Best time to visit Sharm el-Sheikh

Sharm el-Sheikh liegt am Sinai und ist ideal zum Tauchen und Schnorcheln. Ganzjährig warm und sehr trocken; der Hochsommer wird sehr heiß.

Sharm el-Sheikh carries an average daytime temperature of about 31 °C across the year, which makes the climate hot on the whole. Warmest is August at around 38 °C by day, while January is the coolest month at roughly 21 °C. The overall climate score for the destination is 78 out of 100.

Purely on climate, the most rewarding months are February, March, November and December. All values on this page are historical monthly averages rather than a forecast, so treat them as the typical pattern you can plan around, not a guarantee for a specific week.

As a coastal destination in Afrika, Sharm el-Sheikh follows the seasonal rhythm you would expect for its latitude, and the guide below breaks that rhythm down season by season, then by rain, sun, sea and travel style so you can match the month to what you actually want from the trip.

spring (March to May) is hot at around 30 °C by day and very dry with about 0 rainy days per month. Nights cool to about 20 °C. The sea averages around 24 °C. This stretch suits beach and swimming days.

summer (June to August) is hot at around 38 °C by day and very dry with about 0 rainy days per month. Nights cool to about 28 °C. The sea averages around 28 °C. This stretch suits beach and swimming days.

autumn (September to November) is hot at around 32 °C by day and very dry with about 1 rainy days per month. Nights cool to about 23 °C. The sea averages around 28 °C. This stretch suits beach and swimming days.

winter (December to February) is warm at around 23 °C by day and very dry with about 0 rainy days per month. Nights cool to about 15 °C. The sea averages around 24 °C. This stretch suits sightseeing, hiking and long days outdoors.

Day and night can feel quite different here. In the warmest month, August, days reach about 38 °C while nights ease to around 29 °C, a spread of roughly 10 degrees. The mildest nights come in August (about 29 °C), the coolest in January near 14 °C, so a light layer for the evening is worth packing outside high summer.

Relative humidity averages about 41 percent across the year, which is dry and easy to handle. Humidity shapes how warm a given temperature actually feels, so it is worth weighing alongside the raw degrees.

Across the year Sharm el-Sheikh records roughly 4 rainy days. The wettest month is March with about 1 rainy days, the driest is January with around 0. If low rain is your priority, the run of months around January is the safest bet. With a gap of roughly 1 rainy days between wettest and driest, the year stays fairly even, without a dramatic rainy season.

Sunshine peaks in June at about 10 hours a day and bottoms out in December near 5 hours. Longer days naturally line up with the drier, warmer part of the year.

The sea is warmest in August at about 29 °C and coolest in February near 23 °C. Comfortable swimming, from roughly 21 °C, is realistic in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, and the water turns genuinely warm (24 °C or more) in May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. Remember the sea lags the air by a few weeks, so early summer can feel warm on land while the water is still catching up.

The same destination rewards different trips at different times. Based on the predefined monthly scores for Sharm el-Sheikh:

Beach and swimming: the climate works best in February, March, April and November, when warm days and a swimmable sea line up.

City breaks and sightseeing: the climate works best in January, February, March and December, when temperatures are comfortable for walking without oppressive heat.

Hiking and active trips: the climate works best in January, February, March and December, when it is cooler and drier, better for effort.

Family holidays: the climate works best in February, March, November and December, when gentle warmth and low rain keep it relaxed with kids.

For packing, plan around light, breathable clothing and sun protection for the hot months and a warmer layer for cool nights (down to about 14 °C in January). With up to 10 hours of sun a day at the peak, a hat and sunscreen earn their place in the bag.

If flexibility on dates is an option, the shoulder weeks just before and after the peak months tend to offer the best balance of good weather, lower prices and fewer crowds. The wetter stretch around March is worth planning around if rain would spoil your plans, while the driest window near January is the safest for outdoor days.

If you want the most reliable conditions, aim for February, March, November and December. The shoulder around these months usually keeps most of the upside with thinner crowds and lower prices. January is the least typical month for a warm-weather trip here, though it can still suit a city break or a quiet off-season stay. Match the month to your priority, whether sun, sea, low rain or sightseeing comfort, using the month-by-month table above.

In short, there is rarely a single right answer: Sharm el-Sheikh shifts character across the year, and the best month is the one that lines up with the kind of trip you have in mind. Use the seasonal breakdown and the scores above to make that call with the numbers in front of you.