Best Time to Visit Cairo
A desert climate with a genuinely brutal summer, broken down so you can pick the trip you actually want.
There’s no single correct month to visit Cairo, it comes down to how much heat you’re willing to tolerate while walking around the Giza Plateau. Here’s how the year actually breaks down.
October-April
This window brings Cairo’s most comfortable weather, mild temperatures ranging roughly 18-28°C that make a full day at Giza genuinely pleasant. The trade-off is heavier crowds and higher hotel prices given the demand.
Winter (December-February): coolest, busiest, priciest
Winter brings Cairo’s coolest, most comfortable temperatures and its heaviest crowds, hotel prices climb accordingly. Book well ahead if travelling this window, particularly for Grand Egyptian Museum tickets.
Summer (June-August): hottest, cheapest
Summer brings Cairo’s most intense heat, temperatures regularly climbing above 35°C, considerably more draining for a full day of sightseeing. Prices dip given the tougher conditions, and the museums work well regardless of the heat.
Month by month, the short version
December-February: coolest, busiest, priciest.
March-April: warming up, still comfortable, thinning crowds.
May: a genuine sweet spot before summer heat sets in.
June-August: hottest, cheapest, tough for full days outdoors.
September-October: cooling down, the other best window.
November: mild, still a reasonable window for sightseeing.
Events worth timing around
The Sun Festival at Abu Simbel each February and October is genuinely worth timing a trip around if you’re extending to southern Egypt, sunlight illuminating the temple’s inner sanctuary on those two dates only. Ramadan’s Iftar traditions add a proper local counterpoint to the city’s usual pace too, though some restaurants keep shorter daytime hours during the month.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
