When to go
If you want to visit the
archaeological sites of Egypt, such as the Great Pyramids of El Giza, the best time is winter (
November to February), when the weather is normally mild and sunny. The temperature range can be high, especially in the south, so much so that it can be warm during the day but even cold at night.
The absolute best months are probably November in the north (Cairo, El Giza) and December in the center-south (Luxor, Aswan).
In spring, the temperatures are higher (in the south, the days in April are already scorching), but nights are cool; sometimes, however, the
Khamsin blows.
In summer, on the northern coast and down to El Cairo and Giza, the heat is sweltering, while further south, the heat is intense but dry; a relentless sun reigns everywhere. During this period, it can be unpleasant to visit the archaeological sites for those who don't like the heat, though, on the positive side, in this period there's a lower number of tourists.
If you want to go on a
beach holiday, it's necessary to distinguish between the coast of the Mediterranean and that of the Red Sea.
On the
Mediterranean Coast, the long summer, from mid-May to mid-October, is fine, although, as previously mentioned, the sea in May is still cool.
On the
Red Sea coast, summer is too hot, while winter is a bit cool, so the best periods are spring and autumn.
In Sharm el Sheikh, the best times are the month of April, and from mid-October to mid-November. As previously mentioned, because of the thermal inertia of the sea, the sea is warmer in the latter period. During winter, the sun often shines but the air temperature, though pleasant, is not always high enough for swimming and sunbathing, while in summer, the weather is often too hot.
What to pack
In
winter: in Cairo, bring spring/autumn clothes, a jacket and a sweater, warm clothing for hotels and houses which could not be heated; in Alexandria and the Mediterranean coast, you can add a raincoat or umbrella.
In the desert, bring light clothing, but also a sweater and a warm jacket for the evening, and a scarf for the sand.
On the Red Sea Coast, bring light clothes for the day, a sweater and a light jacket for the evening. In Sinai, a warm jacket and hiking boots. For boat trips, a wind jacket.
In
summer: on the Mediterranean Coast and in Cairo, bring summer clothes; add a light sweatshirt for the evening on the coast.
In the desert, bring loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, light and long shirts and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), a wide-brimmed hat, a light scarf, sunglasses (even graduated instead of contact lenses), comfortable and breathable shoes; a sweatshirt for the night, a sleeping bag to sleep outdoors; desert boots or sandals. It's best for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts in rural and non-tourist areas.
On the Red Sea Coast, bring lightweight clothes. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
Back to the climate of
Egypt