When is the best time to visit the Red Sea?
October to November and March to April are the best months: 25–28°C in the day, a sea around 25–27°C, and comfortable enough to actually leave the hotel. December to February is the UK's most reliable winter sun within about five hours. June to August is very hot — fine if you plan to stay by the water, hard work if you wanted to sightsee.
The Red Sea's selling point is that it works when Europe does not. Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Makadi Bay are swimmable every month of the year, which is not true of anywhere in the Mediterranean. The question is not really whether to go but which trade-off you want: perfect weather at a higher price, warm winter sun with cooler evenings, or peak heat at peak value.
| Period | Daytime | Sea | What it is good for | Crowds & price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar–Apr | 25–30°C | ~24–26°C | Everything — beach and excursions | Busy, higher |
| May | 30–35°C | ~26°C | Beach; excursions still bearable early | Building |
| Jun–Aug | 35–42°C+ | ~28–30°C | Pool and sea only | Hot, often cheaper |
| Sep | 32–36°C | ~29°C | Warmest sea of the year | Easing |
| Oct–Nov | 25–30°C | ~26–27°C | The sweet spot | Busy, higher |
| Dec–Feb | 20–24°C | ~22–23°C | Winter sun, diving, quiet | Peak at Christmas |
The two shoulder seasons are the answer for most people
If you can travel in October, November, March or April, do. Daytime sits in the mid-to-high twenties, the sea is properly warm, and — crucially — it is cool enough to spend a day at Luxor or on a desert safari without it becoming an endurance event.
That last point is the real argument for the shoulder months. In July, a day trip to the Valley of the Kings means walking around exposed stone in 45°C. In November it is a pleasant day out. If any part of your plan involves leaving the resort, the shoulder seasons are worth more than the money they cost.
Winter is genuinely good, with one caveat
December to February in the Red Sea is one of the better-kept secrets in UK travel. Daytime is around 20–24°C with reliable sun, the resorts are quieter, and prices outside the Christmas and February half-term peaks are soft.
The caveat is evenings. Once the sun goes down it drops to around 12–15°C, and the wind off the water makes it feel cooler. People pack for Egypt, arrive with nothing but shorts, and spend the week buying fleeces. Bring layers.
The sea stays around 22–23°C, which is swimmable but noticeably brisk on entry. Divers, who are in wetsuits anyway, often prefer winter — the water is clearer and the sites are quieter.
Summer: honest about the heat
June to August regularly passes 40°C, and inland at Luxor it goes considerably higher. The sea reaches around 28–30°C, which is lovely but stops being refreshing.
This is a perfectly good time to go if you are honest about what the holiday is: pool, sea, air conditioning, shade, and not much walking. Families tied to the school summer holidays do it every year and enjoy it. The price is usually better than the shoulder months, and the resorts are built for it.
What does not work in summer is an itinerary. Do not plan Luxor in August.
Ramadan and Eid
Ramadan moves earlier each year, and during it some restaurants and services outside the resorts run reduced hours. Inside the big all-inclusive resorts the effect on your week is usually minimal — they cater to international guests throughout — but excursions and local towns are quieter, and it is worth being aware of rather than surprised by.
Eid at the end of Ramadan is busy with regional travellers, which pushes both prices and occupancy up for a short window.
What about wind?
Hurghada gets consistent afternoon wind, which is why it is a serious kitesurfing and windsurfing destination. If that is what you came for, spring and early summer are strongest.
If you came for flat calm water, Sharm's bays are generally more sheltered than Hurghada's open coast, and mornings are calmer than afternoons almost everywhere.
Practical notes
- Flight time from the UK is about five hours to both Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.
- Sea temperature never drops below about 21°C, which is why year-round swimming is a real claim here rather than marketing.
- The sun is strong all year. Winter catches people out — a February burn is just as easy to get as an August one.
- Book shoulder season early. October, November, March and April fill up first, precisely because they are the best weeks.
- Entry requirements depend on your passport, and if you are a UK resident on an African passport there are specifics worth reading before you book — see our guide to booking a holiday on an African passport.
The short version
- Best all-round: October–November, March–April
- Best value in decent weather: May, late September
- Best winter sun: December–February, pack layers for evenings
- Cheapest with the most heat: June–August, plan a pool holiday
Still deciding where on the Red Sea to base yourself? See Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh, or tell us your dates and we will tell you what the water and the crowds will actually be doing that week.