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Egypt travel guide

Best time to visit from the UK, weather, festivals, flights from London and FCDO travel advice.

Giza pyramid complex
Giza pyramid complex. Photo: KennyOMG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
4h 45mflight from London
Egyptian poundcurrency
On arrivalfor UK passports
Type C, Fplugs

The Pyramids, Nile cruises and Red Sea reefs

Don't miss

  1. Pyramids of Giza
  2. Luxor and the Valley of the Kings
  3. Red Sea diving
Good forHistory & ruinsDesertsBeaches

Best time to visit Egypt from the UK

Best value: Apr, Oct. Oct–Apr: cooler for Luxor and the pyramids. Busiest and priciest: Nov–Mar.

12.1 C12°J13.7 C14°F17.1 C17°M20.9 C21°A25.3 C25°M28.5 C28°J30 C30°J29.9 C30°A27.5 C28°S23.7 C24°O18.7 C19°N14 C14°D
Best valueBusy and pricierQuietAverage temperature in Cairo, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Each bar is the average temperature in Cairo for that month, and its colour shows the season for visitors: best value (good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices), busiest and priciest, or quiet (off-peak, sometimes because the weather is poorer).

  • Our pick: April and OctoberThe warmest of the best-value months (21–24°C), with fewer crowds than peak season.
  • Peak season: Nov–MarUsually 12–19°C. The busiest time, so book flights and rooms early and expect higher prices.
  • Quiet season: May–SepAround 25–30°C. The cheapest and least crowded time, though often because of rain or heat.
  • Warmest: July (30°C) · coolest: January (12°C)A 18°C swing between the warmest and coolest months.
Temperatures as a table
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
12.113.717.120.925.328.53029.927.523.718.714

Festivals and events

  • Abu Simbel Sun Festival Feb · Abu Simbel (also Oct)
  • Sham el-Nessim Apr · Nationwide
  • Ramadan nights Varies · Cairo

Festival dates move from year to year: check before you book.

Getting there from the UK

Flight time
About 4h 45m
Distance
3,529 km
Main airport
CAI

Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow; journeys with a change take longer.

Add Egypt to your bucket list Search flights to CAI

Practical info and travel guidance

Egyptian poundCapital: Cairo
Type C, F · 220VBring a UK adapter
Drive on the rightOpposite to the UK
122
EmergencyAmbulance 123
Drink bottledOr treated water
  • FCDO adviceAdvises against travel to parts of EgyptCheck which areas before you book.
  • VisaVisa on arrivalOn arrival or eVisa (Sinai resorts: free 15-day stamp)
  • HealthcareNo free healthcareYou pay for treatment, so travel insurance with medical cover is essential.
  • LGBT+ travellersSame-sex relations are illegal or prosecutedRead the FCDO LGBT+ advice before you go.
  • Women travellersFCDO warns of sexual assault or harassmentTake extra care at night and with drinks.

For British passport holders, summarised from the FCDO's advice for Egypt, checked October 2026. FCDO page last updated 4 August 2026. Rules change: read the official FCDO travel advice for Egypt before you book and again before you go.

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