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Nile Cruises Luxor to Aswan: Routes, Boats and Prices
Classic Egypt Tours: Cairo, Luxor and Aswan Itineraries
Nile Cruise and Red Sea Holidays: Two-Week Egypt Trips
White Desert Tours from Cairo: Oases and Desert Camping
Short Breaks in Egypt: Three and Four Day Cairo Trips
Tailor-made Egypt Tours: Private Trips Built Around You
Weather · Cairo
Cairo weather is warm and dry for most of the year. Daytime highs run from 19C in January to 35C in July and August. Rain is rare, with three or four rain days a month in winter and none in summer. October to April is the comfortable time for the pyramids and the old city. Winter nights drop to about 10C, so bring a warm layer. Below are the numbers month by month, the heat, the spring dust wind and what to pack.
Cairo has two seasons that matter to a visitor. From October to April the days run between 19C and 29C, which is easy walking weather. From May to September the highs sit between 32C and 35C, with warm nights of 19C to 24C. The chart below shows each month, with night lows, sunshine and rain days.
Cairo weather by month
Typical daytime highs, with night lows, sea, sunshine and rain below.
| Daytime high | Night low | Sunshine, hours a day | Rain days a month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C | 10°C | 7 | 4 |
| February | 21°C | 11°C | 8 | 3 |
| March | 24°C | 13°C | 9 | 2 |
| April | 28°C | 16°C | 9 | 1 |
| May | 32°C | 19°C | 10 | 0 |
| June | 34°C | 22°C | 12 | 0 |
| July | 35°C | 24°C | 11 | 0 |
| August | 35°C | 24°C | 11 | 0 |
| September | 32°C | 23°C | 10 | 0 |
| October | 29°C | 20°C | 9 | 1 |
| November | 24°C | 16°C | 8 | 1 |
| December | 20°C | 12°C | 7 | 3 |
Winter, December to February, is the coolest time. Highs are 20C in December, 19C in January and 21C in February. Nights fall to 10C to 12C. This is also when Cairo gets its rain, about three or four days a month, usually short showers. You get seven or eight hours of sun a day.
Spring warms up fast. March reaches 24C and April 28C, with nights of 13C and 16C. Rain almost stops, with one or two rain days a month. Late March and April can bring the khamsin, a hot wind from the south that carries sand for a day or two.
Summer, June to August, is hot and dry. Highs are 34C in June and 35C in July and August. Nights stay warm at 22C to 24C, so the city cools off very little after dark. There is no rain at all, and June has the most sun, at 12 hours a day.
Autumn eases back down. September is still 32C, October drops to 29C and November to 24C. Nights go from 23C in September to 16C in November. Rain returns in small amounts, about one day a month in October and November.
From October to April you can sightsee all day. A full morning at Giza and an afternoon in the old city both work at 19C to 29C. In March and April, start earlier at Giza, because the plateau has no shade.
From May to September, plan the day around the heat. Do the pyramids early, then move indoors for the middle of the day. The Grand Egyptian Museum galleries open from 9:00 to 18:00, and until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. That makes a summer evening visit easy. The Citadel opens from 8am to 5pm, so go at the start of the day.
Cairo is a few degrees cooler than Luxor all year. In July Cairo reaches 35C and Luxor 41C. That is why a summer trip that has to include the Nile valley often spends more of its time in Cairo.
Cairo is very dry. The wettest months are January with about four rain days, then February and December with about three. From May to September there are no rain days in the averages. An umbrella is rarely worth packing. A light waterproof layer covers the odd winter shower.
The khamsin is the weather to watch in spring. It is a hot southerly wind that can bring sand for a day or two, usually from late March and sometimes into April. It cannot be predicted far ahead. It rarely ruins a trip, but it can make the air hazy at Giza and spoil photographs.
For December to February, pack layers. Days at 19C to 21C feel warm in the sun, but nights at 10C to 12C need a jumper or a light jacket. A scarf helps on a cool evening and covers your hair in a mosque.
For March, April, October and November, pack light clothes with one warm layer for the evening. Add a scarf you can wrap across your face if the khamsin blows in spring.
For May to September, pack loose cotton or linen with long sleeves and long trousers. A brimmed hat, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen matter at Giza, where there is no shade. Bring one warmer layer too, because museums, cars and restaurants run the air conditioning cold.
For sightseeing, choose October, November, March or April. The highs of 24C to 29C let you walk all day without the winter crowds of December and January.
For the coolest weather, choose December to February, at 19C to 21C. These are also the busiest months, and December and January are priced at peak.
For the lowest prices, choose June or July. Both are very quiet and priced low. Expect 34C to 35C and plan the day around museums and early starts.
If Cairo is part of a longer trip with Luxor and Aswan, the season inland decides the dates. October to April works for both. Our best time to visit Cairo page looks at crowds, holidays and events for each month.
Mild by day and cool at night. December highs are about 20C, and nights drop to about 12C. You get around seven hours of sun a day and about three rain days in the month. Bring a jumper or light jacket for the evenings.
July and August are the hottest months, with average highs of 35C and nights of 24C. June is close behind at 34C. Single days can run hotter than the average. In summer, do outdoor sights early and spend the middle of the day indoors.
March, April, October and November give warm days of 24C to 29C with little rain. December to February is cooler, at 19C to 21C, and busier. All of October to April works well for sightseeing.
Rarely. January has about four rain days, February and December about three. From May to September there is no rain in the long-term averages. Showers are usually short.
Night lows are about 10C in January, 11C in February and 12C in December. That feels cold after a sunny day. Pack a warm layer, especially for evenings out or an early start at Giza.
Yes, all year. Cairo's highs run from 19C to 35C. Luxor's run from 23C to 41C. In summer the gap is about six degrees, which makes Cairo the easier half of a summer trip.
Warm and dry. March reaches 24C and April 28C, with one or two rain days a month. Late March and April can bring the khamsin, a hot wind carrying sand for a day or two.
Loose cotton or linen that covers your shoulders and knees, a brimmed hat and sunglasses. Bring sunscreen from home. Carry a light layer for cold air conditioning in museums, cars and restaurants.
Entry rules, opening hours, security advice and exchange rates all move. Check them at the source, not here.
Written and checked by the Nile Trip Guide editorial team · Last reviewed . Entry rules, prices and opening hours change — check anything critical against the official sources linked on this page.
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5 days · Short break
Five days in Cairo and nowhere else: Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel, Coptic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili. Four nights in one hotel, and every sightseeing day run privately.
from US$935 / per person
5 days · Short break
Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then a flight south for one night in Luxor covering both banks, and a flight back. Five days, two cities, both domestic flights in the price and every day guided privately.
from US$1,480 / per person
