The Best Time to Visit Hurghada, Month by Month

Hurghada has no bad months, only months that suit different things. The sea is swimmable all year — that is the whole reason the town exists — but the difference between snorkelling in April and snorkelling in August is real, and so is the difference between a desert safari in January and one in July.

The short answer

March to May and September to November are the best months, and it is not close. Warm sea, comfortable air, good underwater visibility, and neither the winter crowds nor the summer heat.

Month by month

December to February — mild, busy, and colder than people expect

Air around 20–24°C in the day and genuinely cool after dark. The sea sits in the low 20s: swimmable, and most people do swim, but it is bracing rather than warm and you will want more than a towel when you come out.

This is peak season, because Europe is freezing and Hurghada is not. Prices are high and the boats are full.

Best for: the desert. A desert safari in January is a pleasure — you can actually enjoy standing in the sun. Bring a jacket for the evening; once the sun drops in the desert it gets cold fast, and every year people are surprised by that.

March to May — the sweet spot

Air climbs from comfortable to hot, the sea warms from around 24°C in April into the upper 20s by late May, and the water is at its clearest. Long days, calm sea, good visibility.

Best for: everything, but especially the reef. If you are coming to snorkel or dive, this is the window. See the sea excursions.

June to August — very hot

Daytime temperatures regularly hit 35–40°C. The sea is at its warmest, in the high 20s and touching 30°C, which is glorious for swimming and slightly less refreshing than you might want.

This is the second peak, driven by school holidays. Boats are busy.

Best for: the water, obviously. Be careful with: the desert. Do not do a midday desert safari in July. Take the sunset slot — our safaris run in the late afternoon for exactly this reason — and drink far more water than you think you need.

September to November — the other sweet spot

The heat breaks, the sea stays warm (still around 27°C in October), and the crowds thin. Visibility is excellent. Many people who have been several times will tell you October is the best month of the year in Hurghada, and they are hard to argue with.

Best for: everything. Best combination of sea, air, price and space of the whole year.

What about wind?

Hurghada is windy — that is why it is a kitesurfing town. Wind mostly affects the boats: on a rough day the sea trips can be cancelled, and they should be. If an operator sails anyway because they do not want to lose the booking, that is a bad sign about everything else they do.

If the weather cancels your trip with us, we move you to another day at no cost. We would rather lose a day than put a boat out in water it should not be in.

Ramadan and holidays

Ramadan does not close Hurghada — the resorts and excursions run normally, and as a visitor you will barely notice a difference on a boat or in the desert. In town, some restaurants keep different hours during the day. It is worth knowing about rather than worth avoiding.

So when should you come?

• Want the reef at its best? April–June or September–November.
• Want the desert without suffering? October–April.
• Travelling with small children? Avoid July and August — the heat is genuinely hard on them.
• Want the lowest prices and the quietest boats? Late spring and late autumn, either side of the peaks.

Whenever you come, tell us your dates on WhatsApp and we will tell you honestly what is running well that week — and what is not.