Best time to visit Hurghada
Compare Hurghada month by month: air and sea temperatures, winter swimming, snorkelling conditions and seasonal trade-offs before booking. Last reviewed 26 July 2026.
Which season suits your trip?
Start with April or October for a first visit that mixes the beach with time outdoors. May brings warmer water but hotter afternoons. Summer suits warm-water holidays if you plan around the heat; winter suits milder days on land, with cooler swims and a layer for the wind. Compare actual flight and hotel prices for your dates rather than assuming one month is always cheapest.
When is best for snorkelling in Hurghada?
For warm water without the height of summer heat, compare May with October. April and November can also suit a mixed beach-and-sightseeing trip, depending on your tolerance for cooler water. Wind, exposure and the day’s sea conditions still decide whether a particular reef is suitable. Choose a site with a usable entry and follow the local briefing; a good month does not guarantee a calm boat day.
Compare snorkelling sites and entries →Can you swim in the Red Sea in December?
Swimming is possible, but comfort varies. Our December guide lists typical sea temperatures of around 23–24°C. Wind can make getting out feel much colder. For longer snorkelling sessions, ask the operator about a suitable wetsuit. If a warm pool is important, confirm that your hotel heats it in December; do not infer that from “pool” in the listing.
Read the December guide →The year at a glance
These are typical Hurghada ranges from our existing month guides, not a forecast for your travel dates. Sea temperature and wind exposure vary between beaches. Crowd and value labels are editorial seasonal comparisons, not live availability or price quotes; holidays and individual hotel offers can change the picture.
| Month | Air, day | Air, night | Sea | Crowds | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21–23°C | 11–13°C | around 22°C | Quiet† | Best |
| February | 22–24°C | 12–14°C | around 21–22°C | Quiet† | Best |
| March | 25–27°C | 14–16°C | around 22°C | Steady† | Good |
| April | 29–31°C | 17–19°C | around 24°C | Busy | Fair |
| May | 32–34°C | 21–23°C | around 26°C | Steady | Good |
| June | 34–36°C | 23–25°C | around 28°C | Steady | Fair |
| July | 35–37°C | 25–27°C | around 29°C | Busy | Poor |
| August | 35–37°C | 25–27°C | around 30°C | Peak | Poor |
| September | 33–35°C | 23–25°C | around 29°C | Quiet† | Good |
| October | 30–32°C | 20–22°C | around 28°C | Steady | Fair |
| November | 26–28°C | 16–18°C | around 25–26°C | Quiet | Good |
| December | 22–24°C | 13–15°C | around 23–24°C | Quiet† | Best |
Months marked † change character partway through: crowd and price here follow school holidays and fixed dates rather than the season, so the label describes the larger part of the month and the month page says what flips it.
January
Air 21–23°C · Sea around 22°CThe coldest month, which on this coast still means short sleeves at midday — and the sea is warmer than most European summers.
February
Air 22–24°C · Sea around 21–22°CThe sea’s coldest point of the year, and the land at its most agreeable. A good month to be here and a poor one to be in the water for long.
March
Air 25–27°C · Sea around 22°CSpring arrives, the land warms fast and the sea has not caught up yet. One of the best-value months on the coast.
April
Air 29–31°C · Sea around 24°CArguably the best all-round month: hot enough to want the sea, warm enough to swim in it, not yet hot enough to hide from the afternoon.
May
Air 32–34°C · Sea around 26°CProperly hot, with the sea finally warm. The last comfortable month before summer stops being a description and becomes a problem.
June
Air 34–36°C · Sea around 28°CSummer proper. Very hot, very bright, and the sea is bathwater — which is either the point or the problem.
July
Air 35–37°C · Sea around 29°COne of the two hardest months. Cheap flights, hot everything, and a sea too warm to cool you down.
August
Air 35–37°C · Sea around 30°CThe hottest sea of the year and the hardest month to be outside in. Come for the water, plan for the heat.
September
Air 33–35°C · Sea around 29°CAugust’s sea without August’s crowds or prices. One of the most underrated months on this coast.
October
Air 30–32°C · Sea around 28°CThe best month of the year, on most measures: warm sea, comfortable air, manageable crowds, and the coast at its most pleasant.
November
Air 26–28°C · Sea around 25–26°CWarm sea, mild air, thinning crowds. The connoisseur’s month, and better than May despite the calendar suggesting otherwise.
December
Air 22–24°C · Sea around 23–24°CMild winter sun, a still-swimmable sea, and two entirely different halves separated by Christmas.
Before you travel: check the current Hurghada forecast. Conditions on the day can differ from the monthly pattern.
Deciding where as well as when?
The eight towns on this coast are genuinely different from each other — compare them here, or read what is on across the year.