Best time to visit Sharm el Sheikh

Find the best time to visit Sharm el Sheikh and plan your perfect trip in 2024/2025. Get holiday inspiration, weather guides, travel advice and find great deals.

Sharm el Sheikh by month

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When is the best time to visit Sharm el Sheikh?

The best time to visit Sharm el Sheikh is March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October based on the following average weather conditions.

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Hours of Sunshine (daily)

Which is the hottest month in Sharm el Sheikh?

The hottest time of year in Sharm el Sheikh is normally August. Expect maximum daytime temperatures to reach 35°C with very high heat and humidity.

Does it ever rain in Sharm el Sheikh?

It never rains much in Sharm el Sheikh but December usually has the most rain with an average of 4mm. There are normally 1 day in December with some rain.

When is it sunniest in Sharm el Sheikh?

The sunniest time of year in Sharm el Sheikh is normally July with bright sunshine on average for 93% of daylight hours; that's 13 hours of sunshine per day.

When is the sea warmest in Sharm el Sheikh?

The sea is usually at its warmest in Sharm el Sheikh in August when the water temperature reaches 28°C.

Best time to visit

The weather guide for Red Sea (Sharm el Sheikh) shows long term weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia) & today's weather forecast provided by meteoblue. Find out more about our data sources.

Metric (°C / mm)  |  Imperial (°F / inches)

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Sharm el Sheikh overview

If you're thinking of booking a holiday to Sharm el Sheikh but you're not sure when to go, you've come to the right place. Read on to find out Sharm el Sheikh weather throughout the year, as well as some suggestions for the best time to visit based on various preferences.

Located towards the southern tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Sharm el Sheikh has long been a favourite with holidaymakers after reliable hot and sunny weather.

Sandwiched between the rising rugged landscape and the Red Sea coast, it's known for its warm turquoise waters, well equipped beaches, and dry, desert-like climate. Sharm el Sheikh weather guarantees plenty of sunshine all year round, which make for ideal holiday conditions within easy reach of the UK.

Faraana Reef Beach, Sharm el Sheikh
Faraana Reef Beach, Sharm el Sheikh © sola_sola - Fotolia.com

The Red Sea is popular thanks to its calm nature - great for kids - and plentiful swimming opportunities, but there is more to Sharm el Sheikh: many people come to immerse themselves in the range of outdoor activities, such as diving, camel trekking, quad biking and camping under the stars. Then there's the shopping, water sports and chance to visit St Catherine's Monastery and climb Mount Sinai for the ultimate historic hike.

Whatever gets you to there, you can rest assured that you'll almost certainly have good weather in Sharm el Sheikh, but just how hot and how sunny will vary according to the time of year.

With two distinct seasons, summer and winter, Sharm el Sheikh weather is relatively straightforward, it's just about finding the right time to visit that suits you.

Sharm el Sheikh in summer

The summer months see the hottest temperatures of the year when it comes to Sharm el Sheikh's weather, ranging from the low thirties to the mid forties between June and September.

Understandably, when temperatures start to peak around July and August, it can be unbearable - not to mention dangerous for sunbathing - which is why it is the quietest time.

During this time, Sharm el Sheikh's weather provides great conditions for diving enthusiasts who happily take advantage of the warm waters and more peaceful resorts during this period.

Days are long, with between 11 and 13 hours of sunshine from June to September, while evenings are very warm and pleasant.

As you might expect, there is high heat and humidity, in particular during July and August. On occasion, high temperatures can couple with a very high or even extreme levels of heat and humidity, which can makes things incredibly uncomfortable, however, this is relatively rare.

The good news for those thinking of taking on Sharm el Sheikh's weather in the summer is that a north wind often blows down through Sharm el Sheikh from the Mediterranean, which helps to regulate the temperatures, bringing fresh air and a welcome cooling breeze.

Snorkelling in the Red Sea, Egypt
Snorkelling in the Red Sea, Egypt © Patryk Kosmider - Fotolia.com

As for the sea, Sharm el Sheikh's weather spends the early part of summer warming the waters around the coast, with temperatures rising from around 23°C in April to 28°C by the end of August and into September.

The steady increase makes a significant difference, with inviting temperatures making swimming, water sports or even a good splash about much more enjoyable than in the preceding winter months.

If you're planning a holiday in summertime count on it being very hot with lashings of sunshine, balmy sea temperatures, and high heat and humidity, which means you need to drink plenty of water, slap on the SPF, and invest in a good sunhat to avoid burning, as the sun's rays are especially strong at this time.

Sharm el Sheikh in winter

Sharm el Sheikh's weather provides ideal winter sun conditions for many, with days graced with ample sunshine and temperatures comparable to Gran Canaria. Deciding if this is the right time of year for you to visit very much depends on what you want to do.

Thanks to its desert climate, Sharm el Sheikh's weather is never what you would call 'cold'. It hardly ever drops much below 20°C, even in January, officially the coolest month of the year.

By March and into April things are already heating up once more, climbing quite rapidly from around 24°C to 28°C, although evenings remain cool so layers are recommended.

The only downside to visiting at this time is that the sea hasn't yet caught up with the air temperature. While days stay long and sunny enough to enjoy the great outdoors - even in December and January you're likely to see around eight hours of sunshine - you might want to avoid the sea as the temperature dips significantly from November to May.

Winter sun in Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt
Winter sun in Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt © martinwi1 - Flickr CC BY-ND 2.0

While October remains perfect for swimming at 27°C, it drops continuously until February and March, which are positively cold at 21°C, before starting to climb again in April to 23°C.

Put simply, if you're planning on making the most of the ambient Sharm el Sheikh weather for some winter sun, be sure to book a hotel with a heated pool, as the sea is likely to be a little too chilly for you to really enjoy.

It hardly ever rains in Sharm el Sheikh, but if the grey clouds do roll in it tends to be between January and March, and is usually a passing shower.

There's nothing more than a slim chance of seeing torrential rain during this time, but if you do encounter this, watch out for flash flooding which can quickly occur.

April sees the dry Khamsin wind blowing in from the west, which kindly brings the Sahara to you, along with plenty of dust and the only real chance of a sandstorm, although there's no certainty about this year-on-year, especially when compared to other destinations in Egypt, such as Aswan or Cairo, which experience these storms more frequently.

Sharm el Sheikh summary

Anytime between April and June is especially good to visit as Sharm el Sheikh weather is heating up with loads of sunshine on offer. The only downside is that the sea isn't as warm as it becomes in later months after benefiting from the intense summer sun.

Unless you're a big fan of extreme heat, it's best to avoid Sharm el Sheikh during July and August, while September is another excellent month. Although temperatures remain high, they don't have the same aggression as in August, and the sea nice and toasty with ample sunshine to boot.

Sharm el Sheikh is also a much loved winter sun destination, just don't pin your hopes on experiencing warm waters between November and March. When deciding on the best time to visit it really depends what Sharm el Sheikh weather you're after - the choice is yours!

Looking for more information about Sharm el Sheikh weather in 2023/2024? Visit the climate page for annual averages and five day forecast for the week ahead. If you're looking for a great deal to get you there, don't miss our dedicated Red Sea holidays page.

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