Events

Holidays and closures ahead

• 7 January 2027

  Coptic Christmas Religious holiday

  A national public holiday, not only a Coptic one. Banks and offices close; the coast is in the middle of high season and hotels are full.

• 25 January 2027

  Revolution Day and Police Day Public holiday

  Banks, government offices and schools close. Hotels, dive centres and restaurants run normally, and the public beaches and corniches are busy with Egyptian families.

• 9 February 2027 – 10 March 2027

  Ramadan begins Religious holiday

  The rhythm of the whole coast changes for a month. Many local cafés and shops close during daylight and reopen late into the night; resorts, dive boats and tourist restaurants carry on as normal. Eating and drinking in public during the day is legal for visitors but conspicuous — most people simply do it indoors. It is one of the most interesting times to be here.

  Expected date — Islamic dates are confirmed by the moon sighting a day or two beforehand.

• 11 March 2027 – 13 March 2027

  Eid al-Fitr Religious holiday

  Several days of public holiday and the busiest domestic travel of the year. Hurghada and the coast fill with Egyptian families, hotel rates rise, and booking anything last-minute gets hard. Banks and offices close; tourist businesses stay open.

  Expected date — Islamic dates are confirmed by the moon sighting a day or two beforehand.

• 25 April 2027

  Sinai Liberation Day Public holiday

  Banks, government offices and schools close. Hotels, dive centres and restaurants run normally, and the public beaches and corniches are busy with Egyptian families.

• 1 May 2027

  Labour Day Public holiday

  Banks, government offices and schools close. Hotels, dive centres and restaurants run normally, and the public beaches and corniches are busy with Egyptian families.

• 3 May 2027

  Sham El Nessim Festival

  Egypt’s spring festival, older than either religion here and kept by everyone. Families spend the whole day outdoors, so every public beach, park and corniche on the coast is packed from early morning. Traditionally eaten with feseekh — salted fermented mullet — which is worth being cautious about if it has not been properly prepared.