Egypt in January

Peak Nile season: warm days, cool nights. Cruises and Luxor hotels book out around New Year.

January is rated good. These months rate higher:

• MarchGreatWarm; khamsin dust days start. Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr in early March 2027 (check).
• AprilGreatHeating up in the south; Easter and Sham el-Nessim busy.
• OctoberGreatSeason opens: the Abu Simbel sun festival on 22 Oct; Nile cruises restart in full.
• NovemberGreatWarm and clear; one of the best months for Cairo and the south.

• Cairo and the Delta · Cairo, Giza, Saqqaracool

  Mild winters, hot dusty summers around 35 °C (95 °F); spring khamsin winds (Mar–May) bring sand haze some days.Mild winters, hot dusty summers around 95 °F (35 °C); spring khamsin winds (Mar–May) bring sand haze some days.

• Upper Egypt (Nile Valley) · Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbelbest weather

  Dry all year; 40 °C (104 °F)+ from May to September. Winter days are warm, nights cool.Dry all year; 104 °F (40 °C)+ from May to September. Winter days are warm, nights cool.

• Mediterranean coast · Alexandria, El Alameinrainy

  The only rainy part of Egypt in winter; the escape from summer heat for Cairenes.

• Red Sea and South Sinai · Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahabfine

  Diving all year; winter water is about 21–22 °C (70–72 °F) and windy; summer air tops 38 °C (100 °F).Diving all year; winter water is about 70–72 °F (21–22 °C) and windy; summer air tops 100 °F (38 °C).

• Western Desert oases · Siwa, Bahariya, the White Desertcool

  Cold desert nights in winter; unbearable summer days. Check travel advice and permits.

• Lower Egypt: Cairo and the Delta · Nile Valley and Deltafine

  Mild winters, hot dry summers; Delta humidity is higher than Cairo. Best Oct–Apr.

• Lower Egypt: Mediterranean coast (Alexandria, El Alamein, Port Said) · North coastcool

  Sea breeze keeps summer bearable; winter rain and rough seas. Best Apr–Oct.

• Middle Egypt: Nile valley (Beni Suef to Qus) · the whole regionfine

  Desert climate with no real rain. March–April and October–November are the workable windows; May–September afternoons pass 38 °C (100 °F) and sites offer no shade.Desert climate with no real rain. March–April and October–November are the workable windows; May–September afternoons pass 100 °F (38 °C) and sites offer no shade.

• Red Sea Coast: Red Sea Coast · Port Suez to the Sudanese borderfine

  Warm and dry year-round; sea is swimmable all year. Best diving and air temperatures March–May and September–November. July–August air 35 °C (95 °F)+ with high humidity on the coast; winter nights can be cool and windy.Warm and dry year-round; sea is swimmable all year. Best diving and air temperatures March–May and September–November. July–August air 95 °F (35 °C)+ with high humidity on the coast; winter nights can be cool and windy.

• Sinai: Red Sea coast (Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba) · east coast stripfine

  Sea swimming and diving work year-round; July–August air temperatures are punishing on land. Spring and autumn are the comfortable peaks.

• Sinai: Interior mountains (St Catherine, Mount Sinai) · central South Sinaicool

  High elevation: January–February lows average about 2 °C (36 °F), and summer days are hotter than the coast.High elevation: January–February lows average about 36 °F (2 °C), and summer days are hotter than the coast.

• Upper Egypt: Luxor · Nile Valley, Upper Egyptbest weather

  Desert climate: 40 °C (104 °F)+ afternoons June–August; winter days are mild but nights can drop near 8 °C (46 °F). Rain is rare.Desert climate: 104 °F (40 °C)+ afternoons June–August; winter days are mild but nights can drop near 46 °F (8 °C). Rain is rare.

• Upper Egypt: Aswan · Nile Valley, near the First Cataractbest weather

  Hotter and drier than Luxor; summer sightseeing is best split into early morning and late afternoon.

• Western Desert: Western Desert oases · Siwa, Bahariyya, Farafra, Dakhla and Khargabest weather

  October to April is the more workable season for desert travel; check local conditions before camping.

• Cairo19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Abu Kabir19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Abu Simbel24 °C (75 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 0 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 0 rain days
• Ain Sokhna20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
• Alexandria18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 11 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 11 rain days
• Arish18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
• Assiut20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• Aswan23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 0 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 0 rain days
• Bahariyya20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• Banha18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• Beni Hasan19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• Beni Suef19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 1 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 1 rain days
• Dahab21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
• Damanhur19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• Desouk18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Dumyat18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
• Edfu19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• El Alamein18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
• El-Ashmunein20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• El Gouna21.3 °C (70 °F) / 9.4 °C (49 °F), 0 rain days70 °F (21.3 °C) / 49 °F (9.4 °C), 0 rain days
• El Quseir21.9 °C (71 °F) / 13.8 °C (57 °F), 0 rain days71 °F (21.9 °C) / 57 °F (13.8 °C), 0 rain days
• Esna20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Farafra20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• Fayum18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Hurghada22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
• Ismailia19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• Kharga Oasis22 °C (72 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 0 rain days
• Kom Ombo25 °C (77 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 0 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 0 rain days
• Lisht19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Luxor23 °C (73 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 3 rain days
• Mallawi19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• Mansoura19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 11 rain days
• Marsa Alam22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
• Marsa Matruh9.5 °C (49 °F) / 9.5 °C (49 °F), 0 rain days49 °F (9.5 °C) / 49 °F (9.5 °C), 0 rain days
• Memphis, Egypt19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 3 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 3 rain days
• Minya19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• Mount Sinai14 °C (57 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 3 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 3 rain days
• New Administrative Capital20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Nuweiba21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
• Port Ghalib24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 0 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 0 rain days
• Port Safaga22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
• Port Said18 °C (64 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 16 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 16 rain days
• Port Suez10.5 °C (51 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 19 rain days51 °F (10.5 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 19 rain days
• Rosetta18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• Saqqara19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 3 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 3 rain days
• Sharm el-Sheikh22 °C (72 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 3 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 3 rain days
• Silsila20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
• Siwa19 °C (66 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 1 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 1 rain days
• Sohag18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Soma Bay22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 0 rain days
• Taba Heights20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Taba20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
• Tanta13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 13 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 13 rain days
• Tell Basta18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 3 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 3 rain days
• Wadi El Natrun18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• Zagazig18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Coptic Christmas

  7 Jan

  Public holiday; church services.

• Revolution Day / Police Day

  25 Jan

  Public holiday.

Crowds · Egypt

High

Prices · Egypt

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Egypt, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Upper Egypt (Nile Valley)

  Best weather of the year (Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel)

• Cairo

  Cool, some rain; good month.

• Abu Kabir

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Abu Simbel

  Best months: Nov–Feb

• Assiut

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Aswan

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Bahariyya

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Banha

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Beni Hasan

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Beni Suef

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Damanhur

  Best months: Oct–Apr

• Desouk

  Best months: Oct–Apr