The Red Sea in February
The 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.
Air, daytime
22–24°C
Air, night
12–14°C
Sea
around 21–22°C
The water lags the air by about a month, so February — not January — is when the sea is coldest. Around 21°C is fine for a swim and cold for a dive without a proper suit; centres will have 5mm suits and you will want one.
Above the surface it is close to ideal. Warm afternoons, cool nights, low humidity, and the coast at its emptiest between half terms.
It is also the last quiet month before the season builds, which makes it the sweet spot for anyone whose priority is space rather than heat.
Wind, crowds and prices
- Wind
- Still changeable; the northerlies ease towards the end of the month.
- Crowds
- Quiet, apart from European half-term weeks.
- Prices
- Low, outside half term.
Good for
- Value
- Sightseeing and desert trips
- Anyone who dislikes crowds
The catch
If your holiday is mostly about being in the sea, this is the month it is coldest. Divers should budget for a thicker suit and shorter dives; snorkellers get cold faster than they expect.
Typical Hurghada figures, rounded. Marsa Alam runs a couple of degrees warmer. Last reviewed 25 July 2026. Something off?