lies further south along the Nile. Use these two days for boat trips and visits to nearby sites.

  4. Day 8–10

    Hurghada

    Finish on the coast in Hurghada, a Red Sea city of 214,247 people. Spend your final three days by the sea, swimming or diving.

Where to stay

One good base in each main city and who it suits.

Downtown

Cairo

Good for first-timers, budget travellers

Cairo's central district has grand old European-style buildings, cheap cafes and the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square. You can walk to many sights and reach most of the city by metro. Traffic, car horns and crowds make it loud from morning until late at night.

Food to try in Egypt

Koshari

A mix of rice, lentils, pasta, and chickpeas topped with tomato sauce and crispy onions. It's a popular street food and lunch dish across Cairo and other cities.

Ful medames

Mashed fava beans cooked with oil, lemon, and spices, often eaten for breakfast. It's a staple dish found in homes and small eateries throughout Egypt.

Ta'meya

Egyptian-style falafel made from fava beans instead of chickpeas, fried until crisp. It's commonly eaten as a breakfast item or in sandwiches sold by street vendors.

Molokhia

A green soup made from jute leaves, usually cooked with chicken or rabbit and served over rice. It's a traditional home-cooked dish found in family meals nationwide.

Hawawshi

Minced meat mixed with onions and spices, stuffed into bread and baked or grilled. It's a popular street food, especially in the evening in cities like Alexandria and Cairo.

Karkade

A deep red tea made from dried hibiscus flowers, served hot or cold. It's a common drink offered to guests and sold in cafes across Egypt.

Know before you go

  • Currency: Egypt uses the Egyptian pound. Cards are accepted in cities, but carry cash for smaller shops, taxis and tips in rural areas and markets.
  • Language: Arabic is the official language. In tourist areas around Cairo, Luxor and the Red Sea, English is widely used in hotels, restaurants and tour services.
  • Plugs and voltage: Egypt runs on 220 V with plug types C and F, the standard two-round-pin European sockets. Bring an adapter if your home plug is different.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. Driving in cities like Cairo can be intense, so many visitors rely on taxis, ride apps or organised transport instead of self-driving.
  • Emergency number: Dial 122, 123 or 180 depending on the type of emergency. Save these numbers before you travel, since response details can vary by region.
  • Tipping: Tipping, called baksheesh, is a normal part of daily life in Egypt. Small amounts are expected for services like luggage help, guiding, or restaurant staff, even when a service charge is added.
  • Tap water: Tap water in Egypt is treated but often not suitable for travellers to drink directly. Bottled or filtered water is the safer choice, including for brushing teeth.

Egypt: frequently asked questions

Is Egypt good to visit in August?

No, August is one of the toughest months, scoring 3.5 out of 10. Cairo highs average 37.6°C with lows near 24°C, and there's almost no rain. The heat is dry and constant, which suits some desert and beach travellers but makes sightseeing in the middle of the day hard work.

What is the best time to visit Egypt?

November, December, February and March are the top-rated months, each scoring 9.6 to 9.8 out of 10. Cairo highs sit between 19°C and 26°C in these months, with low rainfall and 9 to 10 sun hours a day. This mild, dry weather is comfortable for both Nile sightseeing and coastal time.

Does it rain much in Egypt?

Rain is rare across the year. Cairo's wettest months are January and December, with around 6mm of rain spread over fewer than 2 rain days each. From May to September, rainfall drops to zero. Egypt's climate is dominated by sun and dryness, not rain, in almost every season.

Is Egypt too hot in summer?

Summer, from June to September, brings the hottest and lowest-scoring conditions of the year, all rated 'avoid' with scores of 3.5 to 3.8. Cairo highs reach 36.7°C to 37.9°C in June and July. It's dry heat with zero rain days, so it's manageable for travellers who plan around midday shade.

What is the weather like in Egypt in October?

October is rated 'good' with a score of 7.4 out of 10. Cairo highs average 31°C and lows 19.5°C, with light rain of about 3mm over 0.6 days. It's warmer than the November to March peak season but noticeably cooler and drier than the summer months.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Egypt.