Best time to visit Egypt
Tourists can travel to Egypt any time of the year. The best time to visit Egypt is during winter from October to April, when temperatures are lower. The most popular time for tourist is December and January. Tourism in Egypt is booming this time of the year so make sure you plan in advance. March, April, and September are also good months to travel to Egypt if you plan to avoid the crowd. The daytime weather can be quite pleasant and its the best time to enjoy water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming.Even though, the temperatures in Egypt is usually high. Especially when the temperatures in winters range between 33-21 degrees, summer months can be exceptionally hot. Summer in Egypt falls between May and August, and the maximum temperature is around 36 degree, and the lowest is around 23 degrees. So, make sure you carry plenty of sunscreens, your shades, and water bottles.Winters (October-February) in the Nile Delta Region and Cairo can be quite cool, especially at night, so make sure you carry a light jacket. Southern Egypt remains warm even during winters. However, the temperature may drop in the evening. Winters is the best season to visit Egypt. Tourism in Egypt is booming this time of the year so make sure you plan, or else you may struggle to find good accommodation and may have to pay more for airfare.March, April, and September are also good months to travel to Egypt. The daytime weather can be quite pleasant and its the best time to enjoy sunbathing at the Red Sea along with other water activities such as snorkeling and swimming. Scuba Diving can be done year-round in Egypt.
Summer (May-August)
Even though the temperatures in Egypt is usually high, summer is the worst in comparison to other seasons. Especially when the temperatures in Winters range between 33-21 degrees, summer months can be exceptionally hot. Summer in Egypt falls between May and August, and the maximum temperature is around 36 degree, and the lowest is around 23 degrees. So, make sure you carry plenty of sunscreens, your shades, and water bottles. There is little to no rainfall during this time. Hence the weather can be quite harsh and dry.
Temperature: Minimum temp is 17 degrees Celsius and maximum is 36 degrees Celsius.
Weather: Even though the temperatures in Egypt is usually high, summer is the worst in comparison to other seasons. Especially when the temperatures in Winters range between 33-21 degrees, summer months can be exceptionally hot
Significance: Ramadan May 27th-June 25th, Eid El Adha August 31st.
Why you should visit now: This is low tourist season, hence cheaper airfares and tour packages including accommodation.
Know before you visit: Ramadan falls between May 27th and June 25th, its best to this time when planning a trip to Egypt.
Tips: Sunscreen, Shades, Water Bottles, Hats, Summer wear and country appropriate clothing.
Winter (October-February)
Winters, in the Nile Delta Region and Cairo, can be quite cool, especially at night, so make sure you carry a light jacket. Southern Egypt remains warm even during winters. However, the temperature may drop in the evening. Winters is the best season to visit Egypt. Tourism in Egypt is booming this time of the year so make sure you plan, or else you may struggle to find good accommodation and may have to pay more for airfare.
Temperature: Minimum temp is 18 degrees Celsius and maximum is 26 degrees Celsius.
Weather: The daytime weather is quite pleasant, and the temperature drops significantly at night. High rainfall in January.
Significance: Aby Simbel Sun Festival October 21st (Abu Simbel’s Birthday) and 21st February (King Ramses II’s crowing day)
Why you should visit now: This is a popular time to visit Egypt, courtesy the low temperatures and cool weather.
Know before you visit: If you are visiting during January, beware as there may be frequent showers.
Tips: Weather and Country Appropriate clothing, Sunscreen, Shades, Water Bottles, Hats.
Shoulder Month (March, April, and September)
March, April, and September are also good months to travel to Egypt. The daytime weather can be quite pleasant, and it’s the best time to enjoy sunbathing at the Red Sea along with other water activities such as snorkelling and swimming. Scuba Diving can be done year-round in Egypt.
Temperature:
March: Minimum temp is 11 degrees Celsius, and maximum is 24 degrees Celsius
April: Minimum temp is 14 degrees Celsius, and maximum is 28 degrees Celsius
September: Minimum temp is 21 degrees Celsius, and maximum is 33 degrees Celsius
Weather: The daytime weather can be quite pleasant, and temperatures drop during the night.
Significance: No national holidays or festivals during this time.
Why you should visit now: You can enjoy sunbathing at the Red Sea along with other water activities such as snorkeling and swimming. Scuba Diving can be done year-round in Egypt.
Know before you visit: These months fall between the beginning and end of tourist season in Egypt so that you can take advantage of off-season prices, but still enjoy the country without melting in the heat.
Tips: Weather and Country Appropriate clothing, Sunscreen, Shades, Water Bottles, Hats.
How to Reach Egypt
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How to Reach By Air
Flying to Egypt is the best way to reach the country, especially from India. There are numerous daily flights to Egypt from several Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata to name a few. Egypt has two international airports – in Cairo and Luxor. The Cairo International Airport is the primary airport and it is located in Heliopolis, around 15kms from the centre of the city. As the second busiest airport in Africa, it sees more than 16 million passengers in a year. Various international airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Etihad and its own national carrier Egyptair serve the airport. The airport has three terminals and there’s a free shuttle bus to transport you between Terminal 2 and 3. From the airport, you can take a taxi, Uber or a bus to reach the city.
The other international airport in Egypt is in Luxor although this airport is mostly used for domestic flights and charters. This is a much smaller airport and thus lacks several conveniences. However, you can reach the city once you land here using taxis.
How to Reach By Bus
Buses from Israel to Egypt are available. In case you are coming from Jerusalem, then a bus trip to Egypt can easily be on the cards. It’s a good idea to book your ticket a day in advance although buses are known to be quite unreliable as the buses tend to break down often. Traveling by bus is not recommended if you are not able to tolerate the heat as it can get quite hot. Make sure you’re carrying plenty of water and some snacks with you.
How to Reach By Road
Travelling to Egypt in a car from other nearby countries is possible but it’s not a good idea. Firstly, the traffic situation can be a little unreliable and drivers in places like Cairo tend to be a little unruly. Also, it can be a little confusing because in Egypt, vehicles travel on the right side of the road.
How to Reach By Rail
Although it’s not possible to reach Egypt by train, Cairo is connected to all the major cities via its railway station Ramses Station. It’s important to remember that trains in Egypt are often late and hardly ever run according to schedule. To make sure you get a seat, do remember to book your ticket in advance and try to get a first-class seat. There are some trains that are quite good, with air-conditioning and business style seats per row. However, although these are comfortable, they are also night trains and chances are you won’t be able to get much sleep as the lights remain on and you could be woken up repeatedly for ticket checks. An overall exhausting aspect of the journey indeed!
How to Reach By Car
Travelling to Egypt in a car from other nearby countries is possible but it’s not a good idea. Firstly, the traffic situation can be a little unreliable and drivers in places like Cairo tend to be a little unruly. Also, it can be a little confusing because in Egypt, vehicles travel on the right side of the road.
How to Reach By Rail
Although it’s not possible to reach Egypt by train, Cairo is connected to all the major cities via its railway station Ramses Station. It’s important to remember that trains in Egypt are often late and hardly ever run according to schedule. To make sure you get a seat, do remember to book your ticket in advance and try to get a first-class seat. There are some trains that are quite good, with air-conditioning and business style seats per row. However, although these are comfortable, they are also night trains and chances are you won’t be able to get much sleep as the lights remain on and you could be woken up repeatedly for ticket checks. An overall exhausting aspect of the journey indeed!
How to Reach By Car
Travelling to Egypt in a car from other nearby countries is possible but it’s not a good idea. Firstly, the traffic situation can be a little unreliable and drivers in places like Cairo tend to be a little unruly. Also, it can be a little confusing because in Egypt, vehicles travel on the right side of the road.
How to Reach By Rail
Although it’s not possible to reach Egypt by train, Cairo is connected to all the major cities via its railway station Ramses Station. It’s important to remember that trains in Egypt are often late and hardly ever run according to schedule. To make sure you get a seat, do remember to book your ticket in advance and try to get a first-class seat. There are some trains that are quite good, with air-conditioning and business style seats per row. However, although these are comfortable, they are also night trains and chances are you won’t be able to get much sleep as the lights remain on and you could be woken up repeatedly for ticket checks. An overall exhausting aspect of the journey indeed!
Transportation In Egypt
By Bus
Public buses are common in Egypt, but they tend to be crowded although the air-conditioned ones are much better. However, they are not very tourist-friendly as the numbers are displayed only in Arabic numerals. This is one of the reasons why buses are not popular among visitors.
By Tuk Tuk
Not too different from the local autorickshaw that you might be used to seeing in India, the tuk tuks are a great way of getting around the city at rates cheaper than a taxi. However, it’s always a good idea to negotiate and confirm your fare before you get inside.
By Microbus
These are usually 14 seater vans and are privately owned and unmarked. They are cheap and the drivers will stop anywhere along the route that you ask them to. However, they will also pick up passengers if there are empty seats. There’s no set schedule as microbuses just wait till they are full up and then leave. They are flexible however and can be found typically outside train and bus stations and at highway intersections. Tickets have to be bought right then.
By Servees
Servees or Service Taxis as they are known in this part of the world are just like the microbus but a smaller version as they are usually station wagon vehicles. They run on the same principle – once all the seats are filled up, they leave. You can find them near bus or train stations although they are slowly being phased out now. If you don’t want to wait till all the seats are filled up, you can buy extra seats as that will get you more space and will hurry your departure also.
By Taxis
Taxis can be found in most Egyptian cities. Some are metered and some have fixed fares. If you want to be sure about the fares, check with locals as fares change based on the petrol prices. Taxis can be hailed easily on the road and it’s always a good idea to negotiate before you get inside. Taxi drivers in Egypt are often known to overcharge, so make sure you confirm the fare before the ride begins.
By Tram
In Egypt, only Cairo and Alexandria have trams. However, these are not very useful in Cairo as there are just a few lines that it works, and riding a tram is more of a tourist activity than an actual way to get around the city. Alexandria still has a wider network than Cairo.
By Bicycle
Most people prefer not to go on bicycles because of the heat but in winter, this is quite an interesting way to get around the city. There are a few rental options from where you can rent a bicycle to explore the city.