Egypt in May

Luxor hits 40 °C (104 °F); temples at dawn only. Eid al-Adha about 16 May 2027 fills transport (check).Luxor hits 104 °F (40 °C); temples at dawn only. Eid al-Adha about 16 May 2027 fills transport (check).

May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• 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.
• 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.

• Cairo and the Delta · Cairo, Giza, Saqqarahot

  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 Simbelhot

  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 Alameinbest weather

  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, Dahabbest weather

  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 Deserthot

  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 coastbest weather

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

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

  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 borderbest weather

  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 stripbest weather

  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 Sinaibest weather

  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 Egypthot

  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 Cataracthot

  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 Khargafine

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

• Cairo33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 0 rain days
• Abu Kabir32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Abu Simbel39 °C (102 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 0 rain days102 °F (39 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 0 rain days
• Ain Sokhna32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain days
• Alexandria27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 1 rain days
• Arish29 °C (84 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 1 rain days
• Assiut35 °C (95 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Aswan40 °C (104 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 0 rain days104 °F (40 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 0 rain days
• Bahariyya35 °C (95 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
• Banha32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
• Beni Hasan35 °C (95 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Beni Suef35 °C (95 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Dahab32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Damanhur31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 1 rain days
• Desouk33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Dumyat27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 1 rain days
• Edfu35 °C (95 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
• El Alamein26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
• El-Ashmunein34 °C (93 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• El Gouna31.8 °C (89 °F) / 19.9 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days89 °F (31.8 °C) / 68 °F (19.9 °C), 0 rain days
• El Quseir29.8 °C (86 °F) / 22.7 °C (73 °F), 0 rain days86 °F (29.8 °C) / 73 °F (22.7 °C), 0 rain days
• Esna38 °C (100 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
• Farafra38 °C (100 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
• Fayum34 °C (93 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
• Hurghada34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 0 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 0 rain days
• Ismailia31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 1 rain days
• Kharga Oasis38 °C (100 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain days
• Kom Ombo38 °C (100 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
• Lisht33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Luxor39 °C (102 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days102 °F (39 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
• Mallawi33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Mansoura31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 3 rain days
• Marsa Alam34 °C (93 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 0 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 0 rain days
• Marsa Matruh22.1 °C (72 °F) / 16.2 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22.1 °C) / 61 °F (16.2 °C), 0 rain days
• Memphis, Egypt33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Minya35 °C (95 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Mount Sinai28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 0 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 0 rain days
• New Administrative Capital38 °C (100 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
• Nuweiba32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Port Ghalib33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 0 rain days
• Port Safaga33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 4 rain days
• Port Said26 °C (79 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
• Port Suez19.5 °C (67 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 32 rain days67 °F (19.5 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 32 rain days
• Rosetta30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 1 rain days
• Saqqara33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
• Sharm el-Sheikh35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 1 rain days
• Silsila38 °C (100 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 0 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 0 rain days
• Siwa34 °C (93 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 0 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 0 rain days
• Sohag35 °C (95 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
• Soma Bay33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 0 rain days
• Taba Heights32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
• Taba33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 0 rain days
• Tanta31 °C (88 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
• Tell Basta32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 1 rain days
• Wadi El Natrun33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
• Zagazig33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 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.

• Sham el-Nessim

  Coptic Easter Monday (Apr/May, moves)

  Spring picnic day; parks and Nile banks packed.

• Eid al-Adha big impact

  About 16–19 May 2027 (lunar — check)

  Several days off; transport and resorts booked out.

• Ramadan check

  Moves yearly; check this year's dates · Cairo

  Shorter shop and museum hours by day, restaurants closed until sunset, then a livelier city until late; no eating or drinking in public by day.

Crowds · Egypt

Low

Prices · Egypt

Medium

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

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

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Rated best or good this month

• Mediterranean coast

  Best weather of the year (Alexandria, El Alamein)

• Red Sea and South Sinai

  Best weather of the year (Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab)

• Ain Sokhna

  Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov

• Alexandria

  Best months: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

• Dahab

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

• Dumyat

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

• Edfu

  Best months: Oct–May

• El Alamein

  Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov

• El Gouna

  Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov

• Hurghada

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

• Marsa Alam

  Best months: Mar–Nov

• Mount Sinai

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov