Best time to visit Hurghada: month by month – and what no climate table shows

It practically never rains in Hurghada. The question of the best time to visit is therefore not whether the sun shines, but three others: how hot does it get, how warm is the sea, and how hard does the wind blow?

The short answer first: anyone who wants to swim and go on excursions should come in October, early November or May. Anyone who mainly wants to go to Luxor, or copes badly with heat, should come in winter. And anyone who wants the warmest water accepts the summer – with everything that comes with it.

The figures for Hurghada

Averages, rounded. Air figures from the climate normals of the US weather agency NOAA/WMO for 1991 to 2020, sea figures from the climate service Weather2Travel.

Month	Day	Night	Sea
January	22°C	12°C	23°C
February	23°C	12°C	22°C
March	26°C	15°C	22°C
April	30°C	19°C	23°C
May	34°C	23°C	24°C
June	36°C	26°C	26°C
July	37°C	28°C	27°C
August	37°C	28°C	28°C
September	35°C	26°C	27°C
October	32°C	22°C	27°C
November	28°C	18°C	26°C
December	24°C	13°C	24°C

Rain is rare: even in October and November, the wettest months, average rainfall is a good two millimetres. These monthly averages do not rule out individual days of heavy rain.

The sea figures show the difference between air and bathing temperatures: the average is 23°C in April and 27°C in October. For a holiday with long swimming stops, autumn is therefore a different choice from spring.

Average winds and individual storm days

The wind blows from the north in Hurghada almost all year round. According to the analysis by the weather service Weather Spark, it’s strongest between late May and early October; the windiest month is September, with an average of around 23 km/h, and the calmest is November, with around 18. Weather Spark

On the water, conditions on the actual day matter. A monthly average does not tell you whether the outward or return crossing will be calm. Seasick on the boat trip

A lower average wind speed does not rule out storms. On 17 January 2025, Hurghada Port was closed because of waves three to four metres high, according to Egypt’s State Information Service. This does not establish a fixed season for port closures. SIS Anyone coming in winter or spring should therefore schedule the big boat day early in the week, so there’s still a fallback date. What to do on land on a day like that is covered in Hurghada with kids when the boat doesn’t sail, which also covers the hot desert wind khamsin in spring.

Sunset and evening safaris

The afternoon desert tours are built around sunset. In Hurghada, that falls just before 5pm in December and at around 7.40pm in June – partly because Egypt puts the clocks forward by an hour from late April to late October. Almost three hours lie between the two. Weather Spark

This can also shift pickup times for sunset tours. Confirm the time for your travel date and hotel; sunset time alone does not establish an exact tour schedule.

And the nights: in January, the temperature already drops to an average of 12°C even on the coast. Anyone heading into the desert in winter to see the stars should bring a jacket, even if it was 22°C at midday. The sunrise tour with breakfast that some operators offer, on the other hand, is a summer option: sunrise in June at around 5.50am, but the coolest hours of the day. All the options: Desert safari from Hurghada.

Luxor and Cairo: here, winter decides

For the long-distance trips, a different table applies than at the coast. Luxor lies in the Nile Valley, without a sea breeze, and averages 40°C by day in July. In the Valley of the Kings, there’s barely any shade between the tombs. Weather2Travel

In January, by contrast, it’s 22°C by day there, but only 6°C at night. Many day tours start before sunrise. Your exact pickup and arrival time in Luxor depend on your hotel and the route. A warm layer belongs in the luggage then, as absurd as that sounds in Egypt.

The most pleasant months for Luxor are therefore November to March. Anyone who can only travel in summer should take the overnight option and sightsee early in the morning, rather than packing ten hours on a coach and the midday heat into a single day. Compare the options: Luxor day trip from Hurghada and Cairo & pyramids from Hurghada.

Underwater: visibility versus warmth

From December to April, the sea is 22 to 24°C. Longer snorkelling sessions can feel chilly then. Before booking, check whether a suitable wetsuit is available and included in the price. Visibility depends on the reef, wind and conditions on the day. More about the coast: The Red Sea in Egypt.

From June to October, the water is 26 to 28°C. That’s the time for long snorkel stops, and for anyone diving for the first time who doesn’t want to get cold. The options: Snorkelling in Hurghada and Diving in Hurghada. October combines the two best of all, warm water and air that doesn’t send you straight into the shade after getting off the boat.

For anyone tied to school holidays

Summer school holidays, July and August. Around 37°C by day, 28°C at night, the warmest water of the year. And full hotels: in August 2026, the newspaper Egypt Independent reported occupancy in Hurghada of almost a hundred per cent for the third month running, driven partly by Egyptian holidaymakers and by Egyptians who work abroad and come home in summer. Book early, schedule excursions for the morning, and spend the midday hours in the shade. Egypt Independent

Autumn holidays, October and early November. Monthly averages are 32°C by day and 27°C at sea in October, then 28 and 26°C in November. November also has the lowest average wind speed; calm holiday days are not guaranteed.

Christmas and New Year. 24°C by day, 13°C at night, sea around 24°C. Beach days work, swimming days for kids less so – a heated pool matters more than the beach location in these weeks. More on this in Hurghada with a baby.

Spring and Easter school holidays, March and April. Warm air, cool water, and in April the possibility of a khamsin day.

May. Around 34°C, the water is warming up, and khamsin can blow in May too. Eid al-Adha is expected in mid-May 2027; final dates depend on local moon sightings. At the big holidays, the Egyptian press reports rising occupancy from holidaymakers from within the country.

During Ramadan, check meal times and food for excursions with your hotel; restaurants in town may have different opening hours. Ramadan is expected in February and March 2027; final dates depend on local moon sightings. What that means for meals out and about: Eating with kids in Hurghada.

When we advise against it

July and August with an infant, or with anyone who copes badly with heat. The average night-time low is around 28°C; individual nights can be cooler or warmer. Anyone who sleeps badly in the heat won’t find any relief here at night either, except in air conditioning.

Luxor as a day trip in high summer. Setting off at night, 40°C on average, back at night. In winter or with an overnight stay, otherwise better not at all. Why that also applies to people who can’t walk far is covered in Hurghada with reduced mobility.

A January week built entirely around one boat day. Not because January is bad, but because a single storm is enough to cancel exactly that day. Anyone coming in winter should plan two possible dates for the islands: Orange Bay & Giftun Island.