How we know: Sources are listed at the end. Weather figures are official climate normals; route and visa facts come from the cited pages. Wildly does not publish fare averages in prose; live prices are on the linked route pages.
Egypt is a winter destination. From October to April Cairo highs sit in the 65–85°F range and Luxor and Aswan are warm rather than punishing, which is why that is the tour-group season and when Nile cruises run full. May to September is very hot everywhere except the coast, but it is also when the temples are emptiest. The sweet spot for most travelers is the edge of the cool season: late February to March and late October to November.
Cairo weather by month
1991–2020 climate normals for Cairo International Airport, as published by the WMO/NOAA and reproduced on Wikipedia:
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | |---|---|---|---| | January | 66°F (18.9°C) | 50°F (10.1°C) | 0.2 in | | February | 69°F (20.5°C) | 52°F (11.0°C) | 0.1 in | | March | 75°F (23.8°C) | 56°F (13.2°C) | 0.2 in | | April | 83°F (28.1°C) | 61°F (15.9°C) | 0.1 in | | May | 90°F (32.2°C) | 67°F (19.3°C) | 0.0 in | | June | 94°F (34.6°C) | 72°F (22.2°C) | 0.0 in | | July | 95°F (35.0°C) | 75°F (23.8°C) | 0.0 in | | August | 95°F (34.9°C) | 76°F (24.3°C) | 0.0 in | | September | 92°F (33.4°C) | 73°F (22.7°C) | 0.0 in | | October | 86°F (30.0°C) | 68°F (20.0°C) | 0.0 in | | November | 77°F (24.9°C) | 60°F (15.6°C) | 0.2 in | | December | 69°F (20.5°C) | 53°F (11.7°C) | 0.1 in |
Rain is essentially irrelevant; heat is the variable. Cairo tops 90°F on average from May through September, and Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel) runs hotter still. The spring khamsin wind can bring dusty, hot days between March and May. December and January are pleasant by day but cool at night, especially on the river.
Season by season
October–November (autumn, high season begins). Heat breaks in October and by November Cairo is in the 70s. Tour groups return, Nile cruises fill and the major sites are at their busiest. Excellent weather; book early.
December–February (winter, peak). The most comfortable months for Luxor and Aswan and the busiest period at the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings, especially over Christmas–New Year. Red Sea water is at its coolest but still fine for diving with a wetsuit.
March–April (spring). Warming quickly; March is still comfortable, April is hot in the south. Easter and US spring break bring a final wave of visitors before the season winds down. Watch for khamsin dust days.
May–September (summer). Very hot inland, with Aswan routinely over 100°F. Crowds are minimal and hotels discount heavily. Realistic only if you start early, rest through midday, and focus on Cairo, Alexandria and the Red Sea resorts; a Luxor–Aswan cruise is doable but demanding.
Getting there from the US
Cairo International (CAI) is the gateway and the hub of EgyptAir. According to the airport's Wikipedia airlines-and-destinations list, EgyptAir flies nonstop from New York–JFK, Newark, Washington–Dulles, Chicago–O'Hare and Los Angeles. Every other US city connects, most often through a European hub (Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, London, Rome, Istanbul) or a Gulf hub (Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi). Red Sea resorts (Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh) and Luxor have international airports served mainly from Europe, so from the US you will usually enter via Cairo.
For today's prices see JFK to Cairo, Newark to Cairo, Washington Dulles to Cairo, Chicago to Cairo and LAX to Cairo.
When fares tend to be lowest
US–Egypt demand is inverted relative to most European destinations: the tourist high season is winter, so the December–February and October–November windows are when published fares are usually firmest, with Christmas–New Year the peak. Summer is the quiet season on the ground but overlaps with the general US summer travel peak on one-stop European routings, so it is not automatically cheap. The transitional months, late February–March and September, are where fares tend to be softest relative to the weather you get.
Pick a target from the route page and set a price alert. Wildly checks the routes you track every day and emails you when the fare drops to your target.
Entry requirements for US citizens
According to Wikivoyage, US citizens can obtain a visa on arrival at major entry points, priced at US$25 and issued as a sticker at a bank counter before passport control; Egypt also offers an e-visa for many nationalities that can be arranged before departure. Tourist visas are generally valid for up to three months. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. Note the Sinai exception: visitors arriving at Sharm el-Sheikh or the Taba land border can get a free 14-day Sinai-only permit, but it does not cover Cairo, Luxor or anywhere outside the Aqaba coast. Confirm current rules with the Egyptian embassy before you fly.
Where to go, by month
- October–April: Anywhere. Cairo and Giza, a Luxor–Aswan Nile cruise, Abu Simbel, and the Western Desert oases are all at their best.
- March and November: The best compromise months for combining Cairo, Upper Egypt and a few days on the Red Sea.
- May–September: Cairo early in the day, Alexandria and the Mediterranean coast, and the Red Sea resorts (Hurghada, El Gouna, Dahab) where the sea breeze and diving make the heat manageable.
FAQ
What is the cheapest month to fly to Egypt? There is no single winner every year. The transitional months on either side of the winter high season (late February–March, September) are usually the softest for fares; check the route page for your airport and set an alert rather than relying on a rule.
Is summer too hot to visit Egypt? For Luxor and Aswan, most people find it is. Cairo is hot but workable with an early start, and the Red Sea coast is a legitimate summer destination.
Do US citizens need a visa for Egypt? Yes, but it is available on arrival for US$25 (Wikivoyage), or as an e-visa in advance. Carry cash for the sticker if you are buying it at the airport.
How many days do you need? Seven to nine nights: three in Cairo (pyramids, the museums, Islamic Cairo), a three- or four-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, and travel days. A shorter trip means choosing between the pyramids and the Nile.
When is Ramadan and does it affect travel? Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year on the Western calendar. Sites stay open, but hours shorten and many restaurants close during daylight; check the dates for your travel year.