Egypt weather in December is about as good as travel weather gets. December is the month most travellers have in mind when they picture Egypt at its best. The heat of summer is long gone, the skies are almost always clear, and the light has the low, golden quality that photographers wait all year for. Days are warm enough for shirt sleeves at the temples, and evenings cool enough to want a jacket on the river.
It is not the same everywhere, though. Egypt stretches more than a thousand kilometres from the Mediterranean to the Sudanese border, and December in Alexandria feels very different from December in Aswan. This guide goes region by region, with average temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius, and then turns to what the weather means for planning a December journey.
Temperature in Egypt in December at a Glance
Across most of the country, December means dry, sunny days with highs in the low to mid seventies Fahrenheit, around 21 to 24°C, and nights that drop into the forties and fifties, around 7 to 12°C. Rain is rare everywhere except the Mediterranean coast. The difference between day and night is the thing most visitors underestimate, especially in Upper Egypt and the desert, where a warm afternoon can turn into a genuinely cold evening within an hour of sunset.
All figures below are long term averages. Individual days vary, and a cooler or warmer week is always possible, so treat them as a guide to packing rather than a forecast.
Cairo December Temperature and Weather
Cairo in December is mild and pleasant. Average highs sit around 68 to 69°F (20 to 21°C), and nights fall to around 52 to 53°F (11 to 12°C). Rain is uncommon, with only two or three light showers in a typical month, and there are roughly six to seven hours of sunshine a day.
It is close to ideal weather for the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The plateau at Giza has no shade, and in summer the heat dictates the day, but in December you can walk it comfortably at almost any hour. Early mornings can be hazy and cool, so a light layer is welcome until the sun climbs.
Luxor in December
Luxor is warmer by day and colder by night than Cairo. Highs average around 73 to 76°F (23 to 24°C), while nights can fall to around 45 to 47°F (7 to 8°C), the coldest of the major sites. It almost never rains.
For the temples and tombs this is perfect. The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and the West Bank sites, which are punishing in summer, are a pleasure in December. The one thing to plan for is the early start: if you take a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West Bank, the launch site before dawn is the coldest you will be all trip, so dress for it.
Aswan in December
Aswan, far to the south, is the sunniest and among the warmest places in Egypt in December. Highs average around 73 to 75°F (23 to 24°C), nights around 50 to 52°F (10 to 11°C), and the sun shines for nine to ten hours a day with no rain at all.
The Nile here is at its most beautiful in winter, and a felucca at sunset, a visit to Philae or a morning at Abu Simbel all sit easily in this weather. Abu Simbel lies further south still and can feel noticeably warmer by midday, so bring water and a hat even in December.
On the Nile Between Luxor and Aswan
December is one of the finest months for a Nile sailing. Days on deck are warm and bright, the river is calm, and the evenings are cool enough that most boats bring out blankets after dinner. Temperatures on the water track Luxor and Aswan closely, with the same wide swing between day and night.
For a smaller, quieter boat, a dahabiya is at its best now, and our guide to the best luxury Nile cruises compares the options. Because December is the peak of the sailing season, the finest cabins are reserved early.
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Alexandria and the Mediterranean Coast
Alexandria is the exception to everything above. Its climate is Mediterranean, and December is one of its wettest months, with around seven to nine rainy days and the sea often grey and lively. Highs average around 68 to 69°F (20°C), nights around 50 to 51°F (10 to 11°C), and the wind off the water can make it feel cooler.
None of this rules Alexandria out. Its museums, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the catacombs are indoors or sheltered, and a day trip from Cairo works well in December. Just pack a waterproof layer and keep the plans flexible.
The Red Sea and Sinai
The Red Sea coast is warm and dry in December. In Hurghada, highs average around 72 to 75°F (22 to 24°C) and the sea is around 70 to 72°F (21 to 22°C). Sharm el Sheikh, further south on the Sinai coast, is a little warmer, with nights around 57 to 61°F (14 to 16°C) and sea temperatures around 72 to 75°F (22 to 24°C).
That is warm enough for swimming and snorkelling for most people, and comfortably warm for diving with a wetsuit. A few days by the Red Sea at the end of a December journey, after the temples, is one of the best ways to finish a trip while the rest of the world is in winter.
The Western Desert
In the oases of the Western Desert, such as Siwa and Bahariya, December days are pleasant at around the low seventies Fahrenheit, but nights are the coldest in Egypt and can approach freezing in the open desert. If your journey includes a night camping in the White Desert, a proper warm jacket, a hat and warm layers for sleeping are essential rather than optional.
What to Pack for Egypt in December
Pack for two climates in one day. Light, breathable clothes for warm afternoons at the sites, and a warm jacket or fleece for mornings, evenings and anything on the water or in the desert. A scarf is useful both for the evening chill and for covering shoulders in mosques and churches.
Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen matter even in winter, because the sun is strong and there is little shade at many sites. Comfortable walking shoes are the most important item of all. For a fuller list, see what to pack for Egypt.
Crowds and the Festive Season
Good weather has a cost: December is high season. The weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest of the year, with families arriving for the school holidays and the best hotels, Nile cabins and guides committed well in advance. Early December is noticeably quieter than the second half of the month.
The festive season also brings its own pleasures. Egypt celebrates Christmas twice, on 25 December and again at Coptic Christmas on 7 January, and New Year's Eve on the Nile or with a view of the Pyramids is a memorable way to end the year. Our guide to Christmas in Egypt explains how the season works.
Is December a Good Time to Visit Egypt?
For most travellers, yes, and for many it is the best month of all. The weather suits sightseeing everywhere except a rainy day or two in Alexandria, the light is beautiful, and the festive season adds something extra. The only real drawbacks are the crowds and the need to plan early.
To compare Egypt weather in December with the rest of the year, see our month by month guide to the best time to visit Egypt. If you would like to spend the festive weeks here, our Christmas and New Year journeys are a good place to start, or tell us your dates and we will shape a private journey around them.
