Egypt month by month
Egypt in May
In short: May is the start of summer in Egypt. Cairo reaches 32°C (90°F), the Red Sea a pleasant 31°C (88°F) with sea water of 25°C (77°F), and Luxor and Aswan climb to 39°C (102°F). A tour is still quite possible if you start early and keep the afternoons quiet. In return you get fewer visitors and lower prices than in March and April, which suits travellers who cope well with heat and would rather have quiet than crowds.
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Warm but manageable with early mornings and quiet afternoons.
Quieter at the temples and keener prices for Nile cruises and hotels.
Red Sea: 31°C by day and sea water of 25°C, well suited to snorkelling and diving.
The weather in Egypt in May
Cairo reaches 32°C (90°F) by day and 18°C (64°F) at night. Luxor and Aswan reach 39 to 40°C (102 to 104°F), with nights of 20°C (68°F). On the Red Sea it is 31°C (88°F) by day and 21°C (70°F) at night, with sea water of 25°C (77°F). Expect 11 hours of sun a day and almost no rain. The khamsin, a warm desert wind, can still bring a dusty day in early May.
Who is May right for?
Travellers who cope well with heat and would rather have quiet than crowds. For families, a combination of Cairo and the Red Sea works best, perhaps with two days in Luxor; there is more in our guide to Egypt with kids. If the Nile is the heart of your trip, May brings very good prices for Nile cruises and dahabiyas.
Our advice for May
Turn your daily rhythm around: leave at six, finish around eleven, rest, and perhaps visit one more place at sunset. Do Abu Simbel with a very early start from Aswan, so that you reach the temples before the heat sets in. Finish with a few days on the Red Sea, where the sea breeze takes the edge off the heat.
Figures
Temperatures in Egypt in May
Average daytime highs and night-time lows per destination in May, in Celsius and Fahrenheit. You can see at a glance where it is comfortable and where you adjust the programme.
| Destination | Daytime | At night | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 32°C (90°F) | 18°C (64°F) | Summery and dry, with the odd dusty khamsin day |
| Luxor & Aswan | 39°C (102°F) | 20°C (68°F) | Hot in the afternoon, temples in the early morning |
| Red Sea (Hurghada) | 31°C (88°F) | 21°C (70°F) | Sea water 25°C, 31°C by day, good beach weather |
Averages over several years; a single year can differ slightly. About 11 hours of sunshine a day, sea water at Hurghada around 25°C (77°F).
Other months
Egypt month by month
Practical
What to pack
Light clothing that covers your skin, a hat, sun cream and a reusable water bottle. Air conditioning in the vehicle, hotel and ship is standard; a thin cardigan for indoors is sometimes welcome.
What you can do
Cairo and the Red Sea are relaxed in May. Luxor and Aswan remain possible with an adjusted programme: temples at sunrise, a museum or the boat in the afternoon. A dahabiya with a shaded deck is more pleasant now than a long day in the car.
Booking and prices
Low season begins in May: Nile cruises and hotels in Luxor and Aswan are noticeably cheaper and there is plenty of choice.
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Frequently asked questions
How hot is Egypt in May?
By day it averages 32°C (90°F) in Cairo, 39°C (102°F) in Luxor and Aswan and 31°C (88°F) on the Red Sea. Nights are 18 to 21°C (64 to 70°F). The sea is 25°C (77°F) and you get about 11 hours of sun a day.
Is May a good time to visit Egypt?
Yes, if you cope well with heat and are happy to adjust your programme. Cairo and the Red Sea are comfortable, Luxor and Aswan are hot in the afternoon, and you get fewer visitors and lower prices than in March and April.
Is May too hot for a tour of Egypt?
No, but it calls for an adjusted programme. You visit temples and tombs in the early morning and keep the afternoon free. Cairo and the Red Sea are comfortable in May; Luxor and Aswan reach 39°C in the afternoon.
Is Egypt cheaper in May?
Yes, low season begins in May. Nile cruises, dahabiyas and hotels in Luxor and Aswan are then noticeably cheaper than in February and March.
Is May a good month for the Red Sea?
Yes. With 31°C by day and sea water of 25°C it suits swimming, snorkelling and diving. The water is clear and the wind is usually calm.
Where is it warmest in Egypt in May?
In May it is warmest in Luxor and Aswan: 39°C (102°F) by day. Next come Sharm el-Sheikh at 34°C (93°F) and Marsa Alam at 33°C (91°F). Cairo reaches 32°C (90°F) and Alexandria 27°C (81°F). The sea is 25°C (77°F) at Hurghada and 26°C (79°F) at Marsa Alam.
What is the weather like in early and late May in Egypt?
Early May is still close to April: about 28°C (82°F) in Cairo and 35°C (95°F) in Luxor. By late May the figures move towards June: about 34°C (93°F) in Cairo and 41°C (106°F) in Luxor. Over the month the Red Sea water is between about 23°C (73°F) and 27°C (81°F).
Read on
Best time to visit Egypt
Month by month: when Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea are at their most comfortable.
Weather in Egypt
Temperatures per month for Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh, with the sea temperature.
Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh
Beach and an easy link with Luxor, or reefs and Mount Sinai: how to choose the Red Sea finish to your tour.
Historic Cairo (5 days)
Compact private tour of Cairo: pyramids, museums and the old city.
How many days in Egypt?
10 to 12 days suits most first trips; see what fits into 5, 10, 12, 14 and 15 days, with the matching tour.
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